Organization and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 22, 2013 GeographicMarket Vendor Country	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 shares
Basis Of Presentation And Organization [Line Items]
Number of geographical area covered | GeographicMarket	90
Number of vendors | Vendor	1,000
Number of countries distribution occur through vendors | Country	40
Common stock, shares outstanding		107,204,061		107,204,061		107,067,457
Operating and warehousing costs | $		$ 98	$ 108	$ 300	$ 315
Separation [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Organization [Line Items]
Spin-off description				In accordance with a separation and distribution agreement, the two companies were separated by NOV distributing to its stockholders 107,053,031 shares of common stock of the Company after the market closed on May 30, 2014. Each NOV stockholder received one share of NOW common stock for every four shares of NOV common stock held at the close of business on the record date of May 22, 2014 and not sold prior to close of business on May 30, 2014.
Common stock, shares outstanding		107,053,031		107,053,031
Ratio of common stock sharing				4