Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Feb. 20, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL RESEARCH CORP
Document Type	10-K
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			6,759,728
Entity Public Float		$ 70,192,505
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000070487
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY