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Label Element Value
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Jun. 30, 2022
Entity Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName Northern Lights Fund Trust
Entity Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0001314414
Entity Inv Company Type dei_EntityInvCompanyType N-1A
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol nlfun
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Oct. 24, 2022
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Oct. 28, 2022
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Oct. 28, 2022
PSI Strategic Growth Fund  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading FUND SUMMARY: PSI Strategic Growth Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective:
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund primarily seeks long-term capital appreciation
Objective, Secondary [Text Block] rr_ObjectiveSecondaryTextBlock

and secondarily, capital preservation.

 
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund:
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary and in How to Purchase Shares on page ___ of the Fund’s Prospectus.

 
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination October 31, 2023
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover:
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal period, the Fund’s portfolio turnover was 4,134% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 4134.00%
Expenses Not Correlated to Ratio Due to Acquired Fund Fees [Text] rr_ExpensesNotCorrelatedToRatioDueToAcquiredFundFees The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund’s financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example:
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example further assumes that the adviser’s fee waiver/reimbursement agreement with respect to the Fund will be in effect for only a one-year term. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies:
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund’s investment adviser seeks to achieve the Fund’s primary investment objective by investing in a combination of underlying funds which include open-end investment companies (“mutual funds”) and exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) that each invest primarily in (1) U.S. fixed income securities, (2) money market securities, (3) U.S. equity securities (common and preferred stocks), (4) foreign equity securities (common and preferred stocks), or (5) alternative assets, which the Fund defines as commodity-related, currency-related or real estate-related securities, using the adviser’s market analysis strategy, or (6) inverse securities designed to produce short positions with returns opposite to the securities index to which they are linked. In pursuing the Fund’s strategies, the Fund may invest in (i) ETFs that employ leverage in an effort to deliver, on a daily basis, up to three times the performance of the underlying index, and (ii) inverse ETFs that employ leverage in an effort to deliver, on a daily basis, up to three times the inverse performance of the underlying index.

 

The adviser seeks to achieve the Fund’s secondary investment objective, in part, by investing in alternative assets, which it believes have returns that are not highly correlated to those of the equity or fixed income markets in general, and by hedging up to 50% of the Fund’s assets through derivatives or by purchasing inverse ETFs (securities designed to produce short positions with returns opposite to the securities index to which they are linked). The adviser may also use derivatives as a substitute for securities to fulfill either the primary or secondary investment objective.

 

Fund assets are selected by the adviser without restriction as to minimum issuer credit quality, sector, capitalization, country of origin, or security maturity. Fixed income ETFs may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities, commonly known as “high yield” or “junk” bonds that are rated below Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service or similarly by another rating agency. Foreign common stock ETFs may invest in common stock of companies located in emerging market countries. The use of “Growth” in the Fund’s name refers, generally, to the goal of growth of investment rather than a strategy of investing in relatively high-growth companies.

 

The adviser’s market analysis strategy assesses the return outlook for segments of the capital markets by giving consideration to both the long term historic risk (as measured by volatility of returns) and return characteristics of the various asset classes, as well as how fundamental drivers, such as economic growth rates, could be expected to shape the future return and risk characteristics. The strategy relies on broad asset class representation and the inclusion of lower correlated asset classes to reduce expected volatility and deliver favorable performance under various market conditions. The adviser anticipates that, based upon its analysis of long-term historical returns and volatility of various asset classes, the Fund will allocate assets in the following ranges.

 

Asset Class Percent Allocation
Equity 25% to 150%
Fixed Income 0% to 100%
Alternative Asset 0% to 50%

 

The adviser buys securities within specific market segments when its market analysis indicates a high probability that the segments and securities are likely to outperform competing investments. The adviser sells securities to reduce exposure to a market segment or a security when its analysis indicates that the segment or security is likely to underperform competing investments. The adviser will buy and sell derivatives for similar reasons.

 

The adviser may engage in frequent buying and selling of securities to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives, resulting in higher transactional and brokerage costs to the Fund. The Fund is not managed for tax efficiency.

 
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Investment Risks:
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program. Many factors affect the Fund’s net asset value and performance.

 

The following risks apply to the Fund through its investments in ETFs and mutual funds as well as through any direct investments in specific non-fund securities and derivatives.

 

●Commodity Risk: Commodity prices are influenced by unfavorable weather, animal and plant disease, geologic and environmental factors as well as changes in government regulation such as tariffs, embargoes or production restrictions.

 

●Credit Risk: Security issuers and derivative counterparties might not make payments on securities or instruments held by the Fund resulting in losses. Credit quality of securities held by the Fund may be lowered if an issuer’s financial condition changes. High yield or junk bonds are speculative investments that carry greater risk of default than higher quality debt securities.

 

●Derivatives Risk: Derivative instruments involve leverage and tracking risks because a small investment may result in large price changes and derivatives may not be a perfect substitute for securities.
●Emerging Markets Risk: Emerging market countries may have relatively unstable governments, weaker economies, and less-developed legal systems which offer fewer protections to securities holders. Emerging market economies may be based on only a few industries and security issuers may be more susceptible to economic weakness and more likely to default. Emerging market securities also tend to be less liquid.

 

●Equity Securities Risk: Equity securities are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. Investor perceptions are based on various and unpredictable factors, including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies; inflation and interest rates; economic expansion or contraction and global or regional political, economic and banking crises.

 

●ETF and Mutual Fund Risk: The cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in ETFs and mutual funds and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds. Inverse ETFs tend to limit the Fund’s participation in overall market-wide gains. To the extent that inverse ETFs are held for more than one day, the value of the inverse ETF over time may be better or worse than the inverse performance of the specified Index. This compounding effect will become more pronounced during times of market volatility. Each ETF and mutual fund is subject to specific risks, depending on the nature of the fund. ETFs and mutual funds may employ leverage, which magnifies the changes in the underlying stock or other index upon which they are based. For example, if an ETF’s current benchmark is 200% of the XYZ Index and the ETF meets its objective, the value of the ETF will tend to increase or decrease twice the value of the change in the underlying index. (e.g., if the XYZ Index goes up 10% then the leveraged ETF’s value should go up 20%; conversely, if the XYZ Index goes down 10% then the leveraged ETF’s value should go down 20%).

 

●Fixed Income Risk: A rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities and fixed income derivatives.

 

●Foreign Currency Risk: Foreign securities and currency strategies will subject the Fund to currency trading risks that include market risk, credit risk and country risk. Market risk results from adverse changes in exchange rates. Credit risk results because a currency-trade counterparty may default. Country risk arises because a government may interfere with transactions in its currency.

 

●Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign investing involves risks not typically associated with U.S. investments, including adverse fluctuations in foreign currency values, adverse political, social and economic developments, less liquidity, greater volatility, less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability and differing auditing and legal standards. Investing in emerging markets imposes risks different from, or greater than, risks of investing in foreign developed countries.

 

●Issuer-Specific Risk: The value of a specific security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

 

●Junk Bond Risk: Lower-quality bonds, known as “high yield” or “junk” bonds, present greater risk than bonds of higher quality, including an increased risk of default. An economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these bonds and reduce the Fund’s ability to sell its bonds. The lack of a liquid market for these bonds could decrease the Fund’s share price.

 

●Large Capitalization Stock Risk: Large-capitalization companies may be less able than smaller capitalization companies to adapt to changing market conditions. Large-capitalization companies may be more mature and subject to more limited growth potential compared with smaller capitalization companies. During different market cycles, the performance of large capitalization companies has trailed the overall performance of the broader securities markets.

 

●Management Risk: The adviser’s dependence on the quantitative strategy and judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of particular asset classes, securities and derivatives in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect and may not produce the desired results.

 

●Market and Geopolitical Risk: The increasing interconnectivity between global economies and financial markets increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. Securities in the Fund may underperform due to inflation (or expectations for inflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics, terrorism, international conflicts, regulatory events and governmental or quasi-governmental actions. The occurrence of global events similar to those in recent years, such as terrorist attacks around the world, natural disasters, social and political discord or debt crises and downgrades, among others, may result in market volatility and may have long term effects on both the U.S. and global financial markets. It is difficult to predict when similar events affecting the U.S. or global financial markets may occur, the effects that such events may have and the duration of those effects. Any such event(s) could have a significant adverse impact on the value and risk profile of the Fund. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the forced or voluntary closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may impact your investment. Therefore, the Fund could lose money over short periods due to short-term market movements and over longer periods during more prolonged market downturns. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates can have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. In times of severe market disruptions you could lose your entire investment.
●Real Estate Risk: Real estate values rise and fall in response to a variety of factors, including local, regional and national economic conditions, interest rates and tax considerations. A real estate investment trust’s (“REIT”) performance depends on the types and locations of the rental properties it owns and on how well it manages those properties.

 

●Small and Medium Capitalization Stock Risk: The value of a small or medium capitalization company stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than those of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general.

 

●Turnover Risk: The Fund engages in high frequency trading which results in a significantly high turnover rate. Higher portfolio turnover results in higher transactional and brokerage costs and may result in the Fund realizing more short-term capital gains than other funds. Such transactional and brokerage costs have a negative effect on Fund performance.

 
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance:
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The bar chart and performance table below show the variability of the Fund’s returns, which is some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows performance of Class A shares of the Fund for each full calendar year since the Fund’s inception. The performance table compares the performance of the Fund over time to the performance of a broad-based securities market index and supplemental index. You should be aware that the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) may not be an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information will be available at no cost by calling 1-888-928-9774.

 
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and performance table below show the variability of the Fund’s returns, which is some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows performance of Class A shares of the Fund for each full calendar year since the Fund’s inception.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 1-888-928-9774
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture You should be aware that the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) may not be an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Class A Annual Total Return For Calendar Year Ended December 31 (Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did)
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Best Quarter: 3rd Quarter 2020 19.21%
Worst Quarter: 1st Quarter 2020 (19.45)%

 

The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended September 30, 2022, was (30.22)%.
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Sep. 30, 2022
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn (30.22%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2020
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 19.21%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2020
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (19.45%)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Performance Table Average Annual Total Returns (For periods ended December 31, 2021)
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns were calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Fund through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
PSI Strategic Growth Fund | BarclayHedge Equity Long/Short Index  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 10.12% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.14% [1]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.77% [1]
PSI Strategic Growth Fund | Standard & Poor’s 500 Total Return Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 28.71% [2]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 18.47% [2]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 16.55% [2]
PSI Strategic Growth Fund | PSI Strategic Growth Fund Class A Shares  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol FXSAX
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 1.00%
Maximum Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends and Distributions (as a percentage) rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther none
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption none
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.00%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 1.11%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.48% [3]
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.84%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.46%) [4]
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 2.38%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 50,000
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 802
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,364
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,949
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 3,528
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 14.06%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 1.36%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 2.54%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 0.30%
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 (2.89%)
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 18.09%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (19.07%)
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 17.09%
Annual Return 2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 29.14%
Annual Return 2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 18.55%
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return before taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.70%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 10.07%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.43%
PSI Strategic Growth Fund | PSI Strategic Growth Fund Class A Shares | Return after taxes on distributions  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.26% [5]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.73% [5]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.56% [5]
PSI Strategic Growth Fund | PSI Strategic Growth Fund Class A Shares | Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.98% [5]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.45% [5]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.30% [5]
[1] The BarclayHedge Equity Long/Short Index represents funds involving equity-oriented strategies that invest in both the long and short sides of the market. The objective is not to be market neutral. Managers have the ability to shift from value to growth, from small to medium to large capitalization stocks, and from a net long position to a net short position. Managers may use futures and options to hedge. The focus may be regional or sector specific. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
[2] The S&P 500® Total Return Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of the 500 stocks representing all major industries. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
[3] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund’s financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund.
[4] The Fund’s adviser has contractually agreed to waive management fees and/or to make payments to limit Fund expenses, at least until October 31, 2023, so that the total annual operating expenses (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads; brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses; fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short); taxes; and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees, contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the adviser)) of the Fund do not exceed 1.90% of average daily net assets. Fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within the three years from the date in which the fees were waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limit. This agreement may be terminated only by the Board of Trustees on 60 days’ written notice to the adviser.
[5] After-tax returns were calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Fund through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.