Derivative Financial Instruments (Location and Amount of Gains and Losses Recorded in Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Interest Income	$ 599.2	$ 453.8	$ 1,672.8	$ 1,281.3
Interest Expense	191.0	99.6	467.3	232.1
Other Operating Income	20.9	40.0	87.1	122.7
Other Operating Expense	97.1	92.0	241.4	239.4
Interest Income
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Total gain/(loss) recognized on fair value hedges	3.5	(6.7)	6.4	(11.5)
Gains/(Losses) on cash flow hedges recognized on	17.2	4.3	47.3	12.3
Interest Expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Total gain/(loss) recognized on fair value hedges	(6.4)	1.1	3.3	18.3
Gains/(Losses) on cash flow hedges recognized on	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Other Operating Income
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Total gain/(loss) recognized on fair value hedges	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Gains/(Losses) on cash flow hedges recognized on	0.2	1.7	3.7	4.2
Other Operating Expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Total gain/(loss) recognized on fair value hedges	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Gains/(Losses) on cash flow hedges recognized on	0.0	0.1	0.0	(0.1)
Foreign Exchange Contracts \| Interest Income
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains/(Losses) on cash flow hedges recognized on	17.3	4.2	47.5	12.1
Foreign Exchange Contracts \| Interest Expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains/(Losses) on cash flow hedges recognized on	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Foreign Exchange Contracts \| Other Operating Income
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains/(Losses) on cash flow hedges recognized on	0.2	1.7	3.7	4.2
Foreign Exchange Contracts \| Other Operating Expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gains/(Losses) on cash flow hedges recognized on	0.0	0.1	0.0	(0.1)
Interest Rate Contracts \| Interest Income
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Recognized on derivatives	13.0	7.8	77.7	(13.0)
Recognized on hedged items	(13.0)	(7.8)	(77.7)	13.0
Amounts related to interest settlements on derivatives	3.5	(6.7)	6.4	(11.5)
Gains/(Losses) on cash flow hedges recognized on	(0.1)	0.1	(0.2)	0.2
Interest Rate Contracts \| Interest Expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Recognized on derivatives	(8.9)	0.1	(46.0)	(4.0)
Recognized on hedged items	8.9	(0.1)	46.0	4.0
Amounts related to interest settlements on derivatives	(6.4)	1.1	3.3	18.3
Gains/(Losses) on cash flow hedges recognized on	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest Rate Contracts \| Other Operating Income
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Recognized on derivatives	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Recognized on hedged items	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Amounts related to interest settlements on derivatives	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Gains/(Losses) on cash flow hedges recognized on	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest Rate Contracts \| Other Operating Expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Recognized on derivatives	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Recognized on hedged items	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Amounts related to interest settlements on derivatives	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Gains/(Losses) on cash flow hedges recognized on	$ 0.0	$ 0.0	$ 0.0	$ 0.0

Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Amounts Related to Settlement

No definition available.

Name:	ntrs_ChangeinUnrealizedGainLossonAmountsRelatedtoSettlement
Namespace Prefix:	ntrs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) from the increase (decrease) in fair value of derivative and nonderivative instruments designated as fair value hedging instruments recognized in the income statement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 25
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109977999&loc=d3e76258-113986

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnFairValueHedgingInstruments1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the increase (decrease) in fair value of the hedged item in a fair value hedge recognized in the income statement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total amount of gain (loss) derived from fair value hedges recognized in earnings in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the total of interest and dividend income, including any amortization and accretion (as applicable) of discounts and premiums, earned from (1) loans and leases whether held-for-sale or held-in-portfolio; (2) investment securities; (3) federal funds sold; (4) securities purchased under agreements to resell; (5) investments in banker's acceptances, commercial paper, or certificates of deposit; (6) dividend income; or (7) other investments not otherwise specified herein.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.1-5)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28555-108399

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (210.5-03(11))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.9)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue earned, classified as other, excluding interest income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(1)(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868656-224227

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(13))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873790&loc=SL114874131-224263

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NoninterestIncomeOtherOperatingIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after tax, of reclassification of gain (loss) from accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) for derivative instrument designated and qualifying as cash flow hedge included in assessment of hedge effectiveness.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=d3e689-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=d3e637-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationAfterTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of noninterest expense classified as other.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.14)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherNoninterestExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_InterestIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=ntrs_OtherNoninterestIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=ntrs_OtherOperatingExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: