XML 62 R48.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Marketable Securities - Schedule of Marketable Securities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
--- | --- | ---
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Market value | $ 49,731 | $ 19,260
Level 1 |  |
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Market value | 49,731 | 19,260
Level 1 | Valhi Inc | Common stock |  |
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Market value | 49,731 | 19,260
Cost basis | 24,347 | 24,347
Unrealized loss |  | $ (5,087)
Unrealized gain | $ 25,384 |

X
- Definition Amount before tax of unrealized gain in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in equity securities classified as available-for-sale. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleEquitySecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before tax of unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in equity securities classified as available-for-sale. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleEquitySecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the cost of equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments for other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleEquitySecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading which are intended be sold more than one year from the balance sheet date or operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65884222&loc=d3e22054-111558 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66010992&loc=d3e26626-111562 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecuritiesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition 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. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=nl_ValhiIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_CommonStockMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |