Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 30, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-02960
Entity Registrant Name	Newpark Resources, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	72-1123385
Entity Address, Address Line One	9320 Lakeside Boulevard,
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 100
Entity Address, City or Town	The Woodlands,
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77381
City Area Code	281
Local Phone Number	362-6800
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		90,803,610
Entity Central Index Key	0000071829
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	NR
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Rights to Purchase Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Rights to Purchase Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock
No Trading Symbol Flag	true
Security Exchange Name	NYSE