| Cover | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2022 | |
| Document Information [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | DEF 14A |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Entity Registrant Name | NOW Inc. |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001599617 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | 12 Months Ended | ||
| Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Pay vs Performance [Table Text Block] | 2022 Pay vs Performance Disclosure Tabular Pay vs. Performance Disclosures (1) Summary Compensation (2) Summary Compensation (2) Average Non-PEO Average Non-PEO (2) Value of Fixed $100 Investment Net EBITDA Excluding (4) Year DNOW (3) PHLX Oil Service (3) 2022 $ 5,462,901 $ 10,768,763 — — $ 1,439,842 $ 2,398,329 $ 113 $ 113 $ 128,000,000 $ 175,000,000 2021 $ 5,988,481 $ 5,291,709 — — $ 1,329,206 $ 1,239,451 $ 76 $ 70 $ 5,000,000 $ 45,000,000 2020 $ 1,274,988 $ 90,220 $ 675,231 ($ 537,929 ) $ 519,014 $ 133,931 $ 64 $ 58 ($ 427,000,000 ) ($ 47,000,000 ) (1) Mr. Cherechinsky served as our principal executive officer for the full year for each of 2022 and 2021 and for a portion of 2020 (“PEO 1”). Mr. Alario served as our principal executive officer for a portion of 2020 (“PEO 2”). For each of 2022, 2021, and 2020, our non-PEO PEOs Compensation Actually Paid Calculation Detail Year Compensation Element 2020 (PEO 1) 2021 (PEO 1) 2022 (PEO 1) 2020 (PEO 2) SCT Reported Total Compensation $ 1,274,988 $ 5,988,481 $ 5,462,901 $ 675,231 Aggregate SCT Reported Equity Compensation (-) $ 706,204 $ 4,305,835 $ 3,232,886 $ 0 Year-End $ 509,175 $ 3,548,758 $ 5,111,796 $ 0 Year-Over-Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY & Outstanding (+) ($ 647,694 ) $ 53,500 $ 3,436,810 $ 0 Vesting Date Fair Value of Awards Granted & Vested During the Covered FY (+) $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 Year-Over-Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY & Vesting During Covered FY (+) ($ 340,044 ) $ 146,501 $ 62,412 ($ 1,213,160 ) Prior FYE Value of Awards Determined to Fail to Meet Vesting Conditions During Covered FY (-) $ 0 $ 139,696 $ 72,271 $ 0 Compensation Actually Paid Determination $ 90,220 $ 5,291,709 $ 10,768,763 ($ 537,929 ) Non-PEO Year Compensation Element 2020 2021 2022 SCT Reported Total Compensation $ 519,014 $ 1,329,206 $ 1,439,842 Aggregate SCT Reported Equity Compensation (-) $ 263,181 $ 667,673 $ 579,239 Year-End $ 189,733 $ 550,281 $ 915,878 Year-Over-Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY & Outstanding (+) ($ 189,765 ) $ 20,191 $ 626,032 Vesting Date Fair Value of Awards Granted & Vested During the Covered FY (+) $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 Year-Over-Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY & Vesting During Covered FY (+) ($ 121,870 ) $ 46,999 $ 16,281 Prior FYE Value of Awards Determined to Fail to Meet Vesting Conditions During Covered FY (-) $ 0 $ 39,553 $ 20,465 Compensation Actually Paid Determination $ 133,931 $ 1,239,451 $ 2,398,329 (2) Equity compensation fair value calculated based on assumptions determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. (3) For each of 2022, 2021 and 2020, total shareholder return for the Company and the peer group was calculated as the yearly percentage change in cumulative total shareholder return based on a deemed fixed investment of $100 at market close on December 31, 2019. The yearly percentage change in cumulative total shareholder return was measured as the quotient of (a) the sum of (i) the cumulative amount of dividends for the period from December 31, 2019 through and including the last day of the covered fiscal year (the “Measurement Period”), assuming dividend reinvestment, plus (ii) the difference between stock price per share at the end and the beginning of the Measurement Period, divided by (b) stock price per share at the beginning of the Measurement Period. For purposes of this pay versus performance disclosure, our peer group consists of the PHLX Oil Service Sector Index. For purposes of calculating the Peer Group total shareholder return, the returns of each component issuer of the group were weighted according to the respective issuers’ stock market capitalization at the beginning of the Measurement Period. Because fiscal years are presented in the table in reverse chronical order (from top to bottom), the table should be read from bottom to top for purposes of understanding cumulative returns over time. (4) EBITDA excluding other costs (referred to as “EBITDA” within this document) is reconciled in the Company’s 2022 Form 10-K | ||
| Company Selected Measure Name | EBITDA excluding other costs | ||
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote [Text Block] | For each of 2022, 2021, and 2020, our non-PEO | ||
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote [Text Block] | (3) For each of 2022, 2021 and 2020, total shareholder return for the Company and the peer group was calculated as the yearly percentage change in cumulative total shareholder return based on a deemed fixed investment of $100 at market close on December 31, 2019. The yearly percentage change in cumulative total shareholder return was measured as the quotient of (a) the sum of (i) the cumulative amount of dividends for the period from December 31, 2019 through and including the last day of the covered fiscal year (the “Measurement Period”), assuming dividend reinvestment, plus (ii) the difference between stock price per share at the end and the beginning of the Measurement Period, divided by (b) stock price per share at the beginning of the Measurement Period. For purposes of this pay versus performance disclosure, our peer group consists of the PHLX Oil Service Sector Index. For purposes of calculating the Peer Group total shareholder return, the returns of each component issuer of the group were weighted according to the respective issuers’ stock market capitalization at the beginning of the Measurement Period. Because fiscal years are presented in the table in reverse chronical order (from top to bottom), the table should be read from bottom to top for purposes of understanding cumulative returns over time. | ||
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote [Text Block] | PEOs Compensation Actually Paid Calculation Detail Year Compensation Element 2020 (PEO 1) 2021 (PEO 1) 2022 (PEO 1) 2020 (PEO 2) SCT Reported Total Compensation $ 1,274,988 $ 5,988,481 $ 5,462,901 $ 675,231 Aggregate SCT Reported Equity Compensation (-) $ 706,204 $ 4,305,835 $ 3,232,886 $ 0 Year-End $ 509,175 $ 3,548,758 $ 5,111,796 $ 0 Year-Over-Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY & Outstanding (+) ($ 647,694 ) $ 53,500 $ 3,436,810 $ 0 Vesting Date Fair Value of Awards Granted & Vested During the Covered FY (+) $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 Year-Over-Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY & Vesting During Covered FY (+) ($ 340,044 ) $ 146,501 $ 62,412 ($ 1,213,160 ) Prior FYE Value of Awards Determined to Fail to Meet Vesting Conditions During Covered FY (-) $ 0 $ 139,696 $ 72,271 $ 0 Compensation Actually Paid Determination $ 90,220 $ 5,291,709 $ 10,768,763 ($ 537,929 ) | ||
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 1,439,842 | $ 1,329,206 | $ 519,014 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 2,398,329 | 1,239,451 | 133,931 |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote [Text Block] | Non-PEO Year Compensation Element 2020 2021 2022 SCT Reported Total Compensation $ 519,014 $ 1,329,206 $ 1,439,842 Aggregate SCT Reported Equity Compensation (-) $ 263,181 $ 667,673 $ 579,239 Year-End $ 189,733 $ 550,281 $ 915,878 Year-Over-Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY & Outstanding (+) ($ 189,765 ) $ 20,191 $ 626,032 Vesting Date Fair Value of Awards Granted & Vested During the Covered FY (+) $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 Year-Over-Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY & Vesting During Covered FY (+) ($ 121,870 ) $ 46,999 $ 16,281 Prior FYE Value of Awards Determined to Fail to Meet Vesting Conditions During Covered FY (-) $ 0 $ 39,553 $ 20,465 Compensation Actually Paid Determination $ 133,931 $ 1,239,451 $ 2,398,329 | ||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return [Text Block] | |||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income [Text Block] | |||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure [Text Block] | |||
| Tabular List [Table Text Block] | The following table lists the most important performance measures that we believe represent the most important performance measures used to link compensation actually paid to our PEO and non-PEO EBITDA Excluding Other Costs Net Working Capital (NWC) Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) Relative TSR (rTSR) | ||
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 113 | 76 | 64 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 113 | 70 | 58 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 128,000,000 | $ 5,000,000 | $ (427,000,000) |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 175,000,000 | 45,000,000 | (47,000,000) |
| PEO Name | Mr. Cherechinsky | Mr. Cherechinsky | Mr. Alario |
| Measure [Axis]: 1 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | EBITDA Excluding Other Costs | ||
| Non-GAAP Measure Description [Text Block] | EBITDA excluding other costs (referred to as “EBITDA” within this document) is reconciled in the Company’s 2022 Form 10-K | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 2 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Net Working Capital (NWC) | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 3 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 4 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Relative TSR (rTSR) | ||
| Mr Cherechinsky [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 5,462,901 | $ 5,988,481 | $ 1,274,988 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | 10,768,763 | 5,291,709 | 90,220 |
| Mr Alario [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | 0 | 0 | 675,231 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | 0 | 0 | (537,929) |
| PEO [Member] | Mr Cherechinsky [Member] | Reported Equity Compensation [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 3,232,886 | 4,305,835 | 706,204 |
| PEO [Member] | Mr Cherechinsky [Member] | Year End Fair Value of Awards Granted During the FY and Outstanding [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 5,111,796 | 3,548,758 | 509,175 |
| PEO [Member] | Mr Cherechinsky [Member] | Year Over Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY Outstanding [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 3,436,810 | 53,500 | (647,694) |
| PEO [Member] | Mr Cherechinsky [Member] | Vesting Date Fair Value of Awards Granted Vested During the Covered FY [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PEO [Member] | Mr Cherechinsky [Member] | Year Over Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY Vesting During Covered FY [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 62,412 | 146,501 | (340,044) |
| PEO [Member] | Mr Cherechinsky [Member] | Prior FYE Value of Awards Determined to Fail to Meet Vesting Conditions During Covered FY [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 72,271 | 139,696 | 0 |
| PEO [Member] | Mr Alario [Member] | Reported Equity Compensation [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | ||
| PEO [Member] | Mr Alario [Member] | Year End Fair Value of Awards Granted During the FY and Outstanding [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | ||
| PEO [Member] | Mr Alario [Member] | Year Over Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY Outstanding [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | ||
| PEO [Member] | Mr Alario [Member] | Vesting Date Fair Value of Awards Granted Vested During the Covered FY [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | ||
| PEO [Member] | Mr Alario [Member] | Year Over Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY Vesting During Covered FY [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (1,213,160) | ||
| PEO [Member] | Mr Alario [Member] | Prior FYE Value of Awards Determined to Fail to Meet Vesting Conditions During Covered FY [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | ||
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Reported Equity Compensation [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 579,239 | 667,673 | 263,181 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Year End Fair Value of Awards Granted During the FY and Outstanding [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 915,878 | 550,281 | 189,733 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Year Over Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY Outstanding [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 626,032 | 20,191 | (189,765) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Vesting Date Fair Value of Awards Granted Vested During the Covered FY [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Year Over Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted During Prior FY Vesting During Covered FY [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 16,281 | 46,999 | (121,870) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Prior FYE Value of Awards Determined to Fail to Meet Vesting Conditions During Covered FY [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ 20,465 | $ 39,553 | $ 0 |
