CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 626,099		$ 614,337		$ 521,290
Cost of revenue	364,014		352,809		300,759
Gross profit	262,085		261,528		220,531
Operating expenses:
Research and development and engineering	55,965		51,024		41,673
Selling, general and administrative	118,407		115,900		101,654
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	15,857		15,550		12,096
Restructuring and acquisition related costs	16,574		8,041		7,542
Total operating expenses	206,803		190,515		162,965
Operating income	55,282		71,013		57,566
Interest income (expense), net	(8,493)		(9,814)		(7,165)
Foreign exchange transaction gains (losses), net	(780)		147		(447)
Other income (expense), net	(243)		(44)		(229)
Gain on acquisition of business					26,409
Income before income taxes	45,766		61,302		76,134
Income tax provision	4,993		10,207		13,827
Consolidated net income	40,773	[1]	51,095	[2]	62,307	[3]
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest			(1,986)	[2]	(2,256)	[3]
Net income attributable to Novanta Inc.	$ 40,773	[1]	$ 49,109	[2]	$ 60,051	[3]
Earnings per common share attributable to Novanta Inc. (Note 9):
Basic	$ 1.16	[1]	$ 1.46	[2]	$ 1.14	[3]
Diluted	$ 1.15	[1]	$ 1.43	[2]	$ 1.13	[3]
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic	35,030	[1]	34,913	[2]	34,817	[3]
Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted	35,546	[1]	35,473	[2]	35,280	[3]

[1] For the year ended December 31, 2019, 46 non-GAAP EPS performance-based restricted stock units granted to certain members of the executive management team and 213 shares of restricted stock issued to Laser Quantum former non-controlling interest shareholders are considered contingently issuable shares and were excluded from the calculation of the denominator as the contingent conditions had not been met as of December 31, 2019.

[2] For the year ended December 31, 2018, 54 non-GAAP EPS performance-based restricted stock units granted to certain members of the executive management team and 213 shares of restricted stock issued to Laser Quantum former non-controlling interest shareholders were considered contingently issuable shares and were excluded from the calculation of the denominator as the contingent conditions had not been met as of December 31, 2018.

[3] For the year ended December 31, 2017, 59 non-GAAP EPS performance-based restricted stock units granted to certain members of the executive management team were excluded from the calculation of the denominator as the contingent conditions had not been met as of December 31, 2017.