XML 62 R46.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) ReportingUnit Customer | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of reporting units | ReportingUnit | 4 |  |
Foreign currency transaction losses | $ | $ 3 | $ 2 | $ 2
Number of major customers | Customer | 20 |  |
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of revenue | 10.00% |  |
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member] | Top 20 Customers [Member] |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of revenue | 33.00% |  |

X
- Definition Concentration risk number of major customers. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dnow_ConcentrationRiskNumberOfMajorCustomers
Namespace Prefix: | dnow_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Summary of significant accounting policies. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dnow_SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | dnow_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 18 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51801978&loc=d3e6351-108592 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13531-108611 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51801978&loc=d3e6404-108592 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13537-108611 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30690-110894 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30700-110894 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossRealized
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of reporting units tested for impairment of goodwill. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Reporting Unit -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6523643 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfReportingUnits
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis=us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=dnow_MajorCustomersMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |