Name:	nl_DebtInstrumentCollateralPercentageOwnershipByParent
Namespace Prefix:	nl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Maximum principle outstanding, stated as a percentage of collateral value.

No definition available.

Name:	nl_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumPrincipalAmountOutstandingPercentageOfCollateralValue
Namespace Prefix:	nl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of shares of marketable equity securities contributed to subsidiary.

No definition available.

Name:	nl_MarketableEquitySecuritiesSharesContributedToSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	nl_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Maximum amount of stock repurchase which may be in the form of debt.

No definition available.

Name:	nl_MaximumBorrowAmountForStockRepurchasePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	nl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Discussion of whether the debt instrument is secured or unsecured, and, if secured, a description of the collateral and guarantees required or provided.

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The average effective interest rate during the reporting period.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDate1
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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Description of the frequency of periodic payments, which may be presented in a variety of ways (for example, monthly, quarterly, annually).

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityFrequencyOfPayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Weighted average interest rate of long-term debt outstanding calculated at point in time.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=nl_NLKWHoldingLimitedLiabilityCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=nl_KronosWorldwideIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nl_BackToBackCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=nl_ValhiMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nl_ValhiCreditFacilityMember
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