Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Apr. 24, 2019
Document Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	CORE LABORATORIES N V
Entity Central Index Key	0001000229
Trading Symbol	CLB
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		44,353,347