Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (262,684)	$ (118,928)	$ (203,564)	$ (117,709)	$ (183,418)	$ (114,577)	$ (198,752)	$ (144,201)	$ (702,885)	$ (640,948)	$ (546,811)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									16,943	(31,962)	28,372
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities											(6,061)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)											970
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities											(5,091)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									217	216	(275)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges.									567	567	613
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01										(9,144)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									17,727	(40,323)	23,619
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									190	187	315
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									17,537	(40,510)	23,304
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(685,348)	(681,458)	(523,507)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	$ (21,827)	$ 19,297	$ 10,729	$ 14,176	$ 17,796	$ 6,934	$ 2,953	$ 539	22,375	28,222	6,178
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									55	(251)	282
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									22,430	27,971	6,460
Comprehensive income (loss)									(662,918)	(653,487)	(517,047)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									265,252	362,757	841,116
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(16,940)	31,958	(28,372)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities											6,061
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)											(970)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities											5,091
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									(651)	(648)	825
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges.									(1,134)	(1,134)	(1,226)
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01										9,144
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(18,725)	39,320	(23,682)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(570)	(561)	(945)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(18,155)	39,881	(22,737)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									247,097	402,638	818,379
Comprehensive income (loss)									247,097	402,638	818,379
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(702,885)	(640,948)	(546,811)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									16,943	(31,962)	28,372
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities											(6,061)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)											970
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities											(5,091)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									217	216	(275)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges.									567	567	613
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01										(9,144)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									17,727	(40,323)	23,619
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									190	187	315
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									17,537	(40,510)	23,304
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(685,348)	(681,458)	(523,507)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(685,348)	(681,458)	(523,507)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									140,474	35,279	(343,233)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(3)	4
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									217	216	(275)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges.									567	567	613
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									781	787	338
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									190	187	315
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									591	600	23
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									141,065	35,879	(343,210)
Comprehensive income (loss)									141,065	35,879	(343,210)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(405,726)	(398,036)	(497,883)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									16,943	(31,962)	28,372
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities											(6,061)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)											970
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities											(5,091)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									434	432	(550)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges.									567	567	613
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01										(9,144)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									17,944	(40,107)	23,344
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									380	374	630
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									17,564	(40,481)	22,714
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(388,162)	(438,517)	(475,169)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									22,375	28,222	6,178
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									55	(251)	282
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									22,430	27,971	6,460
Comprehensive income (loss)									$ (365,732)	$ (410,546)	$ (468,709)