Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Feb. 06, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Document and Entity Information
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2023
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-32657
Entity Registrant Name	NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	D0
Entity Tax Identification Number	98-0363970
Entity Address, Address Line One	Crown House
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Second Floor
Entity Address, Address Line Three	4 Par-la-Ville Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Hamilton
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	HM08
Entity Address, Country	BM
City Area Code	441
Local Phone Number	292-1510
Title of 12(b) Security	Common shares, $.05 par value per share
Trading Symbol	NBR
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Document Financial Statement Error Correction [Flag]	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		10,633,331
Entity Public Float			$ 838,071,360
Auditor Firm ID	238
Auditor Name	PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Auditor Location	Houston, Texas
Entity Central Index Key	0001163739
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false