Document And Entity Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013 Common Class A [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL RESEARCH CORP
Document Type	10-Q
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		20,732,784	3,455,410
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000070487
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2