Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 13, 2012
Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	0001023844
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		26,088,530
Document Information
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1