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Accounts and Other Receivables, Net - Schedule of Accounts Notes Loans and Financing Receivable (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Receivables [Abstract]    
Accrued insurance recoveries $ 216us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivableCurrent $ 346us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivableCurrent
Other receivables 58us-gaap_OtherReceivablesGrossCurrent 163us-gaap_OtherReceivablesGrossCurrent
Total 12,441us-gaap_AccountsAndOtherReceivablesNetCurrent 9,256us-gaap_AccountsAndOtherReceivablesNetCurrent
CompX    
Receivables [Abstract]    
Trade receivables 12,253us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nl_CompXMember
8,825us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nl_CompXMember
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ (86)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nl_CompXMember
$ (78)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nl_CompXMember