<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.3.0.11</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ReportType />
  <ContextCount>81</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>225</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>23</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>4</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000990 - Document - Document And Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document And Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>001000 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheetsUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>001010 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheetsUnauditedParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>002000 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>003000 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlowsUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>004000 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfChangesInStockholdersEquityUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006010 - Disclosure - General</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/General</Role>
      <ShortName>General</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006020 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/DiscontinuedOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006030 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/EarningsPerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006040 - Disclosure - Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefits</Role>
      <ShortName>Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006050 - Disclosure - Cash and Cash Equivalents</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/CashAndCashEquivalents</Role>
      <ShortName>Cash and Cash Equivalents</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006060 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingentLiabilities</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingent Liabilities</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006070 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/StockBasedCompensation</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006080 - Disclosure - Other Financial Statement Disclosures</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/OtherFinancialStatementDisclosures</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Financial Statement Disclosures</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006090 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/SubsequentEvents</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Events</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>008020 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/DiscontinuedOperationsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>008030 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/EarningsPerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>008040 - Disclosure - Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>008060 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingentLiabilitiesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>009020 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/DiscontinuedOperationsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>009030 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/EarningsPerShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>009040 - Disclosure - Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>009050 - Disclosure - Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/CashAndCashEquivalentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>009060 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingentLiabilitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>009070 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/StockBasedCompensationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>009090 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/SubsequentEventsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Events (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>009991 - Disclosure - Other Financial Statement Disclosures (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://rowancompanies.com/role/OtherFinancialStatementDisclosuresDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Financial Statement Disclosures (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsAcquisitionCostsOrSaleProceeds had a mix of decimals attribute values: -6 -8.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_StockGrantedDuringPeriodValueSharebasedCompensationGross had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 -6.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '009020 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Shares' elements on report '009030 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '009991 - Disclosure - Other Financial Statement Disclosures (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 001000 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Jun. 30, 2010'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2009'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 001010 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 002000 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 003000 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>rdc-20110630.xml</File>
    <File>rdc-20110630.xsd</File>
    <File>rdc-20110630_cal.xml</File>
    <File>rdc-20110630_def.xml</File>
    <File>rdc-20110630_lab.xml</File>
    <File>rdc-20110630_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
