Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Changes in Carrying Amount of Service and Product Warranties (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Product Warranties Disclosures [Abstract]
Beginning Balance	$ 70	$ 73
Net provisions for warranties issued during the year	16	11
Amounts incurred	(16)	(17)
Currency translation adjustments and other	2	3
Ending Balance	$ 72	$ 70

Standard product warranty accrual foreign currency translation gain loss and other.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	nov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount as of the balance sheet date of the aggregate standard product warranty liability that is expected to be paid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Does not include the balance for the extended product warranty liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482425/460-10-50-8

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (c)(5)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482425/460-10-50-8

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of decrease in the standard product warranty accrual from payments made in cash or in kind to satisfy claims under the terms of the standard product warranty. Excludes extended product warranties.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in the standard product warranty accrual from warranties issued. Excludes extended product warranties.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration