Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 102,117	$ 79,789	$ 83,096
Changes in fair value of interest rate swaps	(1,058)	418	98
Interest rate swap amounts reclassified to interest expense	(61)	69	526
Income taxes on derivatives	235	(102)	(156)
Total derivatives	(884)	385	468
Adjustment of unrecognized pension actuarial gain (loss)	(1,988)	1,557	974
Prior service cost recognized during year		157
Amortization to net income of prior service cost	(848)	(106)	(77)
Amortization to net income of actuarial loss	3,171	1,706	440
Income taxes on pension and other postretirement benefit plans	(325)	(802)	(330)
Total pension and other postretirement benefit plans	10	2,512	1,007
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(874)	2,897	1,475
Comprehensive income	101,243	82,686	84,571
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	134	263	(29)
Comprehensive income attributable to Core Laboratories N.V.	$ 101,109	$ 82,423	$ 84,600