2.4.0.8026 - Disclosure - Note 6 - Receivables and Inventories (Details) - ReceivablestruefalseIn Thousands, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$c0_AsOf30Jun2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000071829instant2013-06-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalse$c1_AsOf31Dec2012http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000071829instant2012-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 1us-gaap_ReceivablesAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Receivables [Abstract]2false 2us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrentus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1truefalsefalse321959000321959USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse307276000307276USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmounts due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph a, b -Article 5 false2Gross trade receivables3false 2us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrentus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-4249000-4249falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-4078000-4078falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryA valuation allowance for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 4 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28368275&loc=d3e5074-111524 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 false2Allowance for doubtful accounts4false 3us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrentus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse317710000317710falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse303198000303198falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3-4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph a(1) -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 4 -Article 5 true2Net trade receivables5false 2us-gaap_OtherReceivablesNetCurrentus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1truefalsefalse1746600017466falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2024100020241falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe carrying amount of other receivables, net, due within one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from third parties or arising from transactions not separately disclosed.No definition available.false2Other receivables6false 2us-gaap_AccountsAndOtherReceivablesNetCurrentus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse335176000335176USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse323439000323439USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount due from customers, clients, or other third-parties, or arising from transactions not separately disclosed, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), net of allowances established for the purpose of reducing such receivables to an amount that approximates their net realizable value.No definition available.true2Total receivables, netfalseNote 6 - Receivables and Inventories (Details) - Receivables (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.newpark.com/role/ReceivablesTable26