Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 25, 2019
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	National Research Corporation
Entity Central Index Key	0000070487
Trading Symbol	nrc
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		24,920,050
Entity Shell Company	false
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $.001 par value