Consolidated leverage ratio maximum.

No definition available.

Name:	novt_ConsolidatedLeverageRatioMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	novt_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt instruments maturity date month and year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	novt_DebtInstrumentsMaturityDateMonthAndYear
Namespace Prefix:	novt_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearMonthItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increases Decrease in Line of Credit Facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	novt_IncreasesDecreaseInLineOfCreditFacility
Namespace Prefix:	novt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of credit facility accordion feature.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	novt_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionFeature
Namespace Prefix:	novt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the frequency of periodic payments (monthly, quarterly, annual).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75038535&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the required periodic payments applied to principal.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of payment greater than the preceding installment payments to be paid at final maturity date of debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPaymentTermsBalloonPaymentToBePaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the aggregate of total long-term debt, including current maturities and short-term debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the conditions for borrowing under the credit facility including the nature of any restrictions.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from contractual arrangement with the lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3255-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash outflow during the period from the repayment of aggregate short-term and long-term debt. Excludes payment of capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=novt_TermLoanAndRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=novt_SecondAmendedAndRestatedCreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=novt_PermittedAcquisitionsAndStockRepurchasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=novt_DesignatedAcquisitionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=novt_FourConsecutiveQuartersFollowingDesignatedAcquisitionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=novt_TermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=novt_ThirdAmendmentToSecondAmendedAndRestatedCreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=novt_FourthAmendmentToSecondAmendedAndRestatedCreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)				1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Debt - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	Aug. 01, 2018	Aug. 01, 2017	May 19, 2016	Feb. 28, 2018	Sep. 27, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Jul. 28, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt including current maturities					$ 227,507,000		$ 207,378,000
Repayment of debt					40,768,000	$ 29,059,000
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from debt					66,800,000
Term Loan And Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayment of debt					$ 40,800,000
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio			300.00%
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Permitted Acquisitions and Stock Repurchases
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio			250.00%
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Designated Acquisition
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio			300.00%
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Four Consecutive Quarters Following Designated Acquisition
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio			350.00%
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt including current maturities								$ 65,600,000
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 225,000,000
Third Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, frequency of periodic payment	quarterly
Senior credit facilities maturity year	2021-05
Third Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt including current maturities		$ 90,600,000
Quarterly installments payable on term loan		2,300,000
Debt instrument, final installment amount		56,100,000
Third Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increases the revolving credit facility		100,000,000
Maximum borrowing capacity		325,000,000
Line of credit facility accordion feature		$ 125,000,000
Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio					350.00%
Second amended and restated credit agreement, fourth amendment, covenants				The Fourth Amendment increased the maximum consolidated leverage ratio from 3.00 to 3.50, increased the maximum consolidated leverage ratio for permitted acquisitions and stock repurchases from 2.50 to 3.00, increased the maximum consolidated leverage ratio for a designated acquisition from 3.00 to 3.50, and increased the maximum consolidated leverage ratio for four consecutive quarters following a designated acquisition from 3.50 to 4.00.
Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Permitted Acquisitions and Stock Repurchases
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio					300.00%
Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Designated Acquisition
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio					350.00%
Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Four Consecutive Quarters Following Designated Acquisition
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio					400.00%