Organization and Basis of Presentation	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and Basis of Presentation	1. Organization and Basis of Presentation Nature of Operations NOW Inc. (“NOW” or the “Company”) is a holding company headquartered in Houston, Texas that was incorporated in Delaware on November 22, 2013. NOW operates primarily under the DistributionNOW and Wilson Export brands. NOW is a global distributor of energy products as well as products for industrial applications through its locations in the U.S., Canada and internationally which are geographically positioned to serve the energy and industrial markets in approximately 80 countries. NOW’s energy product offerings are used in the oil and gas industry including upstream drilling and completion, exploration and production, midstream infrastructure development and downstream petroleum refining – as well as in other industries, such as chemical processing, power generation and industrial manufacturing operations. The industrial distribution portion of NOW’s business targets a diverse range of manufacturing and facilities across numerous industries and end markets. NOW also provides supply chain management to drilling contractors, E&P operators, midstream operators, downstream energy and industrial manufacturing companies. NOW’s supplier network consists of thousands of vendors in approximately 40 countries. Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial information include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. Reclassification Certain amounts in the prior periods presented have been reclassified to conform to the current period financial statement presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on previously reported results of operations. Recently Issued Accounting Standards In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than twelve months in its balance sheets. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and requires a modified retrospective transition method. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Targeted Improvements, which provided entities with an additional (and optional) transition method, allowing an entity to apply the new lease standard at the adoption date and to recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company will adopt ASC Topic 842 on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition method allowed under ASU 2018-11. The Company will elect the package of practical expedients permitted under ASU 2018-11, which among other things, allows an entity to carry forward its historical lease classifications. The Company is currently finalizing the implementation of key systems functionality and internal control processes in order to comply with ASC Topic 842. Based on its current assessment, which is subject to change, the Company estimates both assets and liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets will increase by less than $100 million, upon adoption. Changes in the lease population or changes in incremental borrowing rates may alter this estimate. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact in its consolidated statements of operations and cash flows. The Company will expand its consolidated financial statement disclosure upon adoption of this standard. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326), which replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to determine credit loss estimates. ASU 2016-13 requires entities to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Entities will now use forward-looking information to better form their credit loss estimates. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted as of December 15, 2018, and requires modified retrospective transition method. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-13 in its consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), which modified the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for removed or modified disclosures. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2018-13 in its consolidated financial statements. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 affects any entity using GAAP that enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (e.g., insurance contracts or lease contracts). This ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605 Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method resulting in a de minimis increase to the opening accumulated deficit due to the cumulative impact of adopting Topic 606. The adoption of the new standard had no material impact on the measurement or recognition of revenue, however additional disclosures have been added in accordance with Topic 606. See Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for additional details on the Company’s revenue policies. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (Topic 715). ASU 2017-07 requires the disaggregation of the service cost component from the other components of net periodic benefit cost and allows only the service cost component of net benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization. ASU 2017-07 is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company sponsors two defined benefit plans in the UK under which accrual of pension benefits has ceased and there will not be a service cost component to the net periodic pension cost. Plan member benefits that have previously been accrued are indexed in line with inflation during the period up to retirement in order to protect their purchasing power. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, with no material impact in its consolidated financial statements. In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-05, Income Taxes: Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (Topic 740), which updates the income tax accounting in U.S. GAAP to reflect the Securities and Exchange Commission interpretive guidance released on December 22, 2017, when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”) was enacted into law. The Company evaluated the potential impacts of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) along with this ASU and has applied them to its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. See Note 9 “Income Taxes” for additional information.

Organization and Basis of Presentation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

1. Organization and Basis of Presentation

Nature of Operations

NOW Inc. (“NOW” or the “Company”) is a holding company headquartered in Houston, Texas that was incorporated in Delaware on November 22, 2013. NOW operates primarily under the DistributionNOW and Wilson Export brands. NOW is a global distributor of energy products as well as products for industrial applications through its locations in the U.S., Canada and internationally which are geographically positioned to serve the energy and industrial markets in approximately 80 countries. NOW’s energy product offerings are used in the oil and gas industry including upstream drilling and completion, exploration and production, midstream infrastructure development and downstream petroleum refining – as well as in other industries, such as chemical processing, power generation and industrial manufacturing operations. The industrial distribution portion of NOW’s business targets a diverse range of manufacturing and facilities across numerous industries and end markets. NOW also provides supply chain management to drilling contractors, E&P operators, midstream operators, downstream energy and industrial manufacturing companies. NOW’s supplier network consists of thousands of vendors in approximately 40 countries.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial information include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.

Reclassification

Certain amounts in the prior periods presented have been reclassified to conform to the current period financial statement presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on previously reported results of operations.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than twelve months in its balance sheets. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and requires a modified retrospective transition method. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Targeted Improvements, which provided entities with an additional (and optional) transition method, allowing an entity to apply the new lease standard at the adoption date and to recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption.

The Company will adopt ASC Topic 842 on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition method allowed under ASU 2018-11. The Company will elect the package of practical expedients permitted under ASU 2018-11, which among other things, allows an entity to carry forward its historical lease classifications. The Company is currently finalizing the implementation of key systems functionality and internal control processes in order to comply with ASC Topic 842. Based on its current assessment, which is subject to change, the Company estimates both assets and liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets will increase by less than $100 million, upon adoption. Changes in the lease population or changes in incremental borrowing rates may alter this estimate. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact in its consolidated statements of operations and cash flows. The Company will expand its consolidated financial statement disclosure upon adoption of this standard.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326), which replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to determine credit loss estimates. ASU 2016-13 requires entities to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Entities will now use forward-looking information to better form their credit loss estimates. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted as of December 15, 2018, and requires modified retrospective transition method. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-13 in its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), which modified the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for removed or modified disclosures. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2018-13 in its consolidated financial statements.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 affects any entity using GAAP that enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (e.g., insurance contracts or lease contracts). This ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605 Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method resulting in a de minimis increase to the opening accumulated deficit due to the cumulative impact of adopting Topic 606. The adoption of the new standard had no material impact on the measurement or recognition of revenue, however additional disclosures have been added in accordance with Topic 606. See Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for additional details on the Company’s revenue policies.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (Topic 715). ASU 2017-07 requires the disaggregation of the service cost component from the other components of net periodic benefit cost and allows only the service cost component of net benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization. ASU 2017-07 is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company sponsors two defined benefit plans in the UK under which accrual of pension benefits has ceased and there will not be a service cost component to the net periodic pension cost. Plan member benefits that have previously been accrued are indexed in line with inflation during the period up to retirement in order to protect their purchasing power. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, with no material impact in its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-05, Income Taxes: Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (Topic 740), which updates the income tax accounting in U.S. GAAP to reflect the Securities and Exchange Commission interpretive guidance released on December 22, 2017, when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”) was enacted into law. The Company evaluated the potential impacts of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) along with this ASU and has applied them to its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. See Note 9 “Income Taxes” for additional information.