Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Apr. 23, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NU SKIN ENTERPRISES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001021561
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Ex Transition Period	false
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Common Class A [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		55,486,600