Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Nuvasive, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interest [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 604,878	$ 45	$ 769,203	$ (3,238)	$ (170,218)		$ 595,792	$ 9,086
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013		44,943
Issuance of common stock under employee and director stock option and purchase plans	19,572	$ 3	30,106			$ (10,537)	19,572
Issuance of common stock under employee and director stock option and purchase plans, Shares		2,660				(233)
Stock-based compensation expense	33,687		33,687				33,687
Tax benefits related to stock-based compensation awards	10,988		10,988				10,988
Issuance of common stock in connection with royalty milestone achievement	3,161		3,161				3,161
Issuance of common stock in connection with royalty milestone achievement, Shares		88
Net income (loss) attributable to NuVasive, Inc.	(16,720)				(16,720)		(16,720)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(776)							(776)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(6,432)			(6,432)			(6,432)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	648,358	$ 48	847,145	(9,670)	(186,938)	$ (10,537)	640,048	8,310
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2014		47,691				(233)
Issuance of common stock under employee and director stock option and purchase plans	(44,812)	$ 5	106,434			$ (151,251)	(44,812)
Issuance of common stock under employee and director stock option and purchase plans, Shares		4,925				(3,083)
Stock-based compensation expense	25,364		25,364				25,364
Tax benefits related to stock-based compensation awards	10,444		10,444				10,444
Net income (loss) attributable to NuVasive, Inc.	66,291				66,291		66,291
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,001)							(1,001)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,442)			(2,442)			(2,442)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	702,202	$ 53	989,387	(12,112)	(120,647)	$ (161,788)	694,893	7,309
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2015		52,616				(3,316)
Adjustment for modified retrospective adoption of accounting standard	16,641				16,641		16,641
Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Adjusted Balance1	718,843				(104,006)		711,534
Issuance of common stock under employee and director stock option and purchase plans	(15,357)	$ 2	60,720			$ (76,079)	(15,357)
Issuance of common stock under employee and director stock option and purchase plans, Shares		2,480				(1,443)
Stock-based compensation expense	24,981		24,981				24,981
Tax benefits related to convertible note repurchase	13,374		13,374				13,374
Issuance of common stock in connection with royalty milestone achievement	5,761		5,761				5,761
Issuance of common stock in connection with royalty milestone achievement, Shares		88
Issuance of common stock through conversion of notes payable, Shares		1
Sale of warrants	44,850		44,850				44,850
Convertible note hedge	(111,150)		(111,150)				(111,150)
Equity component of convertible note issuance	84,784		84,784				84,784
Equity component of convertible note repurchase	(100,524)		(100,524)				(100,524)
Debt issuance costs attributable to convertible feature	(1,931)		(1,931)				(1,931)
Securities registration fees	(14)		(14)				(14)
Net income (loss) attributable to NuVasive, Inc.	37,147				37,147		37,147
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,721)							(1,721)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,481			1,481			1,481
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	700,524	$ 55	$ 1,010,238	$ (10,631)	$ (66,859)	$ (237,867)	$ 694,936	$ 5,588
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2016		52,616				(3,316)
Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Adjusted Balance1	$ 700,524