Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 26, 2013	Mar. 28, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL HOLDINGS CORP
Document Type	10-K
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		123,247,870
Entity Public Float			$ 15,398,000
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001023844
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY