Note 9 - Revenue 1 (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Increase (Decrease) in Revenue from Contract with Customers, Including Assessed Tax	$ (0.1)	$ 0.4	$ 0.7	$ (0.6)
Contract with Customer, Liability, Revenue Recognized	1.1	$ 0.5	2.5	$ 1.6
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Amount	$ 58.1		$ 58.1

The increase (decrease) during the period of the amount, including tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer.

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	nwpx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized that was previously included in balance of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration from customer has been received or is due.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130549-203045

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of transaction price allocated to performance obligation that has not been recognized as revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130556-203045

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant