Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 429,127		$ 447,766		$ 367,039	$ 336,997
Short-term investments		40,590		34,036
Accounts receivable, net		743,528		756,320
Inventory, net		166,139		165,587		165,587
Assets held for sale		12,330		12,250
Other current assets		164,189		177,604
Total current assets		1,555,903		1,593,563
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,399,514		5,467,870
Goodwill		184,104		183,914
Deferred tax assets		344,531		345,091
Other long-term assets		289,632		263,506
Total assets (1)		7,773,684	[1]	7,853,944	[1]	7,853,944
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt		850		561
Trade accounts payable		399,802		392,843
Accrued liabilities		298,059		417,912
Income taxes payable		26,100		20,761
Current lease liability		10,991
Total current liabilities		735,802		832,077
Long-term debt		3,677,580		3,585,884
Other long-term liabilities		280,591		274,485
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Current4		19,749		6,311
Total liabilities (1)	[1]	4,713,722		4,698,757
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary		409,923		404,861
Shareholders' equity		2,586,335		2,700,850
Noncontrolling interest		63,704		49,476
Total equity		2,650,039		2,750,326		$ 2,737,008	$ 2,938,773
Total liabilities and equity		7,773,684		7,853,944
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables		(323,131)		(316,686)
Investment in consolidated affiliates		(12,180,280)		(12,232,982)
Deferred tax assets		(399,679)		(388,089)
Other long-term assets		(14,325)		(14,325)
Total assets (1)		(12,917,415)		(12,952,082)
Current liabilities:
Long-term debt		(14,325)		(14,325)
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Current4		(399,679)		(388,089)
Intercompany payable		(323,131)		(316,686)
Total liabilities (1)		(737,135)		(719,100)
Shareholders' equity		(12,180,280)		(12,232,982)
Total equity		(12,180,280)		(12,232,982)
Total liabilities and equity		(12,917,415)		(12,952,082)
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		334		474
Other current assets		417		50
Total current assets		751		524
Intercompany receivables		100,764		95,946
Investment in consolidated affiliates		2,492,908		2,658,827
Total assets (1)		2,594,423		2,755,297
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable		118		132
Accrued liabilities		7,970		28,815
Total current liabilities		8,088		28,947
Intercompany payable				25,500
Total liabilities (1)		8,088		54,447
Shareholders' equity		2,586,335		2,700,850
Total equity		2,586,335		2,700,850
Total liabilities and equity		2,594,423		2,755,297
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		41		42
Other current assets		433		433
Total current assets		474		475
Intercompany receivables		219,756		218,129
Investment in consolidated affiliates		5,568,841		5,494,886
Deferred tax assets		399,679		388,089
Other long-term assets		110		142
Total assets (1)		6,188,860		6,101,721
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable		41		14
Accrued liabilities		18,985		62,830
Total current liabilities		19,026		62,844
Long-term debt		3,691,905		3,600,209
Other long-term liabilities		29,331		29,331
Total liabilities (1)		3,740,262		3,692,384
Shareholders' equity		2,448,598		2,409,337
Total equity		2,448,598		2,409,337
Total liabilities and equity		6,188,860		6,101,721
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		428,752		447,250
Short-term investments		40,590		34,036
Accounts receivable, net		743,528		756,320
Inventory, net		166,139		165,587
Assets held for sale		12,330		12,250
Other current assets		163,339		177,121
Total current assets		1,554,678		1,592,564
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,399,514		5,467,870
Goodwill		184,104		183,914
Intercompany receivables		2,611		2,611
Investment in consolidated affiliates		4,118,531		4,079,269
Deferred tax assets		344,531		345,091
Other long-term assets		303,847		277,689
Total assets (1)		11,907,816		11,949,008
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt		850		561
Trade accounts payable		399,643		392,697
Accrued liabilities		271,104		326,267
Income taxes payable		26,100		20,761
Current lease liability		10,991
Total current liabilities		708,688		740,286
Other long-term liabilities		251,260		245,154
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Current4		419,428		394,400
Intercompany payable		323,131		291,186
Total liabilities (1)		1,702,507		1,671,026
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary		409,923		404,861
Shareholders' equity		9,731,682		9,823,645
Noncontrolling interest		63,704		49,476
Total equity		9,795,386		9,873,121
Total liabilities and equity		$ 11,907,816		$ 11,949,008
Nabors Delaware [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Ownership percentage		100.00%

[1] The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include assets and liabilities of variable interest entities. See Note 3—Joint Ventures for additional information.