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Label Element Value
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Sep. 30, 2019
Entity Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST
Entity Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000072760
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Entity Inv Company Type dei_EntityInvCompanyType N-1A
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Jan. 31, 2020
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Feb. 01, 2020
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Feb. 01, 2020
NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading SUMMARY SECTION
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objectives
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

Northeast Investors Trust is a no load high yield bond fund whose primary objective is the production of income. Capital appreciation is also an objective of the Trust but its achievement must be compatible with the primary objective.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
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 Trust.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (Fees Paid Directly From Your Investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Trust Operating Expenses as of 9/30/19 (Expenses Deducted From Fund Assets)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Trust pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys or sells securities (or 'turns over' its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may result in higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Trust operating expenses or in the example, may affect the Trust's investment performance. Also, a higher portfolio turnover rate may result in an elevated level of capital gains. During the most recent fiscal year, the Trust's portfolio turnover rate was 45.13% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 45.13%
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 Trust with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Trust for the time periods indicated and redeem at the end of the period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, including reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions, and that the Trust's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Primary Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Trust invests primarily in marketable securities of established companies which the Trustees believe provide income and which, where consistent with the objective, may have potential for capital appreciation. These investments may include bonds which may be purchased at a discount or premium, preferred securities, common stocks, convertible securities and securities with warrants attached. The Trust's portfolio emphasizes high yield corporate bonds (sometimes referred to as 'junk bonds') which are unrated or rated as lower than investment grade by either of the two principal rating services. Equity investments, which are generally acquired via corporate debt restructurings, are considered for their potential for appreciation.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

Risk of Lower Rated or Unrated Debt Securities: Lower rated or unrated debt securities may be subject to increased market volatility and can present an increased risk of investment loss. Risks of investing in these securities include the ability of an issuer to make current interest payments due to economic circumstances, the potential for principal loss if an issuer declares bankruptcy and price sensitivity of these investments due to changes in market conditions.

 

Income Risk: There is the chance that falling interest rates and/or defaults will cause the Trust's income to decline. Shareholders should expect the Trust's quarterly dividend distributions to fluctuate.

 

Interest Rate Risk: The value of fixed income investments such as bonds tends to fall as interest rates rise. Longer-term debt securities are more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter maturities.

 

Liquidity Risk: The Trust may have difficulty in disposing of securities, particularly under adverse market conditions, in a timely manner at a desired price. Less liquid securities and markets can result in greater price volatility due to limited trading volumes and reductions in bond inventory.

 

Sector Risk: At times certain sectors of the markets for high yield securities may underperform relative to other sectors, and in these circumstances, if the Trust is overweight in an underperforming sector, overall performance can be adversely affected.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following performance related information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Trust. The table shows the average annual returns (including operating expenses) compared with those of a relevant market index for the periods indicated. The table also presents the impact of taxes on the Trust's returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income and capital gains tax rates in effect at the time of each distribution and do not reflect the impact of state or local income taxes. Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Trust shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to the tax benefit of realizing a capital loss on the sale of Trust shares. Actual after-tax returns depend on the individual investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. The bar chart illustrates how the Trust's performance (including operating expenses) varied from one calendar year to another over the past ten years.

 

The after-tax returns shown below are not relevant to investors who own the Trust in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account (IRA) or a 401(k) plan, because such accounts are subject to taxes only upon distribution. Keep in mind that past performance – whether before taxes or after taxes – does not guarantee future results.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart illustrates how the Trust's performance (including operating expenses) varied from one calendar year to another over the past ten years.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Keep in mind that past performance – whether before taxes or after taxes – does not guarantee future results.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Total Returns:
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock The following bar chart shows the change in value of the Trust's shares over the past 10 years. It illustrates how the returns can differ from one year to the next. The Trust may experience short-term swings of performance as suggested by the best and worst calendar quarter returns shown below.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Best quarter: 2nd quarter 2016, up 14.92% Worst quarter: 1st quarter 2016, down 10.32%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2019
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income and capital gains tax rates in effect at the time of each distribution and do not reflect the impact of state or local income taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred The after-tax returns shown below are not relevant to investors who own the Trust in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account (IRA) or a 401(k) plan, because such accounts are subject to taxes only upon distribution.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Trust shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to the tax benefit of realizing a capital loss on the sale of Trust shares.
NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST SHARES  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol NTHEX
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther none
Redemption Fee rr_RedemptionFee none
Trustees' Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.50% [1]
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Interest Expense rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.09%
Operating Expense rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.97%
Other Expense rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 1.06%
Total Annual Trust Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.56%
One Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 159
Three Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 493
Five Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 850
Ten Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,856
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 14.25%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (0.72%)
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 14.63%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 13.01%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (5.36%)
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (17.99%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 16.72%
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 6.28%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (5.04%)
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 0.92%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2016
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 14.92%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2016
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (10.32%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.92%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.51%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.09%
NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | After Taxes on Distributions | NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST SHARES  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.29%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (3.09%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 0.40%
NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales | NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST SHARES  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.55%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (1.51%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.29%
NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Index  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 14.41% [2]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.13% [2]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.50% [2]
[1] The Trustees are responsible for the portfolio management of the Trust.
[2] The ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Index is an unmanaged market value-weighted index comprised of all domestic and yankee high-yield bonds, including deferred interest bonds and payment-in-kind securities. Issues included in the index have maturities of one year or more and have a credit rating lower than BBB-/Baa3, but are not in default. It is shown for comparative purposes only and reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes.