Cover Page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 26, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	0-15572
Entity Registrant Name	FIRST BANCORP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NC
Entity Tax Identification Number	56-1421916
Entity Address, Address Line One	300 SW Broad St.,
Entity Address, City or Town	Southern Pines,
Entity Address, State or Province	NC
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	28387
City Area Code	(910)
Local Phone Number	246-2500
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, No Par Value
Trading Symbol	FBNC
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 711,100,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		28,492,779
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A are incorporated herein by reference into Part III.
Entity Central Index Key	0000811589
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020