Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 367,693		$ 447,766	$ 593,284		$ 336,997
Short-term investments		28,023		34,036
Accounts receivable, net		737,353		756,320
Inventory, net		178,367		165,587
Assets held for sale		8,004		12,250
Other current assets		147,239		177,604
Total current assets		1,466,679		1,593,563
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,301,252		5,467,870
Goodwill		90,645		183,914
Deferred income taxes		357,267		345,091
Other long-term assets		298,660		263,506
Total assets (1)	[1]	7,514,503		7,853,944
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt		790		561
Trade accounts payable		410,469		392,843
Accrued liabilities		319,763		417,912
Income taxes payable		27,179		20,761
Current lease liabilities		13,966
Total current liabilities		772,167		832,077
Long-term debt		3,550,577		3,585,884
Other long-term liabilities		294,128		274,485
Deferred income taxes		27,448		6,311
Total liabilities (1)	[1]	4,644,320		4,698,757
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary		415,042		404,861
Shareholders' equity		2,381,514		2,700,850
Noncontrolling interest		73,627		49,476
Total equity		2,455,141	$ 2,650,039	2,750,326	$ 3,088,648	$ 2,737,008	$ 2,938,773
Total liabilities and equity		7,514,503		7,853,944
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables		(178,754)		(316,686)
Investment in consolidated affiliates		(12,192,113)		(12,232,982)
Deferred income taxes		(411,220)		(388,089)
Other long-term assets		(7,325)		(14,325)
Total assets (1)		(12,789,412)		(12,952,082)
Current liabilities:
Long-term debt		(7,325)		(14,325)
Deferred income taxes		(411,220)		(388,089)
Intercompany payable		(178,754)		(316,686)
Total liabilities (1)		(597,299)		(719,100)
Shareholders' equity		(12,192,113)		(12,232,982)
Total equity		(12,192,113)		(12,232,982)
Total liabilities and equity		(12,789,412)		(12,952,082)
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		323		474
Other current assets		295		50
Total current assets		618		524
Intercompany receivables		100,659		95,946
Investment in consolidated affiliates		2,293,463		2,658,827
Total assets (1)		2,394,740		2,755,297
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable		194		132
Accrued liabilities		8,284		28,815
Total current liabilities		8,478		28,947
Intercompany payable		4,748		25,500
Total liabilities (1)		13,226		54,447
Shareholders' equity		2,381,514		2,700,850
Total equity		2,381,514		2,700,850
Total liabilities and equity		2,394,740		2,755,297
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		40		42
Other current assets				433
Total current assets		40		475
Intercompany receivables		75,484		218,129
Investment in consolidated affiliates		5,691,496		5,494,886
Deferred income taxes		411,220		388,089
Other long-term assets		79		142
Total assets (1)		6,178,319		6,101,721
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable		55		14
Accrued liabilities		53,807		62,830
Total current liabilities		53,862		62,844
Long-term debt		3,557,902		3,600,209
Other long-term liabilities		29,331		29,331
Total liabilities (1)		3,641,095		3,692,384
Shareholders' equity		2,537,224		2,409,337
Total equity		2,537,224		2,409,337
Total liabilities and equity		6,178,319		6,101,721
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		367,330		447,250
Short-term investments		28,023		34,036
Accounts receivable, net		737,353		756,320
Inventory, net		178,367		165,587
Assets held for sale		8,004		12,250
Other current assets		146,944		177,121
Total current assets		1,466,021		1,592,564
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,301,252		5,467,870
Goodwill		90,645		183,914
Intercompany receivables		2,611		2,611
Investment in consolidated affiliates		4,207,154		4,079,269
Deferred income taxes		357,267		345,091
Other long-term assets		305,906		277,689
Total assets (1)		11,730,856		11,949,008
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt		790		561
Trade accounts payable		410,220		392,697
Accrued liabilities		257,672		326,267
Income taxes payable		27,179		20,761
Current lease liabilities		13,966
Total current liabilities		709,827		740,286
Other long-term liabilities		264,797		245,154
Deferred income taxes		438,668		394,400
Intercompany payable		174,006		291,186
Total liabilities (1)		1,587,298		1,671,026
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary		415,042		404,861
Shareholders' equity		9,654,889		9,823,645
Noncontrolling interest		73,627		49,476
Total equity		9,728,516		9,873,121
Total liabilities and equity		$ 11,730,856		$ 11,949,008
Nabors Delaware [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Ownership percentage		100.00%

[1] The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include assets and liabilities of variable interest entities. See Note 3—Joint Ventures for additional information.