Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Nov. 06, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2023
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-39370
Entity Registrant Name	Nkarta, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	47-4515206
Entity Address, Address Line One	1150 Veterans Boulevard
Entity Address, City or Town	South San Francisco
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94080
City Area Code	925
Local Phone Number	407-1049
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	NKTX
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Ex Transition Period	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		49,072,342
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Central Index Key	0001787400