GUARANTEES OF REGISTERED SECURITIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2009
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,092,844	$ 1,024,008	$ 438,853
Receivables - trade and other	344,546	423,839
Other current assets	67,675	81,749
Assets of discontinued operations	23,813	22,954
Total current assets	1,528,878	1,552,550
Property, plant and equipment - gross	8,197,715	7,661,093
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	1,811,960	1,589,364
Property, plant and equipment - net	6,385,755	6,071,729
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Due from affiliates	0	0
Other assets	61,128	75,208
TOTAL ASSETS	7,975,761	7,699,487
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable - trade	123,976	83,004
Deferred revenues	54,515	52,340
Accrued liabilities	155,971	137,495
Liabilities of discontinued operations	20,122	21,255
Total current liabilities	354,584	294,094
Long-term debt	2,008,700	2,009,598
Due to affiliates	0	0
Other liabilities	289,061	390,199
Deferred income taxes - net	429,655	473,872
Shareholders' equity	4,893,761	4,531,724
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	7,975,761	7,699,487
Condensed Consolidating Income Statements [Abstract]
REVENUES	1,579,284	1,392,607	939,229
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Direct operating costs (excluding items below)	860,893	752,173	508,066
Depreciation and amortization	271,008	247,900	183,903
Selling, general and administrative	131,373	99,712	88,278
Loss (gain) on disposals of property and equipment	(20,119)	(2,502)	(1,577)
Material charges and other operating expenses	4,453	40,272	10,976
Total costs and expenses	1,247,608	1,137,555	789,646
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	331,676	255,052	149,583
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	(69,794)	(50,717)	(20,071)
Interest income	1,578	745	730
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	(22,223)	0
Other - net	(2,221)	613	(162)
Total other income (expense) - net	(70,437)	(71,582)	(19,503)
BEFORE INCOME TAXES	261,239	183,470	130,080
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	8,663	(19,829)	(5,659)	25,400
NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	252,576	203,299	135,739
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX	0	(22,697)	601,102
EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES, NET OF TAX	0	0	0
NET INCOME	252,576	180,602	736,841
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	252,576	180,602	736,841
Pension and other postretirement benefit adjustments, net of income taxes
Net loss arising during the period	65,645	(15,488)	(79,888)
Prior service credit arising during the period	(2,330)	626	0
Amortization of net loss	18,495	22,259	14,135
Amortization of transition obligation	0	308	552
Amortization of prior service credit	(3,173)	(3,116)	(14,975)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	78,637	4,589	(80,176)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	331,213	185,191	656,665
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	623,176	393,709	94,679
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Property, plant and equipment additions	(607,311)	(685,256)	(1,517,674)
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment	44,550	10,500	5,734
Proceeds from sales of manufacturing and land drilling operations, net			1,555,480
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0
Change in restricted cash balance	0	0	15,265
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(562,761)	(674,756)	58,805
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of borrowings	0	(238,453)	(52,166)
Advances (to) from affiliates	0	0	0
Contributions from parent	0	0	0
Proceeds from borrowings	0	1,104,929	0
Payments to acquire treasury shares	0	0	(125,013)
Debt issue costs	0	(2,026)	0
Other	1,820	0	0
Dividends paid to affiliates		0
Proceeds from exercise of employee share options	2,911	588	19,941
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	3,690	1,164	5,128
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	8,421	866,202	(152,110)
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	68,836	585,155	1,374
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	1,024,008	438,853	437,479
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	1,092,844	1,024,008	438,853
Rowan Companies plc (Parent) [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	64,292	58,628	21,472
Receivables - trade and other	58	107
Other current assets	289	293
Assets of discontinued operations	0	0
Total current assets	64,639	59,028
Property, plant and equipment - gross	0	0
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	0	0
Property, plant and equipment - net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	4,860,492	4,562,016
Due from affiliates	136	0
Other assets	0	0
TOTAL ASSETS	4,925,267	4,621,044
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable - trade	1,359	1,277
Deferred revenues	0	0
Accrued liabilities	0	0
Liabilities of discontinued operations	0	0
Total current liabilities	1,359	1,277
Long-term debt	0	0
Due to affiliates	22,012	88,043
Other liabilities	8,135	0
Deferred income taxes - net	0	0
Shareholders' equity	4,893,761	4,531,724
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	4,925,267	4,621,044
Condensed Consolidating Income Statements [Abstract]
REVENUES	0	0	0
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Direct operating costs (excluding items below)	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	28,456	17,508	2,161
Loss (gain) on disposals of property and equipment	0	0	0
Material charges and other operating expenses	0	13,835	0
Total costs and expenses	28,456	31,343	2,161
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	(28,456)	(31,343)	(2,161)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	0	0	0
Interest income	210	74	1
Loss on debt extinguishment		0
Other - net	9,997	4,920	0
Total other income (expense) - net	10,207	4,994	1
BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(18,249)	(26,349)	(2,160)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0	0
NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(18,249)	(26,349)	(2,160)
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX		0	0
EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES, NET OF TAX	270,825	206,951	739,001
NET INCOME	252,576	180,602	736,841
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	252,576	180,602	736,841
Pension and other postretirement benefit adjustments, net of income taxes
Net loss arising during the period	65,645	(15,488)	(79,888)
Prior service credit arising during the period	(2,330)	626
Amortization of net loss	18,495	22,259	14,135
Amortization of transition obligation	0	308	552
Amortization of prior service credit	(3,173)	(3,116)	(14,975)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	78,637	4,589	(80,176)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	331,213	185,191	656,665
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(13,993)	33,797	(1,430)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Property, plant and equipment additions	0	0	0
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment	0	0	0
Proceeds from sales of manufacturing and land drilling operations, net			0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(100)	0	0
Change in restricted cash balance			0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(100)	0	0
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of borrowings		0	0
Advances (to) from affiliates	15,026	3,359	22,902
Contributions from parent	0	0	0
Proceeds from borrowings		0
Payments to acquire treasury shares			0
Debt issue costs		0
Other	1,820
Dividends paid to affiliates		0
Proceeds from exercise of employee share options	2,911	0	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	19,757	3,359	22,902
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	5,664	37,156	21,472
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	58,628	21,472	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	64,292	58,628	21,472
RCI (Issuer) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Subsidiary ownership percentage by parent	100.00%
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	92,116	228,085	184,677
Receivables - trade and other	7,878	95,386
Other current assets	45,031	46,614
Assets of discontinued operations	23,813	22,954
Total current assets	168,838	393,039
Property, plant and equipment - gross	593,606	1,311,987
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	243,666	487,147
Property, plant and equipment - net	349,940	824,840
Investments in subsidiaries	5,843,020	1,355,968
Due from affiliates	1,439,112	4,524,480
Other assets	35,071	37,787
TOTAL ASSETS	7,835,981	7,136,114
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable - trade	13,409	23,210
Deferred revenues	0	0
Accrued liabilities	101,478	73,443
Liabilities of discontinued operations	20,122	21,255
Total current liabilities	135,009	117,908
Long-term debt	2,008,700	2,009,598
Due to affiliates	575,184	0
Other liabilities	194,966	323,778
Deferred income taxes - net	126,681	122,814
Shareholders' equity	4,795,441	4,562,016
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	7,835,981	7,136,114
Condensed Consolidating Income Statements [Abstract]
REVENUES	114,673	133,346	128,561
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Direct operating costs (excluding items below)	11,421	35,057	76,869
Depreciation and amortization	39,658	50,377	58,874
Selling, general and administrative	3,119	14,686	22,598
Loss (gain) on disposals of property and equipment	130	(572)	(157)
Material charges and other operating expenses	0	14,476	10,976
Total costs and expenses	54,328	114,024	169,160
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	60,345	19,322	(40,599)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	(69,794)	(50,513)	(19,560)
Interest income	528	362	3,110
Loss on debt extinguishment		(21,603)
Other - net	(9,915)	(5,065)	640
Total other income (expense) - net	(79,181)	(76,819)	(15,810)
BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(18,836)	(57,497)	(56,409)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(47,325)	(77,681)	(22,501)
NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	28,489	20,184	(33,908)
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX		(22,697)	585,926
EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES, NET OF TAX	176,494	98,884	179,168
NET INCOME	204,983	96,371	731,186
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	204,983	96,371	731,186
Pension and other postretirement benefit adjustments, net of income taxes
Net loss arising during the period	65,645	(15,488)	(79,888)
Prior service credit arising during the period	(2,330)	626
Amortization of net loss	18,495	22,259	14,135
Amortization of transition obligation	0	308	552
Amortization of prior service credit	(3,173)	(3,116)	(14,975)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	78,637	4,589	(80,176)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	283,620	100,960	651,010
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	160,703	94,628	(235,989)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Property, plant and equipment additions	(49,594)	(94,009)	(125,481)
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment	2,432	6,406	613
Proceeds from sales of manufacturing and land drilling operations, net			1,555,480
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(162,379)	(256,160)	(881,450)
Change in restricted cash balance			0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(209,541)	(343,763)	549,162
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of borrowings		(200,446)	(22,464)
Advances (to) from affiliates	(90,821)	(611,666)	(260,380)
Contributions from parent	0	0	0
Proceeds from borrowings		1,104,929
Payments to acquire treasury shares			(125,013)
Debt issue costs		(2,026)
Other	0
Dividends paid to affiliates		0
Proceeds from exercise of employee share options	0	588	19,941
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	3,690	1,164	4,359
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(87,131)	292,543	(383,557)
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(135,969)	43,408	(70,384)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	228,085	184,677	255,061
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	92,116	228,085	184,677
Other non-guarantor subsidiaries [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	936,436	737,295	232,704
Receivables - trade and other	336,610	328,346
Other current assets	22,355	34,842
Assets of discontinued operations	0	0
Total current assets	1,295,401	1,100,483
Property, plant and equipment - gross	7,604,109	6,349,106
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	1,568,294	1,102,217
Property, plant and equipment - net	6,035,815	5,246,889
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Due from affiliates	579,501	391,008
Other assets	26,057	37,421
TOTAL ASSETS	7,936,774	6,775,801
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable - trade	109,208	58,517
Deferred revenues	54,515	52,340
Accrued liabilities	54,493	64,052
Liabilities of discontinued operations	0	0
Total current liabilities	218,216	174,909
Long-term debt	0	0
Due to affiliates	1,421,553	4,827,445
Other liabilities	85,960	66,421
Deferred income taxes - net	302,974	351,058
Shareholders' equity	5,908,071	1,355,968
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	7,936,774	6,775,801
Condensed Consolidating Income Statements [Abstract]
REVENUES	1,573,111	1,362,955	925,238
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Direct operating costs (excluding items below)	957,972	820,810	545,767
Depreciation and amortization	231,350	197,523	125,029
Selling, general and administrative	99,798	67,518	63,519
Loss (gain) on disposals of property and equipment	(20,249)	(1,930)	(1,420)
Material charges and other operating expenses	4,453	11,961	0
Total costs and expenses	1,273,324	1,095,882	732,895
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	299,787	267,073	192,343
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	(213)	(279)	(3,162)
Interest income	1,053	384	270
Loss on debt extinguishment		(620)
Other - net	(2,303)	758	(802)
Total other income (expense) - net	(1,463)	243	(3,694)
BEFORE INCOME TAXES	298,324	267,316	188,649
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	55,988	57,852	16,842
NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	242,336	209,464	171,807
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX		0	15,176
EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES, NET OF TAX	0	0	0
NET INCOME	242,336	209,464	186,983
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	242,336	209,464	186,983
Pension and other postretirement benefit adjustments, net of income taxes
Net loss arising during the period	0	0	0
Prior service credit arising during the period	0	0
Amortization of net loss	0	0	0
Amortization of transition obligation	0	0	0
Amortization of prior service credit	0	0	0
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	242,336	209,464	186,983
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	476,466	406,149	332,098
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Property, plant and equipment additions	(557,717)	(591,247)	(1,392,193)
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment	42,118	4,094	5,121
Proceeds from sales of manufacturing and land drilling operations, net			0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0
Change in restricted cash balance			15,265
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(515,599)	(587,153)	(1,371,807)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of borrowings		(38,007)	(29,702)
Advances (to) from affiliates	75,795	608,307	237,478
Contributions from parent	162,479	256,160	881,450
Proceeds from borrowings		0
Payments to acquire treasury shares			0
Debt issue costs		0
Other	0
Dividends paid to affiliates		(140,865)
Proceeds from exercise of employee share options	0	0	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	0	0	769
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	238,274	685,595	1,089,995
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	199,141	504,591	50,286
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	737,295	232,704	182,418
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	936,436	737,295	232,704
Consolidating adjustments [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Receivables - trade and other	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Assets of discontinued operations	0	0
Total current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment - gross	0	0
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	0	0
Property, plant and equipment - net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(10,703,512)	(5,917,984)
Due from affiliates	(2,018,749)	(4,915,488)
Other assets	0	0
TOTAL ASSETS	(12,722,261)	(10,833,472)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable - trade	0	0
Deferred revenues	0	0
Accrued liabilities	0	0
Liabilities of discontinued operations	0	0
Total current liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Due to affiliates	(2,018,749)	(4,915,488)
Other liabilities	0	0
Deferred income taxes - net	0	0
Shareholders' equity	(10,703,512)	(5,917,984)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	(12,722,261)	(10,833,472)
Condensed Consolidating Income Statements [Abstract]
REVENUES	(108,500)	(103,694)	(114,570)
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Direct operating costs (excluding items below)	(108,500)	(103,694)	(114,570)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	0	0	0
Loss (gain) on disposals of property and equipment	0	0	0
Material charges and other operating expenses	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(108,500)	(103,694)	(114,570)
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	0	0	0
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	213	75	2,651
Interest income	(213)	(75)	(2,651)
Loss on debt extinguishment		0
Other - net	0	0	0
Total other income (expense) - net	0	0	0
BEFORE INCOME TAXES	0	0	0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0	0
NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	0	0	0
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX		0	0
EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES, NET OF TAX	(447,319)	(305,835)	(918,169)
NET INCOME	(447,319)	(305,835)	(918,169)
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	(447,319)	(305,835)	(918,169)
Pension and other postretirement benefit adjustments, net of income taxes
Net loss arising during the period	(65,645)	15,488	79,888
Prior service credit arising during the period	2,330	(626)
Amortization of net loss	(18,495)	(22,259)	(14,135)
Amortization of transition obligation	0	(308)	(552)
Amortization of prior service credit	3,173	3,116	14,975
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(78,637)	(4,589)	80,176
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(525,956)	(310,424)	(837,993)
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	0	(140,865)	0
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Property, plant and equipment additions	0	0	0
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment	0	0	0
Proceeds from sales of manufacturing and land drilling operations, net			0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	162,479	256,160	881,450
Change in restricted cash balance			0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	162,479	256,160	881,450
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of borrowings		0	0
Advances (to) from affiliates	0	0	0
Contributions from parent	(162,479)	(256,160)	(881,450)
Proceeds from borrowings		0
Payments to acquire treasury shares			0
Debt issue costs		0
Other	0
Dividends paid to affiliates		140,865
Proceeds from exercise of employee share options	0	0	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(162,479)	(115,295)	(881,450)
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	0	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	0	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
5% Senior Notes, due 2017 [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	5.00%
5% Senior Notes, due 2017 [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member] | RCI (Issuer) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	5.00%
7.875% Senior Notes due 2019 [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	7.875%
7.875% Senior Notes due 2019 [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member] | RCI (Issuer) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	7.875%
4.875% Senior Notes due 2022 [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.875%
4.875% Senior Notes due 2022 [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member] | RCI (Issuer) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.875%
5.4% Senior Notes, due 2042 [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	5.40%
5.4% Senior Notes, due 2042 [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member] | RCI (Issuer) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	5.40%