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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jun. 12, 2017
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund Summary
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Goal
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock To earn a high level of current income. Its secondary goal is to seek capital appreciation to the extent it is possible and consistent with the Fund's principal goal.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in Franklin Templeton funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Your Account” on page 34 in the Fund's Prospectus and under “Buying and Selling Shares” on page 55 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. In addition, more information about sales charge discounts and waivers for purchases of shares through specific intermediaries is set forth in Appendix A – Intermediary Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers to the Fund’s prospectus.

Please note that the tables and examples below do not reflect any transaction fees that may be charged by financial intermediaries, or commissions that a shareholder may be required to pay directly to its financial intermediary when buying or selling Class R6 or Advisor Class shares.
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 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 year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 18.58% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 18.58%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in Franklin Templeton funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 100,000
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. 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 the period. 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 reflects adjustments made to the Fund's operating expenses due to the fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by management as described above for the 1 Year numbers only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption If you do not sell your shares:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests predominantly in high yield, lower-rated debt securities. Lower-rated securities generally pay higher yields than more highly rated securities to compensate investors for the higher risk. These securities include bonds, notes, debentures, convertible securities and senior and subordinated debt securities. The Fund may also invest in preferred stock.

The Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in debt securities that are rated below investment grade, also known as “junk bonds.” Investment grade debt securities are rated in one of the top four ratings categories by at least one independent rating agency such as Standard & Poor’s (S&P®) and Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s). The Fund may buy both rated and unrated debt securities, including securities rated below B by Moody's or S&P® (or deemed comparable by the Fund's investment manager). The Fund may also invest in defaulted debt securities and in securities issued by issuers in any foreign country, developed or developing. Foreign securities held by the Fund generally will be denominated in U.S. dollars and traded on U.S. markets.

The Fund's investment manager is a research driven, fundamental investor that relies on a team of analysts to provide in-depth industry expertise and uses both qualitative and quantitative analysis to evaluate issuers. As a "bottom-up" investor, the investment manager focuses primarily on individual securities. The investment manager also considers sectors when choosing investments and, from time to time, may have significant investments in certain sectors.

In selecting securities for the Fund’s investment portfolio, the investment manager does not rely principally on the ratings assigned by rating agencies, but performs its own independent investment analysis to evaluate the creditworthiness of the issuer. The investment manager considers a variety of factors, including the issuer’s experience and managerial strength, its sensitivity to economic conditions, and its current and prospective financial condition.
Strategy Portfolio Concentration [Text] rr_StrategyPortfolioConcentration Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests predominantly in high yield, lower-rated debt securities.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Mutual fund shares are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank, and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other agency of the U.S. government.

Credit

An issuer of debt securities may fail to make interest payments or repay principal when due, in whole or in part. Changes in an issuer's financial strength or in a security's credit rating may affect a security's value.

High-Yield Debt Securities

Issuers of lower-rated or “high-yield” debt securities (also known as “junk bonds”) are not as strong financially as those issuing higher credit quality debt securities. High-yield debt securities are generally considered predominantly speculative by the applicable rating agencies as their issuers are more likely to encounter financial difficulties and are more vulnerable to changes in the relevant economy, such as a recession or a sustained period of rising interest rates, that could affect their ability to make interest and principal payments when due. The prices of high-yield debt securities generally fluctuate more than those of higher credit quality. High-yield debt securities are generally more illiquid (harder to sell) and harder to value.

Income

Because the Fund can only distribute what it earns, the Fund's distributions to shareholders may decline when prevailing interest rates fall or when the Fund experiences defaults on debt securities it holds.

Liquidity

From time to time, the trading market for a particular security or type of security or other investments in which the Fund invests may become less liquid or even illiquid. Reduced liquidity will have an adverse impact on the Fund’s ability to sell such securities or other investments when necessary to meet the Fund’s liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event and will also generally lower the value of a security or other investments. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile.

Interest Rate

When interest rates rise, debt security prices generally fall. The opposite is also generally true: debt security prices rise when interest rates fall. Interest rate changes are influenced by a number of factors, including government policy, monetary policy, inflation expectations, perceptions of risk, and supply and demand of bonds. In general, securities with longer maturities or durations are more sensitive to interest rate changes.

Foreign Securities

Investing in foreign securities typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities, and includes risks associated with: (i) internal and external political and economic developments – e.g., the political, economic and social policies and structures of some foreign countries may be less stable and more volatile than those in the U.S. or some foreign countries may be subject to trading restrictions or economic sanctions; (ii) trading practices – e.g., government supervision and regulation of foreign securities and currency markets, trading systems and brokers may be less than in the U.S.; (iii) availability of information – e.g., foreign issuers may not be subject to the same disclosure, accounting and financial reporting standards and practices as U.S. issuers; (iv) limited markets – e.g., the securities of certain foreign issuers may be less liquid (harder to sell) and more volatile; and (v) currency exchange rate fluctuations and policies. The risks of foreign investments may be greater in developing or emerging market countries.

Focus

To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors or types of investment from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse developments in such areas of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

Prepayment

Prepayment risk occurs when a debt security can be repaid in whole or in part prior to the security's maturity and the Fund must reinvest the proceeds it receives, during periods of declining interest rates, in securities that pay a lower rate of interest. Also, if a security has been purchased at a premium, the value of the premium would be lost in the event of prepayment. Prepayments generally increase when interest rates fall.

Market

The market values of securities or other investments owned by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. A security's market value may be reduced by market activity or other results of supply and demand unrelated to the issuer. This is a basic risk associated with all securities. When there are more sellers than buyers, prices tend to fall. Likewise, when there are more buyers than sellers, prices tend to rise.

Management

The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Fund's investment manager applies investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or since inception, as applicable, compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You can obtain updated performance information at franklintempleton.com or by calling (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236.

The secondary index in the table below shows how the Fund's performance compares with the returns of an index of funds with similar investment objectives as the Fund.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or since inception, as applicable, compared with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress franklintempleton.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Class A Annual Total Returns
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Best Quarter:Q2'0918.22%
Worst Quarter:Q4'08-14.25%
As of March 31, 2017, the Fund's year-to-date return was 3.50%.
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns
(figures reflect sales charges)

For the periods ended December 31, 2016
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The after-tax returns are 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. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A and after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 4.25%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none [1]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.45%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.15%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.18%
Acquired fund fees and expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01% [2]
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.79% [2]
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [3]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.78% [2],[3]
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 501
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 666
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 844
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,361
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 3.18%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (22.54%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 44.33%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 13.14%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 4.55%
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 15.71%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 7.64%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (0.39%)
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (10.74%)
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 19.32%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel As of March 31, 2017, the Fund's year-to-date return was 3.50%.
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 18.22%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (14.25%)
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | Class C  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 1.00%
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.45%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.65%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.18%
Acquired fund fees and expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01% [2]
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.29% [2]
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [3]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.28% [2],[3]
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 230
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 408
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 707
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,556
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 130
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 408
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 707
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,556
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | Class R  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.45%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.50%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.18%
Acquired fund fees and expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01% [2]
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.14% [2]
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [3]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.13% [2],[3]
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 115
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 361
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 627
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,386
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | Class R6  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.45%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Acquired fund fees and expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01% [2]
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.48% [2]
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [3]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.47% [2],[3]
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 48
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 153
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 268
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 603
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | Advisor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.45%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.18%
Acquired fund fees and expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01% [2]
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.64% [2]
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [3]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.63% [2],[3]
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 64
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 204
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 356
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 798
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | Return Before Taxes | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Column rr_AverageAnnualReturnColumnName Franklin High Income Fund
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 14.49%
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.78%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.63%
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | Return Before Taxes | Class C  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 17.47%
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.15%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.54%
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | Return Before Taxes | Class R  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 18.53%
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.27%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.68%
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | Return Before Taxes | Class R6  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.71%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.55% [4]
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | Return Before Taxes | Advisor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.41%
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.88%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.27%
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | After Taxes on Distributions | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Column rr_AverageAnnualReturnColumnName Franklin High Income Fund
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.41%
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.03%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.78%
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Column rr_AverageAnnualReturnColumnName Franklin High Income Fund
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.03%
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.44%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.10%
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | Credit Suisse High Yield Index (index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 18.39%
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.18%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.15%
Franklin High Income Fund-13 | Franklin High Income Fund | Lipper High Yield Funds Classification Average (index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (4.09%)
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.08%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.58%
[1] There is a 0.75% contingent deferred sales charge that applies to investments of $1 million or more (see "Investments of $1 Million or More" under "Choosing a Share Class") and purchases by certain retirement plans without an initial sales charge.
[2] Total annual Fund operating expenses differ from the ratio of expenses to average net assets shown in the Financial Highlights, which reflect the operating expenses of the Fund and do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
[3] The investment manager has contractually agreed in advance to reduce its fee as a result of the Fund's investment in a Franklin Templeton money fund (acquired fund) for the next 12-month period. Contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement agreements may not be changed or terminated during the time periods set forth above.
[4] Since inception May 1, 2013.