Earnings Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations																	$ 308,195,000		$ 344,250,000		$ 162,798,000
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest																	(95,368,000)		(90,015,000)		(43,807,000)
Less: Preferred stock dividends																	0		0		0
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest																	10,935,000		1,714,000		2,049,000
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders																	223,762,000		255,949,000		121,040,000
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest																	31,700,000		4,970,000		5,940,000
Net income attributable to Frank's International N.V.	55,085,000		40,814,000		105,363,000		54,200,000		64,100,000		68,067,000		67,595,000		61,157,000		255,462,000		260,919,000		126,980,000
Income from continuing operations applicable to common shares																	223,762,000		255,949,000		121,040,000
Add: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest																	88,041,000		90,015,000		43,807,000
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted																	311,803,000		345,964,000		164,847,000
Dilutive net income available to common stockholders																	343,503,000		350,934,000		170,787,000
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract]
Basic weighted average common shares																	132,257		119,024		119,024
Exchange of noncontrolling interest for common stock																	52,976		52,976		52,976
Retricted stock units																	273		0		0
Diluted weighted average common shares																	185,506		172,000		172,000
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing Operations (in dollars per share)																	$ 1.69		$ 2.15		$ 1.02
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)																	$ 0.24		$ 0.04		$ 0.05
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	[1]	$ 0.30	[1]	$ 0.89	[1]	$ 0.45	[1]	$ 0.54	[1]	$ 0.57	[1]	$ 0.57	[1]	$ 0.51	[1]	$ 1.93	[1]	$ 2.19	[1]	$ 1.07
Diluted earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)																	$ 1.68		$ 2.01		$ 0.96
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)																	$ 0.17		$ 0.03		$ 0.03
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	[1]	$ 0.29	[1]	$ 0.89	[1]	$ 0.42	[1]	$ 0.50	[1]	$ 0.53	[1]	$ 0.53	[1]	$ 0.48	[1]	$ 1.85	[1]	$ 2.04	[1]	$ 0.99
Tax expense from conversion of Preferred Stock			$ 7,300,000														$ 0

[1] he sum of the individual quarterly earnings per share amounts may not agree with year-to-date net income per common share as each quarterly computation is based on the weighted average number of commons shares outstanding during that period.