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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate May 04, 2011
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND II
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0001364608
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate May 04, 2011
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate May 05, 2011
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate May 05, 2011
First Trust NASDAQ Global Auto Index Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading SUMMARY INFORMATION
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund's fees and expenses) of an equity index called the NASDAQ OMX Global Auto Index(SM) (the "Index").
FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND ftetf1364608_FundFeesAndExpensesAbstract  
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Shares of the Fund. Investors purchasing and selling Shares may be subject to costs (including customary brokerage commissions) charged by their broker.
SHAREHOLDER FEES rr_ShareholderFeesAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.70%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none [1]
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets none
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.70%
EXAMPLE rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading EXAMPLE
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account customary brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund on NASDAQ(R).

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then you retain the Shares or 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 annual operating expenses remain at current levels until May 6, 2012. Additionally, the example assumes that the Fund imposes a 12b-1 fee of 0.25% per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets following May 6, 2012. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 YEAR rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 72
3 YEARS rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 257
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER ftetf1364608_PortfolioTurnoverAltAbstract  
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 rate 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.
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks included in the Index.

The Fund, using an "indexing" investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. First Trust Advisors L.P. ("First Trust"), the Fund's investment advisor, seeks a correlation of 0.95 or better (before fees and expenses) between the Fund's performance and the performance of the Index; a figure of 1.00 would represent perfect correlation.

The Index is owned and was developed by The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (the "Index Provider"). The Index Provider has contracted with Standard & Poor's to calculate and maintain the Index. The Index is designed to track the performance of the largest and most liquid companies engaged in manufacturing of automobiles.

The Index uses a modified market-capitalization weighting methodology. The Index Provider evaluates the Index components annually in June of each year for eligibility, using market data through the end of May. Eligible components for the Index are identified as such using the eligibility criteria set forth in this Prospectus under "Index Information." Changes to the Index are made effective after the close of trading on the third Friday in June. The Index is rebalanced quarterly, each March, June, September and December. As of March 31, 2011, the Index was comprised of 32 securities from nine countries, which included the United States.

The Fund intends to invest entirely in the Index, however, there may also be instances in which the Fund may be overweighted in certain securities in the Index, purchase securities not in the Index that are appropriate to substitute for certain securities in the Index or utilize various combinations of the above techniques in seeking to track the Index.
Strategy Portfolio Concentration [Text] rr_StrategyPortfolioConcentration The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks included in the Index.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading PRINCIPAL RISKS
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

MARKET RISK. Market risk is the risk that a particular stock owned by the Fund, Shares of the Fund or stocks in general may fall in value. Shares are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in stock prices. Overall stock values could decline generally or could underperform other investments.

NON-CORRELATION RISK. The Fund's return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. For example, the Fund incurs operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and may incur costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund's portfolio holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index. In addition, the Fund's portfolio holdings may not exactly replicate the securities included in the Index or the ratios between the securities included in the Index.

REPLICATION MANAGEMENT RISK. The Fund is exposed to additional market risk due to its policy of investing principally in the securities included in the Index. As a result of this policy, securities held by the Fund will generally not be bought or sold in response to market fluctuations. Therefore, the Fund will generally not sell a stock because the stock's issuer is in financial trouble, unless that stock is removed or is anticipated to be removed from the Index.

NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK. The Fund is classified as "non-diversified" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). As a result, the Fund is only limited as to the percentage of its assets which may be invested in the securities of any one issuer by the diversification requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence affecting one or more of these issuers, experience increased volatility and be highly concentrated in certain issues.

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY RISK. The automotive industry can be highly cyclical, and companies in the industry may suffer periodic operating losses. The industry can be significantly affected by labor relations and fluctuating component prices. While most of the major automotive manufacturers are large, financially strong companies, certain others may be non-diversified in both product line and customer base and may be more vulnerable to certain events that may negatively impact the automotive industry.

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY COMPANIES RISK. The Fund invests in consumer discretionary companies, which manufacture products and provide discretionary services directly to the consumer, and the success of these companies is tied closely to the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer discretionary products in the marketplace.

NON-U.S. SECURITIES RISK. The Fund invests in securities of non-U.S. issuers, including non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities traded outside of the United States and U.S. dollar-denominated securities of non-U.S. issuers traded in the United States. Such securities are subject to higher volatility than securities of domestic issuers due to possible adverse political, social or economic developments; restrictions on foreign investment or exchange of securities; lack of liquidity; excessive taxation; government seizure of assets; different legal or accounting standards and less government supervision and regulation of exchanges in foreign countries.

CURRENCY RISK. Because the Fund's NAV is determined on the basis of U.S. dollars and the Fund invests in foreign securities, you may lose money if the local currency of a foreign market depreciates against the U.S. dollar, even if the local currency value of the Fund's holdings goes up.

JAPAN RISK. The Fund invests in the stock of companies operating in Japan. Because Japan's economy and equity market share a strong correlation with the U.S. markets, the Japanese economy may be affected by economic problems in the U.S. Japan also has a growing economic relationship with China and other Southeast Asian countries, and thus Japan's economy may also be affected by economic, political or social instability in those countries. Despite a strengthening in the economic relationship between Japan and China, the countries' political relationship has at times been strained in recent years. Should political tension increase, it could adversely affect the economy and destabilize the region as a whole. Japan also remains heavily dependent on oil imports, and higher commodity prices could therefore have a negative impact on the economy. Japanese securities may also be subject to lack of liquidity; excessive taxation; government seizure of assets; different legal or accounting standards and less government supervision and regulation of exchanges than in the United States. Furthermore, the natural disasters that have impacted Japan and the ongoing recovery efforts have had a negative affect on Japan's economy, and may continue to do so.

INDEX TRACKING RISK. You should anticipate that the value of Fund Shares will decline more or less in correlation with any decline in the value of the Fund's Index.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney You could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus NON DIVERSIFICATION RISK. The Fund is classified as "non-diversified" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). As a result, the Fund is only limited as to the percentage of its assets which may be invested in the securities of any one issuer by the diversification requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence affecting one or more of these issuers, experience increased volatility and be highly concentrated in certain issues.
PERFORMANCE ftetf1364608_FundPastPerformanceAbstract  
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading PERFORMANCE
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The Fund has not yet commenced operations and, therefore, does not have a performance history. Once available, the Fund's performance information will be available on the Fund's website at www.ftportfolios.com.
Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess The Fund has not yet commenced operations and, therefore, does not have a performance history.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock Once available, the Fund's performance information will be available on the Fund's website at www.ftportfolios.com.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.ftportfolios.com
[1] Although the Fund has adopted a 12b-1 plan that permits it to pay up to 0.25% per annum, it will not pay 12b-1 fees at any time before May 6, 2012.