Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 435,990	$ 447,766	$ 336,997	$ 264,093
Short-term investments	16,506	34,036
Accounts receivable, net	453,042	756,320
Inventory, net	176,341	165,587
Assets held for sale	2,530	12,250
Other current assets	164,257	177,604
Total current assets	1,248,666	1,593,563
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,930,549	5,467,870	6,109,565
Goodwill	28,380	183,914	173,226
Deferred income taxes	305,844	345,091
Other long-term assets	247,219	263,506
Total assets (1)	6,760,658	7,853,944
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt		561
Trade accounts payable	295,159	392,843
Accrued liabilities	333,282	417,912
Income taxes payable	14,628	20,761
Current lease liabilities	13,479
Total current liabilities	656,548	832,077
Long-term debt	3,333,220	3,585,884
Other long-term liabilities	292,184	274,485
Deferred income taxes	3,149	6,311
Total liabilities (1)	4,285,101	4,698,757
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	425,392	404,861
Shareholders' equity	1,982,811	2,700,850
Noncontrolling interest	67,354	49,476
Total equity	2,050,165	2,750,326	$ 2,938,773	$ 3,254,795
Total liabilities and equity	6,760,658	7,853,944
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(2,662)	(316,686)
Investment in consolidated affiliates	(12,008,280)	(12,232,982)
Deferred income taxes	(431,441)	(388,089)
Other long-term assets	(7,325)	(14,325)
Total assets (1)	(12,449,708)	(12,952,082)
Current liabilities:
Long-term debt	(7,325)	(14,325)
Deferred income taxes	(431,441)	(388,089)
Intercompany payable	(2,662)	(316,686)
Total liabilities (1)	(441,428)	(719,100)
Shareholders' equity	(12,008,280)	(12,232,982)
Total equity	(12,008,280)	(12,232,982)
Total liabilities and equity	(12,449,708)	(12,952,082)
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	319	474
Other current assets	50	50
Total current assets	369	524
Intercompany receivables	51	95,946
Investment in consolidated affiliates	2,001,607	2,658,827
Total assets (1)	2,002,027	2,755,297
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	128	132
Accrued liabilities	8,579	28,815
Total current liabilities	8,707	28,947
Intercompany payable	10,508	25,500
Total liabilities (1)	19,215	54,447
Shareholders' equity	1,982,812	2,700,850
Total equity	1,982,812	2,700,850
Total liabilities and equity	2,002,027	2,755,297
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	38	42
Other current assets		433
Total current assets	38	475
Intercompany receivables		218,129
Investment in consolidated affiliates	5,780,656	5,494,886
Deferred income taxes	431,441	388,089
Other long-term assets	99	142
Total assets (1)	6,212,234	6,101,721
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	1	14
Accrued liabilities	51,701	62,830
Total current liabilities	51,702	62,844
Long-term debt	3,340,545	3,600,209
Other long-term liabilities	29,331	29,331
Intercompany payable	231,759
Total liabilities (1)	3,653,337	3,692,384
Shareholders' equity	2,558,897	2,409,337
Total equity	2,558,897	2,409,337
Total liabilities and equity	6,212,234	6,101,721
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	435,633	447,250
Short-term investments	16,506	34,036
Accounts receivable, net	453,042	756,320
Inventory, net	176,341	165,587
Assets held for sale	2,530	12,250
Other current assets	164,207	177,121
Total current assets	1,248,259	1,592,564
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,930,549	5,467,870
Goodwill	28,380	183,914
Intercompany receivables	2,611	2,611
Investment in consolidated affiliates	4,226,017	4,079,269
Deferred income taxes	305,844	345,091
Other long-term assets	254,445	277,689
Total assets (1)	10,996,105	11,949,008
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt		561
Trade accounts payable	295,030	392,697
Accrued liabilities	273,002	326,267
Income taxes payable	14,628	20,761
Current lease liabilities	13,479
Total current liabilities	596,139	740,286
Other long-term liabilities	262,853	245,154
Deferred income taxes	434,590	394,400
Intercompany payable	(239,605)	291,186
Total liabilities (1)	1,053,977	1,671,026
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	425,392	404,861
Shareholders' equity	9,449,382	9,823,645
Noncontrolling interest	67,354	49,476
Total equity	9,516,736	9,873,121
Total liabilities and equity	$ 10,996,105	$ 11,949,008
Nabors Delaware [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Ownership percentage	100.00%