| **Fair value measurements - Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Additional Information) (Detail)** | 3 Months Ended |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|
||
| **Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]**                                                                                                        |           |
| Executive officers and other highly compensated employees salary and annual cash incentive compensation deferrals percentage, maximum        | 100.00%        |
| Executive officers share-based long-term incentive compensation deferrals percentage, maximum                                                | 90.00%         |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Deferred compensation arrangement with individual employee contribution percentage maximum.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**ndsn_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualEmployeeContributionPercentageMaximum**Namespace Prefix:**ndsn_**Data Type:**dtr-types:percentItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Deferred compensation arrangement with individual employee contribution percentage of long term incentive compensation maximum.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**ndsn_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualEmployeeContributionPercentageOfLongTermIncentiveCompensationMaximum**Namespace Prefix:**ndsn_**Data Type:**dtr-types:percentItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_FairValueDisclosuresAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |