CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 2,134,043	$ 3,043,383	$ 3,057,619
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates		(5)	1
Investment income (loss)	1,438	10,218	(9,499)
Total revenues and other income	2,135,481	3,053,596	3,048,121
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	1,333,072	1,929,331	1,976,974
General and administrative expenses	203,515	258,731	265,822
Research and engineering	33,564	50,359	56,147
Depreciation and amortization	853,699	876,091	866,870
Interest expense	206,274	204,311	227,124
(Gain)/loss on debt buybacks and exchanges	(228,274)	(11,468)	5,268
Impairments and other charges	410,631	301,939	139,178
Other, net	28,567	33,224	29,532
Total costs and other deductions	2,841,048	3,642,518	3,566,915
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(705,567)	(588,922)	(518,794)
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	(7,430)	55,625	2,388
Deferred	64,716	35,951	76,881
Total income tax expense (benefit)	57,286	91,576	79,269
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(762,853)	(680,498)	(598,063)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	7	(12)	(14,663)
Net income (loss)	(762,846)	(680,510)	(612,726)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(42,795)	(22,375)	(28,222)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(805,641)	(702,885)	(640,948)
Less: Preferred stock dividend	(14,611)	(17,244)	(12,305)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders	(820,252)	(720,129)	(653,253)
Amounts attributable to Nabors common shareholders:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(820,259)	(720,117)	(638,590)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	7	(12)	(14,663)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders	$ (820,252)	$ (720,129)	$ (653,253)
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (118.69)	$ (105.39)	$ (97.42)
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)			(2.19)
Total Basic (in dollars per share)	(118.69)	(105.39)	(99.61)
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(118.69)	(105.39)	(97.42)
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)			(2.19)
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (118.69)	$ (105.39)	$ (99.61)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	7,059	7,032	6,688
Diluted (in shares)	7,059	7,032	6,688