Segment Information and Concentrations - Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Product revenue	$ 708	$ 688	$ 1,932	$ 1,995
Professional services and installation services revenue	266	242	729	676
Recurring revenue, including maintenance and cloud revenue	703	683	2,080	2,022
Total revenue	$ 1,677	$ 1,613	$ 4,741	$ 4,693

Recurring revenue, including maintenance and cloud revenue

No definition available.

Name:	ncr_Recurringrevenueincludingmaintenanceandcloudrevenue
Namespace Prefix:	ncr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenue from providing technology services. The services may include training, installation, engineering or consulting. Consulting services often include implementation support, software design or development, or the customization or modification of the licensed software.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 985
-SubTopic 605
-Section 25
-Paragraph 76
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51674016&loc=d3e132428-111767

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TechnologyServicesRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration