Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 item	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment information
Number of business segments			3
Number of historical operating segments			2
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	$ 92,458	$ 91,232	$ 282,612	$ 277,091
Contribution margin:
Total contribution margin	34,883	34,933	108,462	107,332
Selling, general and administrative	28,170	26,228	86,996	79,142
Operating income	6,713	8,705	21,466	28,190
Other income (expense), net	(269)	(214)	1,543	(159)
Income before provision for income taxes	6,444	8,491	23,009	28,031
Property, plant and equipment:
Total property, plant and equipment	29,347		29,347		27,950
United States
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	37,209	38,243	116,552	118,390
Property, plant and equipment:
Total property, plant and equipment	23,001		23,001		20,923
Other
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	55,249	52,989	166,060	158,701
Property, plant and equipment:
Total property, plant and equipment	3,049		3,049		3,492
Venezuela
Property, plant and equipment:
Total property, plant and equipment	3,297		3,297		3,535
NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	50,560	51,783	157,113	159,254
Contribution margin:
Total contribution margin	19,973	20,513	64,234	63,708
NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe | Herbal products
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	29,372	28,888	90,757	89,809
NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe | Vitamin, mineral and other nutritional supplements
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	19,102	20,379	59,672	61,566
NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe | Personal care products
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	1,179	1,560	3,786	4,861
NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe | Other products
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	907	956	2,898	3,018
NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	14,577	13,187	45,695	41,986
Contribution margin:
Total contribution margin	5,409	5,043	16,915	16,069
NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe | Herbal products
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	6,656	5,834	20,692	18,389
NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe | Vitamin, mineral and other nutritional supplements
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	6,854	5,954	21,337	18,686
NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe | Personal care products
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	1,016	1,354	3,511	4,775
NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe | Other products
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	51	45	155	136
Synergy WorldWide
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	27,321	26,262	79,804	75,851
Contribution margin:
Total contribution margin	9,501	9,377	27,313	27,555
Synergy WorldWide | Herbal products
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	9,520	10,005	31,608	29,982
Synergy WorldWide | Vitamin, mineral and other nutritional supplements
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	15,967	14,510	42,725	40,575
Synergy WorldWide | Personal care products
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	1,471	1,394	4,405	4,020
Synergy WorldWide | Other products
Net sales revenue:
Total net sales revenue	$ 363	$ 353	$ 1,066	$ 1,274
Nature's Sunshine Products:
Segment information
Number of business segments			2