Maximum lending capacity under the terms noted per the related party credit facility.

No definition available.

Name:	nl_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumLendingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	nl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of receivables due from an entity that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership, due after 1 year (or 1 business cycle).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
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-Publisher FASB
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(11))
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
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+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DueFromAffiliateNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of interest income earned from interest-bearing assets owed to the entity by related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

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(22))
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage points (also referred to as 'margin') added to the reference rate as stated in the loan agreement and used to compute the variable rate on the loans receivable. For instance, the loan agreement might state that the interest rate the borrower is obligated to pay is the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus three quarters (3/4) of a percentage point adjusted quarterly (each three months). LIBOR in this example is the index or reference rate, 3/4 percentage point is the margin, the reference rate plus the margin is the fully indexed rate. This element would be used to report separately the margin.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the loans receivable, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Expenses recognized resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionExpensesFromTransactionsWithRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nl_ValhiCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=nl_ValhiMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=nl_ContranMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=nl_IntercorporateServicesAgreementsFeesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=nl_CombinedInformationTechnologyDataRecoveryProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=nl_TallPinesAndEWIMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=nl_InsurancePremiumsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=nl_NLKWHoldingLimitedLiabilityCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=nl_CompXInternationalIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=nl_ValhiIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=nl_UnsecuredRevolvingPromissoryNoteReceivableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 30, 2016	Nov. 14, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016	Jan. 30, 2010
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Notes receivable from affiliate		$ 27,400,000
Valhi Credit Facility
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Outstanding borrowings		500,000
Valhi \| Unsecured Revolving Promissory Note
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Borrowing under credit facility					$ 40,000,000			$ 40,000,000
Outstanding borrowings		0	$ 0	$ 0
Contran \| Intercorporate Services Agreement Fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expense transaction with affiliate		24,500,000	23,300,000	21,900,000
Contran \| Intercorporate Services Agreement Fees \| Scenario Forecast
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expense transaction with affiliate	$ 23,900,000
Contran \| Combined Information Technology Data Recovery Program
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expense transaction with affiliate		158,000	180,000	145,000
Tall Pines and EWI \| Insurance Premiums
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expense transaction with affiliate		11,300,000	$ 12,200,000	$ 12,000,000
NLKW Holding, LLC \| Valhi Credit Facility
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Outstanding borrowings		$ 500,000
NLKW Holding, LLC \| Valhi \| Valhi Credit Facility
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Borrowing under credit facility					$ 50,000,000	$ 50,000,000
CompX \| Valhi Inc \| Unsecured Revolving Promissory Note Receivable
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Maximum loan amount							$ 40,000,000
Interest rate on loans repayment							1.00%
Interest rate on loans basis		prime plus 1.00%
Notes receivable from affiliate		$ 27,400,000
Interest income including unused commitment fees		$ 200,000