Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of 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
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 714,261	$ 758,076	$ 771,406	$ 799,640	$ 782,080	$ 779,425	$ 761,920	$ 734,194	$ 3,043,383	$ 3,057,619	$ 2,564,285
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									(5)	1	7
Investment income (loss)									10,218	(9,499)	1,194
Total revenues and other income									3,053,596	3,048,121	2,565,486
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									1,929,331	1,976,974	1,718,069
General and administrative expenses									258,731	265,822	251,184
Research and engineering									50,359	56,147	51,069
Depreciation and amortization									876,091	866,870	842,943
Interest expense, net									204,311	227,124	222,889
Impairments and other charges									290,471	144,446	44,536
Other, net									33,224	29,532	14,880
Total costs and other deductions									3,642,518	3,566,915	3,145,570
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(588,922)	(518,794)	(580,084)
Income tax expense (benefit)									91,576	79,269	(82,970)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(284,533)	(99,788)	(192,801)	(103,376)	(165,551)	(93,710)	(195,215)	(143,587)	(680,498)	(598,063)	(497,114)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	22	157	(34)	(157)	(71)	(13,933)	(584)	(75)	(12)	(14,663)	(43,519)
Net income (loss)	(284,511)	(99,631)	(192,835)	(103,533)	(165,622)	(107,643)	(195,799)	(143,662)	(680,510)	(612,726)	(540,633)
Less: 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)
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)
Less: preferred stock dividends	(4,309)	(4,310)	(4,312)	(4,313)	(4,312)	(4,313)	(3,680)		(17,244)	(12,305)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders	$ (266,993)	$ (123,238)	$ (207,876)	$ (122,022)	$ (187,730)	$ (118,890)	$ (202,432)	$ (144,201)	(720,129)	(653,253)	(546,811)
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									267,364	375,242	853,033
Investment income (loss)									(2,112)	(12,485)	(11,917)
Total revenues and other income									265,252	362,757	841,116
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									(1,572)	(683)	(665)
Other, net									1,572	683	665
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									265,252	362,757	841,116
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									265,252	362,757	841,116
Net income (loss)									265,252	362,757	841,116
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									265,252	362,757	841,116
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders									265,252	362,757	841,116
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(693,450)	(629,060)	(528,180)
Investment income (loss)										2	17
Total revenues and other income									(693,450)	(629,058)	(528,163)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									8,255	9,725	10,995
Other, net									1,043	1,803	7,662
Intercompany interest expense, net									137	362	(9)
Total costs and other deductions									9,435	11,890	18,648
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(702,885)	(640,948)	(546,811)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(702,885)	(640,948)	(546,811)
Net income (loss)									(702,885)	(640,948)	(546,811)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(702,885)	(640,948)	(546,811)
Less: preferred stock dividends									(17,244)	(12,305)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders									(720,129)	(653,253)	(546,811)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									285,612	218,539	18,380
Investment income (loss)											63
Total revenues and other income									285,612	218,539	18,443
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									6
General and administrative expenses									673	635	715
Depreciation and amortization									125	125	125
Interest expense, net									204,963	231,971	232,103
Impairments and other charges										5,269
Other, net									(17,277)		19,033
Total costs and other deductions									188,490	238,000	251,976
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									97,122	(19,461)	(233,533)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(43,352)	(54,740)	109,700
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									140,474	35,279	(343,233)
Net income (loss)									140,474	35,279	(343,233)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									140,474	35,279	(343,233)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders									140,474	35,279	(343,233)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues									3,043,383	3,057,619	2,564,285
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									(5)	1	7
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									140,474	35,279	(343,233)
Investment income (loss)									12,330	2,984	13,031
Total revenues and other income									3,196,182	3,095,883	2,234,090
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									1,929,325	1,976,974	1,718,069
General and administrative expenses									251,375	256,145	240,139
Research and engineering									50,359	56,147	51,069
Depreciation and amortization									875,966	866,745	842,818
Interest expense, net									(652)	(4,847)	(9,214)
Impairments and other charges									290,471	139,177	44,536
Other, net									47,886	27,046	(12,480)
Intercompany interest expense, net									(137)	(362)	9
Total costs and other deductions									3,444,593	3,317,025	2,874,946
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(248,411)	(221,142)	(640,856)
Income tax expense (benefit)									134,928	134,009	(192,670)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(383,339)	(355,151)	(448,186)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(12)	(14,663)	(43,519)
Net income (loss)									(383,351)	(369,814)	(491,705)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest									(22,375)	(28,222)	(6,178)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(405,726)	(398,036)	(497,883)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders									$ (405,726)	$ (398,036)	$ (497,883)