Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Feb. 28, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36327
Entity Registrant Name	Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	98-0542593
Entity Address, Address Line One	188 East Blaine Street,
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 450
Entity Address, City or Town	Seattle
Entity Address, State or Province	WA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	98102
City Area Code	866
Local Phone Number	245-0312
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.000001
Trading Symbol	NLTX
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 322.8
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		42,493,971
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Part III incorporates information by reference from the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, in connection with the registrant’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2022 Proxy Statement”).
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0001404644