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Geographic Information - Geographical Information Attributable to Net Sales (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]                      
Net sales $ 24,744us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 26,473us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 26,848us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 25,781us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 22,344us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 24,209us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 24,039us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 21,453us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 103,846us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 92,045us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 83,196us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Point of destination                      
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]                      
Net sales                 103,846us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nl_PointOfDestinationMember
92,045us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nl_PointOfDestinationMember
83,196us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nl_PointOfDestinationMember
United States | Point of destination                      
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]                      
Net sales                 98,994us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nl_PointOfDestinationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
87,307us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nl_PointOfDestinationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
78,268us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nl_PointOfDestinationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
Canada | Point of destination                      
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]                      
Net sales                 1,927us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nl_PointOfDestinationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_CA
2,195us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nl_PointOfDestinationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_CA
2,194us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nl_PointOfDestinationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_CA
Other | Point of destination                      
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]                      
Net sales                 $ 2,925us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nl_PointOfDestinationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= nl_OtherCountriesMember
$ 2,543us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nl_PointOfDestinationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= nl_OtherCountriesMember
$ 2,734us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nl_PointOfDestinationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= nl_OtherCountriesMember