Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 480,522	$ 435,990	$ 429,127	$ 447,766
Short-term investments	9,136	16,506
Accounts receivable, net	454,718	453,042
Inventory, net	173,991	176,341
Assets held for sale	1,936	2,530
Other current assets	150,533	164,257
Total current assets	1,270,836	1,248,666
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,597,308	4,930,549
Goodwill		28,380
Deferred income taxes	280,545	305,844
Other long-term assets	159,859	247,219
Total assets (1)	6,308,548	6,760,658
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt
Trade accounts payable	297,274	295,159
Accrued liabilities	252,664	333,282
Income taxes payable	23,057	14,628
Current lease liabilities	11,875	13,479
Total current liabilities	584,870	656,548
Long-term debt	3,388,014	3,333,220
Other long-term liabilities	261,942	292,184
Deferred income taxes	2,800	3,149
Total liabilities (1)	4,237,626	4,285,101
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	429,824	425,392
Shareholders' equity	1,555,921	1,982,811
Noncontrolling interest	85,177	67,354
Total equity	1,641,098	2,050,165	$ 2,650,039	$ 2,750,326
Total liabilities and equity	6,308,548	6,760,658
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(36,974)	(2,662)
Investment in consolidated affiliates	(11,972,016)	(12,008,280)
Deferred income taxes	(434,919)	(431,441)
Other long-term assets	(7,326)	(7,325)
Total assets (1)	(12,451,235)	(12,449,708)
Current liabilities:
Long-term debt	(7,325)	(7,325)
Deferred income taxes	(434,919)	(431,441)
Intercompany payable	(36,974)	(2,662)
Total liabilities (1)	(479,218)	(441,428)
Shareholders' equity	(11,972,017)	(12,008,280)
Total equity	(11,972,017)	(12,008,280)
Total liabilities and equity	(12,451,235)	(12,449,708)
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	860	319
Other current assets	50	50
Total current assets	910	369
Intercompany receivables	13,535	51
Investment in consolidated affiliates	2,568,327	2,001,607
Total assets (1)	2,582,772	2,002,027
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	1,143	128
Accrued liabilities	23,920	8,579
Total current liabilities	25,063	8,707
Long-term debt	984,459
Intercompany payable	17,328	10,508
Total liabilities (1)	1,026,850	19,215
Shareholders' equity	1,555,922	1,982,812
Total equity	1,555,922	1,982,812
Total liabilities and equity	2,582,772	2,002,027
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	83	38
Total current assets	83	38
Investment in consolidated affiliates	4,980,066	5,780,656
Deferred income taxes	434,919	431,441
Other long-term assets	99	99
Total assets (1)	5,415,167	6,212,234
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	91	1
Accrued liabilities	9,750	51,701
Total current liabilities	9,841	51,702
Long-term debt	2,410,880	3,340,545
Other long-term liabilities	20,731	29,331
Intercompany payable	251,943	231,759
Total liabilities (1)	2,693,395	3,653,337
Shareholders' equity	2,721,772	2,558,897
Total equity	2,721,772	2,558,897
Total liabilities and equity	5,415,167	6,212,234
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	479,579	435,633
Short-term investments	9,136	16,506
Accounts receivable, net	454,718	453,042
Inventory, net	173,991	176,341
Assets held for sale	1,936	2,530
Other current assets	150,483	164,207
Total current assets	1,269,843	1,248,259
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,597,308	4,930,549
Goodwill		28,380
Intercompany receivables	23,439	2,611
Investment in consolidated affiliates	4,423,623	4,226,017
Deferred income taxes	280,545	305,844
Other long-term assets	167,086	254,445
Total assets (1)	10,761,844	10,996,105
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	296,040	295,030
Accrued liabilities	218,994	273,002
Income taxes payable	23,057	14,628
Current lease liabilities	11,875	13,479
Total current liabilities	549,966	596,139
Other long-term liabilities	241,211	262,853
Deferred income taxes	437,719	434,590
Intercompany payable	(232,297)	(239,605)
Total liabilities (1)	996,599	1,053,977
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	429,824	425,392
Shareholders' equity	9,250,244	9,449,382
Noncontrolling interest	85,177	67,354
Total equity	9,335,421	9,516,736
Total liabilities and equity	$ 10,761,844	$ 10,996,105
Nabors Delaware [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Ownership percentage	100.00%