Cover - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-33816
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	26-0287117
Entity Address, Address Line One	6720 N. Scottsdale Road
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 190
Entity Address, City or Town	Scottsdale
Entity Address, State or Province	AZ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	85253
City Area Code	(602)
Local Phone Number	903-7802
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	NES
Security Exchange Name	NYSEAMER
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Bankruptcy Proceedings, Reporting Current	true
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		15,772,420
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	Nuverra Environmental Solutions, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001403853
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31