Document And Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 10, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL HOLDINGS CORP
Trading Symbol	NHLD
Entity Central Index Key	0001023844
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		12,437,916