CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 460,511	$ 718,364
Investment income (loss)	1,263	(3,198)
Total revenues and other income	461,774	715,166
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	290,654	461,840
General and administrative expenses	54,660	57,384
Research and engineering	7,467	11,409
Depreciation and amortization	177,276	227,063
Interest expense	42,975	54,722
Impairments and other charges	2,483	276,434
Other, net	4,863	(17,110)
Total costs and other deductions	580,378	1,071,742
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(118,604)	(356,576)
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	10,903	(7,203)
Deferred	(1,178)	24,896
Total income tax expense (benefit)	9,725	17,693
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(128,329)	(374,269)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	19	(93)
Net income (loss)	(128,310)	(374,362)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(8,776)	(17,465)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(137,086)	(391,827)
Less: Preferred stock dividend	(3,653)	(3,652)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders	(140,739)	(395,479)
Amounts attributable to Nabors common shareholders:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(140,758)	(395,386)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	19	(93)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders	$ (140,739)	$ (395,479)
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (20.16)	$ (56.72)
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		(0.01)
Total Basic (in dollars per share)	(20.16)	(56.73)
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(20.16)	(56.72)
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		(0.01)
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (20.16)	$ (56.73)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	7,102	7,051
Diluted (in shares)	7,102	7,051