COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Future minimum payments to be made under noncancelable operating leases [Abstract]
2015		$ 7,045,000
2016		5,765,000
2017		5,655,000
2018		5,615,000
2019		5,573,000
Later years		16,138,000
Total		45,791,000
Status of company's rigs under construction [Abstract]
Rental expense attributable to continuing operations		13,800,000	9,300,000	8,000,000
Total estimated project costs		1,472,000,000
Total costs incurred through December 31, 2014		945,000,000
Projected costs in 2015		527,000,000
Total future costs		527,000,000
Expected capital expenditures in 2015		120,000,000
Late-Arriving Equipment, Amount		10,000,000
Purchase obligations		210,000,000
Outstanding letters of credit		22,300,000
Tax settlement, amount	36,000,000	10,449,000	0	0
Rowan Reliance [Member]
Status of company's rigs under construction [Abstract]
Actual/scheduled delivery date		Nov. 01, 2014
Total estimated project costs		722,000,000
Total costs incurred through December 31, 2014		687,000,000
Projected costs in 2015		35,000,000
Total future costs		35,000,000
Rowan Relentless [Member]
Status of company's rigs under construction [Abstract]
Actual/scheduled delivery date		Mar. 01, 2015
Total estimated project costs		750,000,000
Total costs incurred through December 31, 2014		258,000,000
Projected costs in 2015		492,000,000
Total future costs		$ 492,000,000
Uncertain tax position [Member]
Status of company's rigs under construction [Abstract]
Number of years with settlement agreement		3
Number of years under examination		4