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Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Unrecognized tax benefit beginning balance		$ 2us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	$ 2us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Gross increases - tax positions in prior period	0dnow_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGrossIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0dnow_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGrossIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0dnow_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGrossIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Gross decreases - tax positions in prior period	0dnow_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGrossDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0dnow_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGrossDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0dnow_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGrossDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Gross increases - tax positions in current period	0dnow_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGrossIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	0dnow_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGrossIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	0dnow_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGrossIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Settlement	0dnow_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesOrDecreasesRelatedToSettlements	0dnow_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesOrDecreasesRelatedToSettlements	0dnow_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesOrDecreasesRelatedToSettlements
Lapse of statute of limitations		(2)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
Unrecognized tax benefit ending balance			$ 2us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits

X

- Definition

Unrecognized Tax Benefits Gross Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Unrecognized Tax Benefits Gross Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Unrecognized Tax Benefits Gross Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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X

- Definition

Unrecognized tax benefits increases or (decreases) related to settlements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	dnow_
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- Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount of unrecognized tax benefits pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Unrecognized Tax Benefit

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527854



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15A

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

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- Definition

Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from lapses of applicable statutes of limitations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15A

-Subparagraph (a)(4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319

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