Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans, net of financing costs.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_DebtInstrumentFairValueNetOfFinancingCost
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 69B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481568/470-20-55-69B

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 69C
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481568/470-20-55-69C

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1D
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1D

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482907/825-10-50-10

+ Details

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

- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1B

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482925/835-30-45-3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1D
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1D

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialLiabilitiesBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes5.10PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoThreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes0.75PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoFourMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes5.75PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoFiveMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorGuaranteedNotes9.00PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoFiveMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorGuaranteedNotes7.25PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoSixMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorGuaranteedNotes7.375PercentageDueMayTwoZeroTwoSevenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorGuaranteedNotes7.50PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoEightMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes1.75PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoNineMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Fair Value Measurements - Debt Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Feb. 28, 2023	Jan. 31, 2017
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Less: deferred financing costs	$ 27,680	$ 22,456
5.10% senior notes due September 2023
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes (as a percent)	5.10%	5.10%
0.75% senior exchangeable notes due January 2024
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes (as a percent)	0.75%	0.75%		0.75%
5.75% senior notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes (as a percent)	5.75%	5.75%
9.00% senior priority guaranteed notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes (as a percent)	9.00%	9.00%
7.25% senior guaranteed notes due January 2026
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes (as a percent)	7.25%	7.25%
7.375% senior priority guaranteed notes due May 2027
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes (as a percent)	7.375%	7.375%
7.50% senior guaranteed notes due January 2028
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes (as a percent)	7.50%	7.50%
1.75% senior exchangeable notes due June 2029
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes (as a percent)	1.75%		1.75%
Carrying Value
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	$ 2,530,930	$ 2,559,996
Less: deferred financing costs	27,680	22,456
Debt, net of financing costs	2,503,250	2,537,540
Carrying Value \| 5.10% senior notes due September 2023
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value		52,004
Carrying Value \| 0.75% senior exchangeable notes due January 2024
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	159,327	177,005
Carrying Value \| 5.75% senior notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	474,092	474,092
Carrying Value \| 9.00% senior priority guaranteed notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value		209,384
Carrying Value \| 7.25% senior guaranteed notes due January 2026
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	557,902	557,902
Carrying Value \| 7.375% senior priority guaranteed notes due May 2027
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	700,000	700,000
Carrying Value \| 7.50% senior guaranteed notes due January 2028
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	389,609	389,609
Carrying Value \| 1.75% senior exchangeable notes due June 2029
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	250,000
Fair Value
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	2,334,375	2,455,050
Fair Value \| 5.10% senior notes due September 2023
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value		51,354
Fair Value \| 0.75% senior exchangeable notes due January 2024
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	154,536	164,898
Fair Value \| 5.75% senior notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	459,528	454,773
Fair Value \| 9.00% senior priority guaranteed notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value		213,507
Fair Value \| 7.25% senior guaranteed notes due January 2026
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	522,101	529,432
Fair Value \| 7.375% senior priority guaranteed notes due May 2027
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	666,708	686,686
Fair Value \| 7.50% senior guaranteed notes due January 2028
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	342,236	$ 354,400
Fair Value \| 1.75% senior exchangeable notes due June 2029
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt at fair value	$ 189,265