Name:	nbr_DebtInstrumentCovenantMaturityConditionsThresholdPercentageOfOutstandingAggregatePrincipalAmount
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Threshold amount beyond which the debt instrument covenant restricts the company's subsidiaries to incur debt.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_DebtInstrumentCovenantsRestrictingSubsidiariesToIncurDebtThresholdAmount
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Threshold amount beyond which the debt instrument covenant restricts the company's ability to incur liens.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_DebtInstrumentCovenantsRestrictionToIncurLiensThresholdAmount
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Threshold percentage of property, plant and equipment to be owned by the revolver guarantor and its subsidiaries.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_LineOfCreditFacilityAgreementThresholdPercentageOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentOwnedByRevolverGuarantor
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The contingent increase above the maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility, if any one or more of the existing banks or new banks agree to provide such increased commitment amount.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_LineOfCreditFacilityContingentIncreaseAdditionalBorrowingCapacity
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466505&loc=SL123495323-112611

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
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The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126897435&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126734703&loc=d3e572229-122910

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
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Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes5.10PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoThreeMember
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes5.75PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoFiveMember
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes0.75PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoFourMember
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Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	srt_StatementScenarioAxis=nbr_DebtCovenantsMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
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