Name:	nbr_BusinessAcquisitionThresholdTradingDays
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of shares of the acquirer transferred as consideration in a business combination.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferredEquityInterestsShares
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of drilling rigs for included in a business acquisition.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_NumberOfDrillingRigsIncludedInAcquisition
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479907/805-20-50-5

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

Price of a single share of a number of saleable stocks paid or offered to be paid in a business combination.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionSharePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Purchase price of expected business acquisition prior to consideration being transferred. Excludes asset acquisition.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 15
-Paragraph 3
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 805
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479455/805-10-15-3