<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<FilingSummary>
  <Version>3.10.0.1</Version>
  <ProcessingTime/>
  <ReportFormat>html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>363</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>470</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>115</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>10</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - Document And Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document And Entity Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Cover</MenuCategory>
      <Position>1</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>2</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001501 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParentheticals</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>3</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Operations</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>4</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncomeLoss</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>5</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003001 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncomeLossParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>6</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfStockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>7</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1005000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>8</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2101100 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>9</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2102100 - Disclosure - Business Combinations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/BusinessCombinations</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Combinations</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>10</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2103100 - Disclosure - Inventories</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/Inventories</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>11</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2104100 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Equipment</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/PropertyPlantAndEquipment</Role>
      <ShortName>Property, Plant and Equipment</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>12</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2105100 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/GoodwillAndOtherIntangibleAssets</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>13</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2106100 - Disclosure - Financing Arrangements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/FinancingArrangements</Role>
      <ShortName>Financing Arrangements</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>14</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2107100 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/FairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsAndConcentrationsOfCreditRisk</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>15</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2108100 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>16</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2109100 - Disclosure - Capital Stock</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/CapitalStock</Role>
      <ShortName>Capital Stock</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>17</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2110100 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/EarningsPerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>18</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2111100 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>19</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2112100 - Disclosure - Segment and Related Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SegmentAndRelatedInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment and Related Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>20</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2113100 - Disclosure - Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowAndOtherInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>21</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2114100 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/DiscontinuedOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>22</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2115100 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>23</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2116100 - Disclosure - Supplemental Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>24</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2201201 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Policies</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>25</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2301302 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>26</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2302301 - Disclosure - Business Combinations (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/BusinessCombinationsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Combinations (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/BusinessCombinations</ParentRole>
      <Position>27</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2303301 - Disclosure - Inventories (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/InventoriesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/Inventories</ParentRole>
      <Position>28</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2304301 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/PropertyPlantAndEquipment</ParentRole>
      <Position>29</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2305301 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/GoodwillAndOtherIntangibleAssetsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/GoodwillAndOtherIntangibleAssets</ParentRole>
      <Position>30</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2306301 - Disclosure - Financing Arrangements (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/FinancingArrangementsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Financing Arrangements (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/FinancingArrangements</ParentRole>
      <Position>31</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2307301 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/FairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsAndConcentrationsOfCreditRiskTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/FairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsAndConcentrationsOfCreditRisk</ParentRole>
      <Position>32</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2308301 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/IncomeTaxesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/IncomeTaxes</ParentRole>
      <Position>33</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2309301 - Disclosure - Capital Stock (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/CapitalStockTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Capital Stock (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/CapitalStock</ParentRole>
      <Position>34</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2310301 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/EarningsPerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/EarningsPerShare</ParentRole>
      <Position>35</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2311301 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlansTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlans</ParentRole>
      <Position>36</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2312301 - Disclosure - Segment and Related Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SegmentAndRelatedInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment and Related Information (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/SegmentAndRelatedInformation</ParentRole>
      <Position>37</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2313301 - Disclosure - Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowAndOtherInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowAndOtherInformation</ParentRole>
      <Position>38</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2314301 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/DiscontinuedOperationsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/DiscontinuedOperations</ParentRole>
      <Position>39</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2315301 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</ParentRole>
      <Position>40</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2316301 - Disclosure - Supplemental Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataUnauditedTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataUnaudited</ParentRole>
      <Position>41</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2401403 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>42</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2401404 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Estimated Useful Service Lives or Lease Term (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesEstimatedUsefulServiceLivesOrLeaseTermDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Estimated Useful Service Lives or Lease Term (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>43</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2401405 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - New Guidance (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesNewGuidanceDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - New Guidance (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>44</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2402402 - Disclosure - Business Combinations - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/BusinessCombinationsTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Combinations - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>45</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2402403 - Disclosure - Business Combinations - Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/BusinessCombinationsAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Combinations - Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>46</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2403402 - Disclosure - Inventories - Schedule of Inventories (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/InventoriesScheduleOfInventoriesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories - Schedule of Inventories (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>47</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R48.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404402 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Equipment - Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/PropertyPlantAndEquipmentScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Property, Plant and Equipment - Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>48</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R49.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404403 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Equipment - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Property, Plant and Equipment - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>49</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R50.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405402 - Disclosure - - Changes in the Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/ChangesInCarryingAmountOfGoodwillDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>- Changes in the Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>50</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R51.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405403 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Other Intangible Assets (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/GoodwillAndOtherIntangibleAssetsOtherIntangibleAssetsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Other Intangible Assets (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>51</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R52.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405404 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/GoodwillAndOtherIntangibleAssetsTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>52</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R53.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405405 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Estimated Future Amortization Expense (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/GoodwillAndOtherIntangibleAssetsEstimatedFutureAmortizationExpenseDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Estimated Future Amortization Expense (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>53</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R54.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406402 - Disclosure - Financing Arrangements - Schedule of Financing Arrangements (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/FinancingArrangementsScheduleOfFinancingArrangementsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Financing Arrangements - Schedule of Financing Arrangements (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>54</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R55.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406403 - Disclosure - Financing Arrangements - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/FinancingArrangementsTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Financing Arrangements - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>55</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R56.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407402 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/FairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsAndConcentrationsOfCreditRiskTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/FairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsAndConcentrationsOfCreditRiskTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>56</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R57.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407403 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk - Accounts Receivable (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/FairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsAndConcentrationsOfCreditRiskAccountsReceivableDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk - Accounts Receivable (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>57</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R58.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407404 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk - Allowances for Losses on Accounts Receivable (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/FairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsAndConcentrationsOfCreditRiskAllowancesForLossesOnAccountsReceivableDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk - Allowances for Losses on Accounts Receivable (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>58</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R59.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408402 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/IncomeTaxesTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>59</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R60.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408403 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Provision For Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/IncomeTaxesProvisionForIncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Provision For Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>60</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R61.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408404 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Total Provision Allocated In Components (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/IncomeTaxesTotalProvisionAllocatedInComponentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Total Provision Allocated In Components (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>61</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R62.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408405 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Income from Operations Before Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/IncomeTaxesIncomeFromOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Income from Operations Before Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>62</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R63.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408406 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Effective Income Tax Reconciliation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/IncomeTaxesEffectiveIncomeTaxReconciliationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Effective Income Tax Reconciliation (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>63</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R64.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408407 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/IncomeTaxesDeferredTaxAssetsAndLiabilitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>64</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R65.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408408 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Uncertain Tax Positions Reconciliation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/IncomeTaxesUncertainTaxPositionsReconciliationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Uncertain Tax Positions Reconciliation (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>65</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R66.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2409402 - Disclosure - - Changes in Outstanding Common Stock (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/ChangesInOutstandingCommonStockDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>- Changes in Outstanding Common Stock (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>66</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R67.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2409403 - Disclosure - Capital Stock - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/CapitalStockTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Capital Stock - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>67</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R68.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410402 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share - Reconciliation of Earnings per Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/EarningsPerShareReconciliationOfEarningsPerShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share - Reconciliation of Earnings per Share (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>68</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R69.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410403 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share - Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of EPS (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/EarningsPerShareAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEpsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share - Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of EPS (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>69</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R70.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411402 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlansTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlansTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>70</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R71.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411403 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Stock Options Activity (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlansStockOptionsActivityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Stock Options Activity (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>71</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R72.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411404 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Weighted Average Assumptions, Options (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlansWeightedAverageAssumptionsOptionsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Weighted Average Assumptions, Options (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>72</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R73.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411405 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Weighted-average Exercise Price and Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Options (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlansWeightedAverageExercisePriceAndWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueOptionsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Weighted-average Exercise Price and Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value, Options (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>73</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R74.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411406 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Stock Appreciation Rights Activity (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlansStockAppreciationRightsActivityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Stock Appreciation Rights Activity (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>74</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R75.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411407 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlansPerformanceBasedRestrictedStockUnitsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>75</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R76.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411408 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Weighted Average Assumptions, Restricted Stock Units (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlansWeightedAverageAssumptionsRestrictedStockUnitsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Weighted Average Assumptions, Restricted Stock Units (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>76</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R77.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411409 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Restricted Stock Activity (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlansRestrictedStockActivityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Restricted Stock Activity (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>77</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R78.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411410 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Time-vested Restricted Stock (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/StockBasedCompensationAndOtherBenefitPlansTimeVestedRestrictedStockDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans - Time-vested Restricted Stock (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>78</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R79.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412402 - Disclosure - Segment and Related Information - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SegmentAndRelatedInformationTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment and Related Information - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>79</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R80.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412403 - Disclosure - Segment and Related Information - Financial Information by Segment (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SegmentAndRelatedInformationFinancialInformationBySegmentDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment and Related Information - Financial Information by Segment (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>80</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R81.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412404 - Disclosure - Segment and Related Information - Employee Termination Costs (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SegmentAndRelatedInformationEmployeeTerminationCostsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment and Related Information - Employee Termination Costs (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>81</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R82.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412405 - Disclosure - Segment and Related Information - Disaggregated Revenues for Fluids Systems Segment (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SegmentAndRelatedInformationDisaggregatedRevenuesForFluidsSystemsSegmentDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment and Related Information - Disaggregated Revenues for Fluids Systems Segment (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>82</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R83.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412406 - Disclosure - Segment and Related Information - Disaggregated Revenues for Mats and Integrated Services Segment (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SegmentAndRelatedInformationDisaggregatedRevenuesForMatsAndIntegratedServicesSegmentDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment and Related Information - Disaggregated Revenues for Mats and Integrated Services Segment (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>83</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R84.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412407 - Disclosure - Segment and Related Information - Financial Information by Geographical Area (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SegmentAndRelatedInformationFinancialInformationByGeographicalAreaDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment and Related Information - Financial Information by Geographical Area (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>84</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R85.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2413402 - Disclosure - Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowAndOtherInformationTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowAndOtherInformationTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>85</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R86.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2413403 - Disclosure - Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information - Supplemental Disclosures (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowAndOtherInformationSupplementalDisclosuresDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information - Supplemental Disclosures (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>86</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R87.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2413404 - Disclosure - Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information - Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowAndOtherInformationCashCashEquivalentsAndRestrictedCashDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information - Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>87</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R88.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2413405 - Disclosure - Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information - Impairments and Other Non-Cash Charges (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowAndOtherInformationImpairmentsAndOtherNonCashChargesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information - Impairments and Other Non-Cash Charges (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>88</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R89.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2414402 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/DiscontinuedOperationsTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>89</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R90.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2414403 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations - Operations from Discontinued Operations (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/DiscontinuedOperationsOperationsFromDiscontinuedOperationsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations - Operations from Discontinued Operations (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>90</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R91.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2415402 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>91</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R92.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2415403 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies - Future Minimum Payments Under Non-cancelable Operating Leases (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesFutureMinimumPaymentsUnderNonCancelableOperatingLeasesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies - Future Minimum Payments Under Non-cancelable Operating Leases (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>92</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R93.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2416402 - Disclosure - Supplemental Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataUnauditedScheduleOfQuarterlyFinancialDataDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataUnauditedTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>93</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="nr-20181231.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R94.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2416403 - Disclosure - Supplemental Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Textual (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataUnauditedTextualDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Textual (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.newpark.com/role/SupplementalSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataUnauditedTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>94</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>nr-20181231.xml</File>
    <File>nr-20181231.xsd</File>
    <File>nr-20181231_cal.xml</File>
    <File>nr-20181231_def.xml</File>
    <File>nr-20181231_lab.xml</File>
    <File>nr-20181231_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles/>
  <BaseTaxonomies>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2017-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2018-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://fasb.org/srt/2018-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2018-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
  </BaseTaxonomies>
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
