Debt (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 11, 2018 USD ($)
Long-term debt
Long-term Debt			$ 3,306,104			$ 3,363,552
Less: deferred financing costs			30,001			30,332
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities, Total			$ 3,276,103			3,333,220
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)			7.25%
Principal amount redeemed	$ 952,900		$ 1,300,000
Repayment of long-term debt including accrued and unpaid interest			1,200,000
Purchase price for the tender offer			952,900
Payment of accrued and unpaid interest			12,300
Gain (Loss) on debt repurchase		$ (3,701)		$ (1,034)
Other, net
Long-term debt
Gain (Loss) on debt repurchase			51,700
5.00% senior notes due September 2020
Long-term debt
Senior Notes			$ 139,142			282,046
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)			5.00%
4.625% senior notes due September 2021
Long-term debt
Senior Notes			$ 155,044			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			$ 36,959			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			$ 155,738			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			$ 484,035			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						$ 355,000
Maximum borrowing capacity							$ 666,250
2018 Revolving Credit Facility
Long-term debt
Revolving credit facility			$ 560,000
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)							5.50%
Amount outstanding					$ 560,000
Maximum borrowing capacity							$ 1,013,600
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)					2.94%
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