COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 lawsuit	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2009
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Rental expense attributable to continuing operations	$ 9,300,000	$ 8,000,000	$ 5,600,000
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Future minimum payments to be made under noncancelable operating leases [Abstract]
2014	7,099,000
2015	5,470,000
2016	4,984,000
2017	4,857,000
2018	4,798,000
Later years	20,876,000
Total	48,084,000
Status of company's rigs under construction [Abstract]
Total estimated project costs	2,947,000,000
Total costs incurred through December 31, 2013	970,000,000
Projected costs in 2014	1,522,000,000
Projected costs in 2015	455,000,000
Total future costs	1,977,000,000
Expected capital expenditures in 2013	205,000,000
Purchase obligations	190,000,000
Outstanding letters of credit	27,200,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	8,663,000	(19,829,000)	(5,659,000)	25,400,000
Number of Asbestos related law suits	27
Rowan Renaissance [Member]
Status of company's rigs under construction [Abstract]
Actual/scheduled delivery date	Jan. 01, 2014
Total estimated project costs	729,000,000
Total costs incurred through December 31, 2013	290,000,000
Projected costs in 2014	439,000,000
Projected costs in 2015	0
Total future costs	439,000,000
Rowan Resolute [Member]
Status of company's rigs under construction [Abstract]
Actual/scheduled delivery date	Jun. 01, 2014
Total estimated project costs	741,000,000
Total costs incurred through December 31, 2013	285,000,000
Projected costs in 2014	456,000,000
Projected costs in 2015	0
Total future costs	456,000,000
Rowan Reliance [Member]
Status of company's rigs under construction [Abstract]
Actual/scheduled delivery date	Oct. 01, 2014
Total estimated project costs	730,000,000
Total costs incurred through December 31, 2013	207,000,000
Projected costs in 2014	519,000,000
Projected costs in 2015	4,000,000
Total future costs	523,000,000
Rowan Relentless [Member]
Status of company's rigs under construction [Abstract]
Actual/scheduled delivery date	Mar. 01, 2015
Total estimated project costs	747,000,000
Total costs incurred through December 31, 2013	188,000,000
Projected costs in 2014	108,000,000
Projected costs in 2015	451,000,000
Total future costs	$ 559,000,000