Period for redemption notice required for investment held by employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)), that is measured at net asset value (NAV) per share as practical expedient for estimate of fair value, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477783/962-325-50-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6A
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6A

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EbpFairValueInvestmentNavRedemptionNoticePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of other restriction on ability to sell investment held by employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)), that is measured at net asset value (NAV) per share as practical expedient for estimate of fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477783/962-325-50-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6A
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6A

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6A
-Subparagraph (h)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6A

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EbpFairValueInvestmentNavRedemptionOtherRestrictionDescription
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of unfunded commitment for investment held by employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)), that is fair value measured at net asset value (NAV) per share as practical expedient.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EbpFairValueInvestmentNavUnfundedCommitment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of investment, excluding plan interest in master trust, held by employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)). Includes, but is not limited to, derivative, investment measured at net asset value per share as practical expedient, and insurance contract not meeting fully-benefit responsive investment criteria.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4B

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4B

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4A
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4A

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-3

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-3

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478873/962-325-55-17

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-5

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4K
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4K

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-5

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (j)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-5

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7A
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-7A

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6A
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6A

Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-5

Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (g)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-5

Reference 17: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (k)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-5

Reference 18: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (h)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-5

Reference 19: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-5

Reference 20: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-5

Reference 21: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-5

Reference 22: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of plan interest in master trust held by employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 18
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478873/962-325-55-18

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-05(a)(Schedule II))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-03(3))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477063/962-205-45-10

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=nvo_EBP061061602001Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueMeasuredAtNetAssetValuePerShareMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_MutualFundMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=nvo_MutualFundsCommonStockAndMoneyMarketFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanCommonCollectiveTrustMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: