CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 489,333	$ 533,931	$ 949,844	$ 1,252,295
Investment income (loss)	(62)	2,036	1,201	(1,162)
Total revenues and other income	489,271	535,967	951,045	1,251,133
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	312,466	326,557	603,120	788,397
General and administrative expenses	51,580	46,244	106,240	103,628
Research and engineering	7,965	7,305	15,432	18,714
Depreciation and amortization	174,775	211,120	352,051	438,183
Interest expense	41,714	51,206	84,689	105,928
Impairments and other charges	59,868	57,852	62,351	334,286
Other, net	6,587	(30,795)	11,450	(47,905)
Total costs and other deductions	654,955	669,489	1,235,333	1,741,231
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(165,684)	(133,522)	(284,288)	(490,098)
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	27,195	(336)	38,098	(7,539)
Deferred	(2,476)	4,782	(3,654)	29,678
Total income tax expense (benefit)	24,719	4,446	34,444	22,139
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(190,403)	(137,968)	(318,732)	(512,237)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	8	23	27	(70)
Net income (loss)	(190,395)	(137,945)	(318,705)	(512,307)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5,614)	(10,167)	(14,390)	(27,632)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(196,009)	(148,112)	(333,095)	(539,939)
Less: Preferred stock dividend		(3,653)	(3,653)	(7,305)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders	(196,009)	(151,765)	(336,748)	(547,244)
Amounts attributable to Nabors common shareholders:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(196,017)	(151,788)	(336,775)	(547,174)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	8	23	27	(70)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders	$ (196,009)	$ (151,765)	$ (336,748)	$ (547,244)
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (26.59)	$ (22.13)	$ (46.90)	$ (78.85)
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)				(0.01)
Total Basic (in dollars per share)	(26.59)	(22.13)	(46.90)	(78.86)
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(26.59)	(22.13)	(46.90)	(78.85)
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)				(0.01)
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (26.59)	$ (22.13)	$ (46.90)	$ (78.86)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	7,460	7,052	7,281	7,052
Diluted (in shares)	7,460	7,052	7,281	7,052