| Form N-CSR Cover | 12 Months Ended |
| Sep. 30, 2024 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | N-CSR |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Registrant Name | Northern Lights Fund Trust |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001314414 |
| Entity Investment Company Type | N-1A |
| Document Period End Date | Sep. 30, 2024 |
| Shareholder Report | 12 Months Ended | 120 Months Ended |
| Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($) Holding | Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($) Holding | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | ||
| Document Type | N-CSR | |
| Amendment Flag | false | |
| Registrant Name | Northern Lights Fund Trust | |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001314414 | |
| Entity Investment Company Type | N-1A | |
| Document Period End Date | Sep. 30, 2024 | |
| C000168965 | ||
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | ||
| Fund Name | Princeton Premium Fund | |
| Class Name | Class A Shares | |
| Trading Symbol | PPFAX | |
| Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual | Annual Shareholder Report | |
| Additional Information Phone Number | 1-888-868-9501 | |
| Additional Information Website | www.PrincetonPremiumFund.com | |
| Expenses [Text Block] | What were the Fund’s costs for the last year? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment) Class Name Costs of a $10,000 investment Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment Class A Shares $280 2.75% | |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 280 | |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 2.75% | |
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | The Fund's past performance is not a good predictor of how the Fund will perform in the future. | |
| Average Annual Return [Table Text Block] | Average Annual Total Returns 1 Year 5 Years Since Inception (November 16, 2016) Princeton Premium Fund Without Load 3.67% 5.84% 5.00% With Load - 4.60% 4.21% S&P 500 ® 36.35% 15.98% 15.16% The Fund's past performance is not a good predictor of how the Fund will perform in the future. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares. | |
| Performance Inception Date | Nov. 16, 2016 | |
| No Deduction of Taxes [Text Block] | The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares. | |
| Material Change Date | Sep. 30, 2024 | |
| AssetsNet | $ 375,843,108 | $ 375,843,108 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 25 | 25 |
| Advisory Fees Paid, Amount | $ 5,723,906 | |
| InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover | 0% | |
| Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block] | Fund Statistics Net Assets $375,843,108 Number of Portfolio Holdings 25 Advisory Fee (net of waivers) $5,723,906 Portfolio Turnover 0% | |
| Holdings [Text Block] | Asset Weighting (% of total investments) Value Value Options 0.6% Money Market Funds 10.1% U.S. Government & Agencies 89.3% | |
| C000168967 | ||
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | ||
| Fund Name | Princeton Premium Fund | |
| Class Name | Class I Shares | |
| Trading Symbol | PPFIX | |
| Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual | Annual Shareholder Report | |
| Additional Information Phone Number | 1-888-868-9501 | |
| Additional Information Website | www.PrincetonPremiumFund.com | |
| Expenses [Text Block] | What were the Fund’s costs for the last year? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment) Class Name Costs of a $10,000 investment Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment Class I Shares $253 2.48% | |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 253 | |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 2.48% | |
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | The Fund's past performance is not a good predictor of how the Fund will perform in the future. | |
| Average Annual Return [Table Text Block] | Average Annual Total Returns 1 Year 5 Years Since Inception (November 16, 2016) Princeton Premium Fund 4.03% 6.12% 5.27% S&P 500 ® 36.35% 15.98% 15.16% The Fund's past performance is not a good predictor of how the Fund will perform in the future. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares. | |
| Performance Inception Date | Nov. 16, 2016 | |
| No Deduction of Taxes [Text Block] | The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares. | |
| Material Change Date | Sep. 30, 2024 | |
| AssetsNet | $ 375,843,108 | $ 375,843,108 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 25 | 25 |
| Advisory Fees Paid, Amount | $ 5,723,906 | |
| InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover | 0% | |
| Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block] | Fund Statistics Net Assets $375,843,108 Number of Portfolio Holdings 25 Advisory Fee (net of waivers) $5,723,906 Portfolio Turnover 0% | |
| Holdings [Text Block] | Asset Weighting (% of total investments) Value Value Options 0.6% Money Market Funds 10.1% U.S. Government & Agencies 89.3% |
| Shareholder Report, Line Graph (Details) - USD ($) | Nov. 16, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2024 | Sep. 30, 2023 | Sep. 30, 2022 | Sep. 30, 2021 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2017 |
| C000168965 | |||||||||
| Account Value [Line Items] | |||||||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | Princeton Premium Fund | ||||||||
| Account Value | $ 9,425 | $ 13,837 | $ 13,347 | $ 12,475 | $ 12,241 | $ 10,432 | $ 10,417 | $ 10,193 | $ 10,160 |
| C000168967 | |||||||||
| Account Value [Line Items] | |||||||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | Princeton Premium Fund | ||||||||
| Account Value | $ 100,000 | 149,856 | 144,054 | 134,447 | 131,416 | 111,709 | 111,342 | 108,649 | 108,000 |
| S&P 500 Index | |||||||||
| Account Value [Line Items] | |||||||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | ®</sup> Index" id="sjs-B12">S&P 500<sup style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; grid-area: auto; line-height: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; position: relative; text-align: center;">®</sup> Index | ||||||||
| Account Value | $ 10,000 | 30,379 | 22,280 | 18,320 | 21,673 | 16,671 | 14,478 | 13,887 | 11,778 |
| S&P 500 Index | |||||||||
| Account Value [Line Items] | |||||||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | ®</sup> Index" id="sjs-B16">S&P 500<sup style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; grid-area: auto; line-height: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; position: relative; text-align: center;">®</sup> Index | ||||||||
| Account Value | $ 100,000 | $ 303,793 | $ 222,802 | $ 183,199 | $ 216,732 | $ 166,710 | $ 144,778 | $ 138,871 | $ 117,776 |
| Shareholder Report, Average Annual Return (Details) | 12 Months Ended | 60 Months Ended | 95 Months Ended | |
| Nov. 16, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2024 | Sep. 30, 2024 | Sep. 30, 2024 | |
| C000168965 | ||||
| Average Annual Return [Line Items] | ||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | Princeton Premium Fund | |||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | (2.32%) | 4.60% | 4.21% | |
| C000168967 | ||||
| Average Annual Return [Line Items] | ||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | Princeton Premium Fund | |||
| Without Sales Load [Member] | C000168965 | ||||
| Average Annual Return [Line Items] | ||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | 3.67% | 5.84% | 5% | |
| Without Sales Load [Member] | C000168967 | ||||
| Average Annual Return [Line Items] | ||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | 4.03% | 6.12% | 5.27% | |
| S&P 500 Index | ||||
| Average Annual Return [Line Items] | ||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | ®</sup> Index" id="sjs-B18">S&P 500<sup style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; grid-area: auto; line-height: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; position: relative; text-align: center;">®</sup> Index | |||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | 36.35% | 15.98% | 15.16% | |
| S&P 500 Index | ||||
| Average Annual Return [Line Items] | ||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | ®</sup> Index" id="sjs-B22">S&P 500<sup style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; grid-area: auto; line-height: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; position: relative; text-align: center;">®</sup> Index | |||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | 36.35% | 15.98% | 15.16% |
| Shareholder Report, Holdings (Details) | Sep. 30, 2024 |
| C000168965 | United States Treasury Bill, 4.8849, 2024-12-12 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.90% |
| C000168965 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.1413, 2024-10-03 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.50% |
| C000168965 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.0406, 2024-11-07 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.40% |
| C000168965 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.1225, 2024-10-31 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.20% |
| C000168965 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.0236, 2024-11-14 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.10% |
| C000168965 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.0267, 2024-11-21 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.10% |
| C000168965 | United States Treasury Bill, 4.9328, 2024-12-05 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.10% |
| C000168965 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.1107, 2024-10-17 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 6.90% |
| C000168965 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.1385, 2024-10-10 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 6.60% |
| C000168965 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.0110, 2024-11-29 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 6.60% |
| C000168965 | SPXWP5490_20241014_S_FCSIndex Option | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | (0.10%) |
| C000168965 | 262006208Money Market | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 9.50% |
| C000168965 | 912797KV8U.S. Treasury Obligations | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 84.50% |
| C000168965 | Options | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 0.60% |
| C000168965 | Money Market Funds | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 10.10% |
| C000168965 | U.S. Government & Agencies | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 89.30% |
| C000168967 | United States Treasury Bill, 4.8849, 2024-12-12 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.90% |
| C000168967 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.1413, 2024-10-03 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.50% |
| C000168967 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.0406, 2024-11-07 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.40% |
| C000168967 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.1225, 2024-10-31 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.20% |
| C000168967 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.0236, 2024-11-14 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.10% |
| C000168967 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.0267, 2024-11-21 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.10% |
| C000168967 | United States Treasury Bill, 4.9328, 2024-12-05 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.10% |
| C000168967 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.1107, 2024-10-17 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 6.90% |
| C000168967 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.1385, 2024-10-10 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 6.60% |
| C000168967 | United States Treasury Bill, 5.0110, 2024-11-29 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 6.60% |
| C000168967 | SPXWP5490_20241014_S_FCSIndex Option | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | (0.10%) |
| C000168967 | 262006208Money Market | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 9.50% |
| C000168967 | 912797KV8U.S. Treasury Obligations | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 84.50% |
| C000168967 | Options | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 0.60% |
| C000168967 | Money Market Funds | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 10.10% |
| C000168967 | U.S. Government & Agencies | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 89.30% |
