Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2017	Jan. 17, 2018	May 31, 2017
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001173420
Trading Symbol	ng
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--11-30
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		322,294,889
Entity Public Float			$ 931,748
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Nov. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false