Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Apr. 22, 2020
Cover [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, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		44,456,717
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity File Number	001-14273
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	P7
Entity Address, Address Line One	Strawinskylaan 913
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Tower A, Level 9
Entity Address, City or Town	Amsterdam
Entity Address, Country	NL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	1077 XX
City Area Code	31-20
Local Phone Number	420-3191
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock (par value EUR 0.02)
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Tax Identification Number	00-0000000