| **Document and Entity Information**         | Feb. 23, 2023       |
|---------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| **Cover [Abstract]**                        |                |
| Document Type                               | 8-K                 |
| Amendment Flag                              | false               |
| Document Period End Date                    | Feb. 23,  2023      |
| Entity Registrant Name                      | NL Industries, Inc. |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | NJ                  |
| Entity File Number                          | 1-640               |
| Entity Tax Identification Number            | 13-5267260          |
| Entity Address, Address Line One            | 5430 LBJ Freeway    |
| Entity Address, Adress Line Two             | Suite 1700          |
| Entity Address, City or Town                | Dallas              |
| Entity Address State Or Province            | TX                  |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code             | 75240-2620          |
| City Area Code                              | 972                 |
| Local Phone Number                          | 233-1700            |
| Written Communications                      | false               |
| Soliciting Material                         | false               |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer               | false               |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer        | false               |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company              | false               |
| Entity Central Index Key                    | 0000072162          |
| Title of 12(b) Security                     | Common stock        |
| Trading Symbol                              | NL                  |
| Security Exchange Name                      | NYSE                |

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Area code of city
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Cover page.
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For the EDGAR submission types of Form 8-K: the date of the report, the date of the earliest event reported; for the EDGAR submission types of Form N-1A: the filing date; for all other submission types: the end of the reporting or transition period.  The format of the date is YYYY-MM-DD.
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The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word 'Other'.
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Address Line 1 such as Attn, Building Name, Street Name
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Address Line 2 such as Street or Suite number
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Name of the City or Town
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Code for the postal or zip code
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Name of the state or province.
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A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.
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Indicate if registrant meets the emerging growth company criteria.
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Commission file number. The field allows up to 17 characters. The prefix may contain 1-3 digits, the sequence number may contain 1-8 digits, the optional suffix may contain 1-4 characters, and the fields are separated with a hyphen.
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Two-character EDGAR code representing the state or country of incorporation.
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The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.
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The Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.
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Local phone number for entity.
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Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act.
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Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act.
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Title of a 12(b) registered security.
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Name of the Exchange on which a security is registered.
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Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act.
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Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.
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Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act.
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