Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 19, 2020	Jun. 28, 2019
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Entity File Number	001-32657
Entity Registrant Name	NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	D0
Entity Tax Identification Number	98-0363970
Entity Address, Address Line One	Crown House
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Second Floor
Entity Address, Address Line Three	4 Par-la-Ville Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Hamilton
Entity Address, Country	BM
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	HM08
City Area Code	441
Local Phone Number	292-1510
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		367,128,412
Entity Public Float			$ 1,007,634,972
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0001163739
Amendment Flag	false
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Preferred shares, 6.00% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares, Series A, $.001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	NBR.PRA
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common shares, $.001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	NBR
Security Exchange Name	NYSE