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Label Element Value
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 497
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Dec. 10, 2015
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 Dec. 10, 2015
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Dec. 10, 2015
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Dec. 10, 2015
First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading

SUMMARY INFORMATION
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund (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 Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index(SM) (the "Index").
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, which are not reflected in the table below.
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)
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 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 year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 33% of the average value of its portfolio.
Expense Example by Year [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearHeading

EXAMPLE
Expense Example, No Redemption Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock

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 in the secondary market.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain at current levels until January 31, 2016, and thereafter at 0.85% to represent the imposition of the 12b-1 fee of 0.25% per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets. The example assumes that First Trust's agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund's expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following January 31, 2016. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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 or in depositary receipts representing securities in the Index. First Trust Advisors L.P. ("First Trust" or the "Advisor") seeks to match the performance of the Index (before the Fund's fees and expenses).

The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. First Trust 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 an indicated annual dividend yield weighted index of 100 stocks selected from the developed-market portion of the Dow Jones World Index(SM). Indicated annual dividend yield is a stock's unadjusted indicated annual dividend (not including any special dividends) divided by its unadjusted price. The Index is compiled and maintained by Dow Jones & Company, Inc. ("Dow Jones" or the "Index Provider"). The Index universe consists of all dividend-paying companies in the Dow Jones World Developed Index which are subjected to eligibility screens for dividend quality and liquidity before being selected for inclusion in the Index. Component securities are weighted on indicated annual dividend yield. Weights of individual securities are capped at 10%. The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted annually in March. The Fund will make changes to its portfolio holdings when changes are made by the Index Provider in the composition of the Index.

The Fund intends to invest entirely in securities included in the Index; however, there may also be instances in which the Fund may be underweighted or overweighted in certain securities in the Index, not invest in certain securities included 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.
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. There can be no assurance that the Fund's investment objective will be achieved.

CURRENCY RISK. The Fund may hold investments that are denominated in non-U.S. currencies, or in securities that provide exposure to such currencies, currency exchange rates or interest rates denominated in such currencies. Changes in currency exchange rates and the relative value of non-U.S. currencies will affect the value of the Fund's investment and the value of Fund shares. Currency exchange rates can be very volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably. As a result, the value of an investment in the Fund may change quickly and without warning and you may lose money.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS RISK. Depositary receipts may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market. Any distributions paid to the holders of depositary receipts are usually subject to a fee charged by the depositary. Holders of depositary receipts may have limited voting rights, and investment restrictions in certain countries may adversely impact the value of depositary receipts because such restrictions may limit the ability to convert the equity shares into depositary receipts and vice versa. Such restrictions may cause the equity shares of the underlying issuer to trade at a discount or premium to the market price of the depositary receipts.

EQUITY SECURITIES RISK. Because the Fund invests in equity securities, the value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in the value of these equity securities. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors' perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, such as current market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur. In addition, common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.

EUROPE RISK. The Fund invests in securities issued by companies operating in Europe. Investments in a single region, even though representing a number of different countries within the region, may be affected by common economic forces and other factors. The Fund is subject to greater risks of adverse events which occur in the European region and may experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. Political or economic disruptions in European countries, even in countries in which the Fund is not invested, may adversely affect security values and thus the Fund's holdings. A significant number of countries in Europe are member states in the European Union (the "EU"), and the member states no longer control their own monetary policies by directing independent interest rates for their currencies. In these member states, the authority to direct monetary policies, including money supply and official interest rates for the Euro, is exercised by the European Central Bank. Furthermore, the European sovereign debt crisis has had, and continues to have, a significant negative impact on the economies of certain European countries and their future economic outlooks.

INDEX CORRELATION 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.

MARKET RISK. Market risk is the risk that a particular security owned by the Fund or shares of the Fund in general may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of the Fund could decline in value or 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.

NON-U.S. SECURITIES RISK. Non-U.S. 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; currency exchange rates; excessive taxation; government seizure of assets; different legal or accounting standards; and less government supervision and regulation of exchanges in foreign countries.

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.

TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES RISK. The Fund invests in telecommunication companies, which are subject to risks, such as a market characterized by increasing competition and regulation by the Federal Communications Commission and various state regulatory authorities, the need to commit substantial capital to meet increasing competition, particularly in formulating new products and services using new technology and innovations that may make various products and services obsolete.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading

FIRST TRUST DOW JONES GLOBAL SELECT DIVIDEND INDEX FUND--TOTAL RETURNS
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value for the past seven years as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns for the one year, five year and since inception periods ended December 31, 2014. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund's average annual total returns based on net asset value compare to those of the Index and two broad-based securities market indices. See "Total Return Information" for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund's performance information is accessible on the Fund's website at www.ftportfolios.com.

Returns before taxes do not reflect the effects of any income or capital gains taxes. All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of any state or local tax. Returns after taxes on distributions reflect the taxed return on the payment of dividends and capital gains. Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of shares assume you sold your shares at period end, and, therefore, are also adjusted for any capital gains or losses incurred. Returns for the market indices do not include expenses, which are deducted from Fund returns, or taxes.

Your own actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or employee-sponsored retirement plans.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the seven-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund's highest and lowest calendar quarter returns were 38.58% and -29.38%, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014
First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund | First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.40%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none [1]
Fees Previously Waived or Expenses Reimbursed by First Trust rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.02% [2]
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.18%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.60%
Fee Waiver an Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets none [2]
Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.60%
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 $ 61
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 246
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 447
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,026
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (50.57%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 64.28%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 12.27%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (2.17%)
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 15.42%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 17.90%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (0.72%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.72%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.21%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.72%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Nov. 21, 2007
First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund | After Taxes on Distributions | First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (2.75%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.22%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.83%
First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales | First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.35%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.55%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 1.24%
First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund | Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.35%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.28%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.93%
First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund | Dow Jones World Developed Markets Index  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.84%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 10.66%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 4.22%
First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund | MSCI World Index  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.94%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 10.20%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.67%
[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 January 31, 2016.
[2] First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund's advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the "Expense Cap") at least through January 31, 2016. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund's advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding an expense ratio equal to the Expense Cap in place at the time the expenses were reimbursed or fees waived by the Fund's advisor. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust on behalf of the Fund at any time and by the Fund's advisor only after January 31, 2016 upon 60 days' written notice.