CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - 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
CONSOLIDATED 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)