Schedule of Restructuring, Acquisition and Related Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Oct. 01, 2021	Oct. 02, 2020	Oct. 01, 2021	Oct. 02, 2020
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	$ 5,185	$ 1,074	$ 7,896	$ 2,427
Acquisition and related charges	2,935	613	8,589	3,164
Total restructuring, acquisition, and related costs	8,120	1,687	16,485	5,591
2020 Restructuring
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	$ 5,185	1,006	7,688	1,006
2019 Restructuring
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges		$ 68	$ 208	667
2018 Restructuring
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges				$ 754

This element represents (i) restructuring charges, which are amounts charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a program that is planned and controlled by management, and materially changes either the scope of a business undertaken by an entity, or the manner in which that business is conducted; and (ii) acquisition and related costs, which are costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs can include transaction costs such as banking, legal, accounting and other costs directly related to effect a business combination as well as external, incremental costs of integration planning that are directly related to a business combination, including costs associated with preparing for systems and other integration activities, as well as legal and other professional services fees incurred in connection with pre-acquisition disputes.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	novt_RestructuringAcquisitionAndRelatedCosts
Namespace Prefix:	novt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123586518&loc=d3e1043-128460

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after cash payment, of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=novt_FiscalYearTwentyTwentyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=novt_FiscalYearTwentyNineteenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=novt_FiscalYearTwentyEighteenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: