Debt (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	May 05, 2020 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 11, 2018 USD ($)
Long-term debt
Long-term Debt			$ 3,426,725		$ 3,363,552
Less: current portion
Less: deferred financing costs			38,711		30,332
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities, Total			$ 3,388,014		3,333,220
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)			7.25%
Principal amount redeemed		$ 952,900	$ 1,100,000
Repayment of long-term debt including accrued and unpaid interest			1,100,000
Purchase price for the tender offer			952,900
Payment of accrued and unpaid interest			11,200
Gain (Loss) on debt repurchase			15,700
Subsequent Event
Long-term debt
Share price of shares purchased (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				$ 58.08
5.00% senior notes due September 2020
Long-term debt
Senior Notes			$ 239,791		282,046
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)			5.00%
5.00% senior notes due September 2020 | Subsequent Event
Long-term debt
Principal amount redeemed	$ 154,900
Repayment of long-term debt including accrued and unpaid interest	$ 132,900
4.625% senior notes due September 2021
Long-term debt
Senior Notes			$ 221,032		634,588
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)		4.625%	4.625%
Repayment of long-term debt including accrued and unpaid interest		$ 379,700
5.50% senior notes due January 2023
Long-term debt
Senior Notes			$ 46,410		501,003
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)		5.50%	5.50%
Repayment of long-term debt including accrued and unpaid interest		$ 407,700
5.10% senior notes due September 2023
Long-term debt
Senior Notes			$ 166,001		336,810
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)		5.10%	5.10%
Repayment of long-term debt including accrued and unpaid interest		$ 165,500
0.75% senior exchangeable notes due January 2024
Long-term debt
Senior Notes			$ 478,305		472,603
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)			0.75%
Aggregate amount of senior notes			$ 575,000
5.75% senior notes due February 2025
Long-term debt
Senior Notes			$ 775,186		781,502
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)			5.75%
7.25% senior notes due January 2026
Long-term debt
Senior Notes			$ 600,000
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)			7.25%
Aggregate amount of senior notes		600,000
7.50% senior notes due January 2028
Long-term debt
Senior Notes			$ 400,000
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)			7.50%
Aggregate amount of senior notes		$ 400,000
2012 Revolving Credit Facility
Long-term debt
Revolving credit facility			$ 300,000		$ 355,000
Maximum borrowing capacity						$ 666,250
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)			3.02%
2018 Revolving Credit Facility
Long-term debt
Revolving credit facility			$ 200,000
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)						5.50%
Amount outstanding			$ 200,000
Maximum borrowing capacity						$ 1,013,600
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)			3.67%
Debt to EBITDA ratio			5.5
Guarantor Subsidiaries | 2018 Revolving Credit Facility
Long-term debt
Maximum borrowing capacity						$ 981,600,000
Guarantor Subsidiaries | 2018 Revolving Credit Facility | Minimum
Long-term debt
Assets to debt ratio						2.50
Nabors Canada | 2018 Revolving Credit Facility
Long-term debt
Maximum borrowing capacity						$ 32,000