Consolidated Statement of Other Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 79,789	$ 83,096	$ 63,859
Changes in fair value of interest rate swaps	418	98	(293)
Interest rate swap amounts reclassified to interest expense	69	526	829
Income taxes on derivatives	(102)	(156)	(197)
Total derivatives	385	468	339
Adjustment of unrecognized pension actuarial gain (loss)	1,557	974	(17)
Prior service cost recognized during year	157	0	0
Prior service cost	(106)	(77)	(81)
Unrecognized net actuarial loss	1,706	440	593
Income taxes on pension and other postretirement benefit plans	(802)	(330)	(124)
Total pension and other postretirement benefit plans	2,512	1,007	371
Total other comprehensive income	2,897	1,475	710
Comprehensive income	82,686	84,571	64,569
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	263	(29)	(36)
Comprehensive income attributable to Core Laboratories N.V.	$ 82,423	$ 84,600	$ 64,605