| **Capital Shares - Capital Shares (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands** | 12 Months Ended |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
||
| **Equity [Abstract]**                                                                                           |            |   |   |
| Number of Shares (in shares)                                                                                    | 303             | 949 | 145 |
| Total Amount                                                                                                    | $ 38,138        | $ 114,790 | $ 18,939 |
| Average per Share (in dollars per share)                                                                        | $ 125.70        | $ 121.01 | $ 130.21 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number of shares that have been repurchased under publically announced programs during the period and are being held in treasury.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**ndsn_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodForPublicallyAnnouncedProgram**Namespace Prefix:**ndsn_**Data Type:**xbrli:sharesItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Value of shares that have been repurchased under publically announced programs during the period.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**ndsn_TreasuryStockAcquiredUnderPubliclyAnnouncedPrograms**Namespace Prefix:**ndsn_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Average cost per share of shares that have been repurchased under publically announced programs during the period.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**ndsn_TreasuryStockAcquiredUnderPubliclyAnnouncedProgramsAverageCostPerShare**Namespace Prefix:**ndsn_**Data Type:**num:perShareItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_EquityAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |