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N-2 - USD ($)
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2025
Oct. 31, 2024
Oct. 31, 2023
Oct. 31, 2022
Oct. 31, 2021
Oct. 31, 2020
Cover [Abstract]            
Entity Central Index Key 0000759828          
Amendment Flag false          
Entity Inv Company Type N-2          
Document Type N-CSRS          
Entity Registrant Name JOHN HANCOCK INVESTORS TRUST          
Financial Highlights [Abstract]            
Senior Securities [Table Text Block]
Financial highlights
Period ended 4-30-251 10-31-24 10-31-23 10-31-22 10-31-21 10-31-20
Per share operating performance            
Net asset value, beginning of period $14.88 $13.51 $13.34 $18.63 $17.11 $18.38
Net investment income2 0.52 0.82 0.81 1.18 1.36 1.27
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (0.50) 1.55 0.24 (5.15) 1.59 (1.19)
Total from investment operations 0.02 2.37 1.05 (3.97) 2.95 0.08
Less distributions            
From net investment income (0.58) (1.00) (0.88) (1.32) (1.43) (1.35)
Net asset value, end of period $14.32 $14.88 $13.51 $13.34 $18.63 $17.11
Per share market value, end of period $13.17 $14.14 $11.92 $12.37 $18.62 $15.47
Total return at net asset value (%)3,4 0.345 18.60 8.54 (22.00) 17.65 1.56
Total return at market value (%)3 (2.89)5 27.74 3.27 (27.68) 30.05 (1.53)
Ratios and supplemental data            
Net assets, end of period (in millions) $125 $130 $118 $117 $162 $149
Ratios (as a percentage of average net assets):            
Expenses before reductions 4.766 5.46 5.29 2.37 1.46 1.91
Expenses including reductions7 4.746 5.44 5.28 2.35 1.45 1.90
Net investment income 7.206 5.63 5.84 7.43 7.30 7.42
Portfolio turnover (%) 37 58 45 39 52 62
Senior securities            
Total debt outstanding end of period (in millions) $87 $87 $87 $87 $87 $87
Asset coverage per $1,000 of debt8 $2,441 $2,497 $2,360 $2,342 $2,869 $2,714
   
1 Six months ended 4-30-25. Unaudited.
2 Based on average daily shares outstanding.
3 Total return based on net asset value reflects changes in the fund’s net asset value during each period. Total return based on market value reflects changes in market value. Each figure assumes that distributions from income, capital gains and tax return of capital, if any, were reinvested.
4 Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced during the applicable periods.
5 Not annualized.
6 Annualized.
7 Expenses including reductions excluding interest expense were 1.24% (annualized), 1.31%, 1.27%, 1.19%, 1.06% and 1.08% for the periods ended 4-30-25, 10-31-24, 10-31-23, 10-31-22, 10-31-21 and 10-31-20, respectively.
8 Asset coverage equals the total net assets plus borrowings divided by the borrowings of the fund outstanding at period end (Note 8). As debt outstanding changes, the level of invested assets may change accordingly. Asset coverage ratio provides a measure of leverage.
         
Senior Securities Amount $ 87 [1] $ 87 $ 87 $ 87 $ 87 $ 87
Senior Securities Coverage per Unit [2] $ 2,441 $ 2,497 $ 2,360 $ 2,342 $ 2,869 $ 2,714
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Investment Objectives and Practices [Text Block]
Investment Objective
The Fund’s primary investment objective is to generate income for distribution to its shareholders, with capital appreciation as a secondary objective.
Principal Investment Strategies
The preponderance of the Fund’s assets are invested in a diversified portfolio of debt securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. corporations and governments, some of which may carry equity features. The Fund emphasizes corporate debt securities which pay interest on a fixed or contingent basis and which may possess certain equity features, such as conversion or exchange rights, warrants for the acquisition of the stock of the same or different issuers, or participations based on revenues, sales or profits.
The Fund may invest up to 70% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in debt securities rated below investment grade, commonly known as “junk bonds.” The Fund also may purchase preferred securities and may acquire common stock through the exercise of conversion or exchange rights acquired in connection with other securities owned by the Fund. The Fund will not acquire any additional preferred securities or common stock if as a result of that acquisition the value of all preferred securities and common stocks in the Fund’s portfolio would exceed 20% of its total assets. Up to 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets may be invested in restricted securities acquired through private placements. The Fund may also purchase mortgage-backed securities.
At least 30% of Fund’s net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) will be represented by (a) debt securities which are rated, at the time of acquisition, investment grade (i.e., at least “Baa” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) or “BBB” by Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings Inc. (S&P)) or in unrated securities determined by the Subadvisor to be of comparable credit quality, (b) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities, and (c) cash or cash equivalents.
The Fund may also invest in derivatives such as foreign currency forward contracts, credit default swaps, futures contracts, options, foreign currency swaps, interest-rate swaps, swaps and reverse repurchase agreements. The fund utilizes a liquidity agreement to increase its assets available for investments and may also seek to obtain additional income or portfolio leverage by making secured loans of its portfolio securities with a value of up to 33 1/3% of its total assets. In addition, the Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its total assets in illiquid securities.
The Advisor may also take into consideration environmental, social, and/or governance (ESG) factors, alongside other relevant factors, as part of its investment selection process. The ESG characteristics utilized in the fund’s investment process may change over time and one or more characteristics may not be relevant with respect to all issuers that are eligible fund investments.
         
Risk Factors [Table Text Block]
Principal Risks
As is the case with all exchange-listed closed-end funds, shares of this fund may trade at a discount or a premium to the fund’s net asset value (NAV). An investment in the fund is subject to investment and market risks, including the possible loss of the entire principal invested.
The fund’s main risks are listed below in alphabetical order, not in order of importance.
Changing distribution level & return of capital risk. There is no guarantee prior distribution levels will be maintained, and distributions may include a substantial tax return of capital. A return of capital is the return of all or a portion of a shareholder’s investment in the fund.
Credit and counterparty risk. The issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract, or a borrower of fund securities may not make timely payments or otherwise honor its obligations. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon the nature of their support. A downgrade or default affecting any of the fund’s securities could affect the fund’s performance.
Economic and market events risk. Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. Reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets could adversely affect issuers worldwide. Banks and financial service companies could suffer losses if interest rates rise or economic conditions deteriorate. 
Equity securities risk. The price of equity securities may decline due to changes in a company’s financial condition or overall market conditions.
ESG integration risk. The manager considers ESG factors that it deems relevant or additive, along with other material factors and analysis, when managing the fund. The manager may consider these ESG factors on all or a meaningful portion of the fund’s investments.  In certain situations, the extent to which these ESG factors may be applied according to the manager’s integrated investment process may not include U.S. Treasuries, government securities, or other asset classes. ESG factors may include, but are not limited to, matters regarding board diversity, climate change policies, and supply chain and human rights policies. Incorporating ESG criteria and making investment decisions based on certain ESG characteristics, as determined by the manager, carries the risk that the fund may perform differently, including underperforming funds that do not utilize ESG criteria or funds that utilize different ESG criteria. Integration of ESG factors into the fund’s investment process may result in a manager making different investments for the fund than for a fund with a similar investment universe and/or investment style that does not incorporate such considerations in its investment strategy or processes, and the fund’s investment performance may be affected. Because ESG factors are one of many considerations for the fund, the manager may nonetheless include companies with low ESG characteristics or exclude companies with high ESG characteristics in the fund’s investments.
Fixed-income securities risk. A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity or duration of the bonds held by a fund, the more sensitive it will likely be to interest-rate fluctuations. An issuer may not make all interest payment or repay all or any of the principal borrowed. Changes in a security’s credit qualify may adversely affect fund performance. Additionally, the value of inflation-indexed securities is subject to the effects of changes in market interest rates caused by factors other than inflation (“real interest rates”). Generally, when real interest rates rise, the value of inflation-indexed securities will fall and the fund’s value may decline as a result of this exposure to these securities.
Foreign securities risk. Less information may be publicly available regarding foreign issuers, including foreign government issuers. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes and may be more volatile than U.S. securities. Currency fluctuations and political and economic developments may adversely impact the value of foreign securities. 
Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions risk. Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions may increase a fund’s volatility and could produce disproportionate losses, potentially more than the fund’s principal investment. Risks of these transactions are different from and possibly greater than risks of investing directly in securities and other traditional instruments. Under certain market conditions, derivatives could become harder to value or sell and may become subject to liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions). Derivatives and other strategic transactions that the fund intends to utilize include: foreign currency forward contracts, credit default swaps, futures contracts, options, foreign currency swaps, interest-rate swaps, swaps, and reverse repurchase agreements. Foreign currency forward contracts, futures contracts, options, and swaps generally are subject to counterparty risk. In addition, swaps may be subject to interest-rate and settlement risk, and the risk of default of the underlying reference obligation. Derivatives associated with foreign currency
transactions are subject to currency risk. An event of default or insolvency of the counterparty to a reverse repurchase agreement could result in delays or restrictions with respect to the fund’s ability to dispose of the underlying securities. In addition, a reverse repurchase agreement may be considered a form of leverage and may, therefore, increase fluctuations in the fund’s NAV.
Illiquid and restricted securities risk. Illiquid and restricted securities may be difficult to value and may involve greater risks than liquid securities. Illiquidity may have an adverse impact on a particular security’s market price and the fund’s ability to sell the security.
Leveraging risk. Issuing preferred shares or using derivatives may result in a leveraged portfolio. Leveraging long exposures increases a fund’s losses when the value of its investments declines. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The fund also utilizes a Liquidity Agreement to increase its assets available for investment. See “Note 7 — Leverage risk” above.
Liquidity risk. The extent (if at all) to which a security may be sold or a derivative position closed without negatively impacting its market value may be impaired by reduced market activity or participation, legal restrictions, or other economic and market impediments. Widespread selling of fixed-income securities during periods of reduced demand may adversely impact the price or salability of such securities.
Lower-rated and high-yield fixed-income securities risk. Lower-rated and high-yield fixed-income securities (junk bonds) are subject to greater credit quality risk, risk of default, and price volatility than higher-rated fixed-income securities, may be considered speculative, and can be difficult to resell.
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities risk. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are subject to different combinations of prepayment, extension, interest-rate, and other market risks. Factors that impact the value of these securities include interest rate changes, the reliability of available information, credit quality or enhancement, and market perception.
Operational and cybersecurity risk. Cybersecurity breaches may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause a fund or its service providers to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Similar incidents affecting issuers of a fund’s securities may negatively impact performance. Operational risk may arise from human error, error by third parties, communication errors, or technology failures, among other causes.
Preferred and convertible securities risk. Preferred stock dividends are payable only if declared by the issuer’s board. Preferred stock may be subject to redemption provisions. The market values of convertible securities tend to fall as interest rates rise and rise as interest rates fall. Convertible preferred stock’s value can depend heavily upon the underlying common stock’s value.
U.S. Government agency obligations risk. U.S. government-sponsored entities such as Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal Home Loan Banks, although chartered or sponsored by Congress, are not funded by congressional appropriations and the debt securities that they issue are neither guaranteed nor issued by the U.S. government. Such debt securities are subject to the risk of default on the payment of interest and/or principal, similar to the debt securities of private issuers. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. government obligations may greatly exceed their current resources, including any legal right to support from the U.S. government. Although the U.S. government has provided financial support to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the past, there can be no assurance that it will support these or other government-sponsored entities in the future.
         
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]            
Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] 8,744,547          
Changing distribution level And return of capital risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Changing distribution level & return of capital risk. There is no guarantee prior distribution levels will be maintained, and distributions may include a substantial tax return of capital. A return of capital is the return of all or a portion of a shareholder’s investment in the fund.
         
Credit and counterparty risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Credit and counterparty risk. The issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract, or a borrower of fund securities may not make timely payments or otherwise honor its obligations. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon the nature of their support. A downgrade or default affecting any of the fund’s securities could affect the fund’s performance.
         
Economic and market events risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Economic and market events risk. Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. Reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets could adversely affect issuers worldwide. Banks and financial service companies could suffer losses if interest rates rise or economic conditions deteriorate. 
         
Equity securities risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Equity securities risk. The price of equity securities may decline due to changes in a company’s financial condition or overall market conditions.
         
ESG integration risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
ESG integration risk. The manager considers ESG factors that it deems relevant or additive, along with other material factors and analysis, when managing the fund. The manager may consider these ESG factors on all or a meaningful portion of the fund’s investments.  In certain situations, the extent to which these ESG factors may be applied according to the manager’s integrated investment process may not include U.S. Treasuries, government securities, or other asset classes. ESG factors may include, but are not limited to, matters regarding board diversity, climate change policies, and supply chain and human rights policies. Incorporating ESG criteria and making investment decisions based on certain ESG characteristics, as determined by the manager, carries the risk that the fund may perform differently, including underperforming funds that do not utilize ESG criteria or funds that utilize different ESG criteria. Integration of ESG factors into the fund’s investment process may result in a manager making different investments for the fund than for a fund with a similar investment universe and/or investment style that does not incorporate such considerations in its investment strategy or processes, and the fund’s investment performance may be affected. Because ESG factors are one of many considerations for the fund, the manager may nonetheless include companies with low ESG characteristics or exclude companies with high ESG characteristics in the fund’s investments.
         
Fixed income securities risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Fixed-income securities risk. A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity or duration of the bonds held by a fund, the more sensitive it will likely be to interest-rate fluctuations. An issuer may not make all interest payment or repay all or any of the principal borrowed. Changes in a security’s credit qualify may adversely affect fund performance. Additionally, the value of inflation-indexed securities is subject to the effects of changes in market interest rates caused by factors other than inflation (“real interest rates”). Generally, when real interest rates rise, the value of inflation-indexed securities will fall and the fund’s value may decline as a result of this exposure to these securities.
         
Foreign securities risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Foreign securities risk. Less information may be publicly available regarding foreign issuers, including foreign government issuers. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes and may be more volatile than U.S. securities. Currency fluctuations and political and economic developments may adversely impact the value of foreign securities. 
         
Hedging derivatives and other strategic transactions risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions risk. Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions may increase a fund’s volatility and could produce disproportionate losses, potentially more than the fund’s principal investment. Risks of these transactions are different from and possibly greater than risks of investing directly in securities and other traditional instruments. Under certain market conditions, derivatives could become harder to value or sell and may become subject to liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions). Derivatives and other strategic transactions that the fund intends to utilize include: foreign currency forward contracts, credit default swaps, futures contracts, options, foreign currency swaps, interest-rate swaps, swaps, and reverse repurchase agreements. Foreign currency forward contracts, futures contracts, options, and swaps generally are subject to counterparty risk. In addition, swaps may be subject to interest-rate and settlement risk, and the risk of default of the underlying reference obligation. Derivatives associated with foreign currency
transactions are subject to currency risk. An event of default or insolvency of the counterparty to a reverse repurchase agreement could result in delays or restrictions with respect to the fund’s ability to dispose of the underlying securities. In addition, a reverse repurchase agreement may be considered a form of leverage and may, therefore, increase fluctuations in the fund’s NAV.
         
Illiquid and restricted securities risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Illiquid and restricted securities risk. Illiquid and restricted securities may be difficult to value and may involve greater risks than liquid securities. Illiquidity may have an adverse impact on a particular security’s market price and the fund’s ability to sell the security.
         
Leveraging risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Leveraging risk. Issuing preferred shares or using derivatives may result in a leveraged portfolio. Leveraging long exposures increases a fund’s losses when the value of its investments declines. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The fund also utilizes a Liquidity Agreement to increase its assets available for investment. See “Note 7 — Leverage risk” above.
         
Liquidity risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Liquidity risk. The extent (if at all) to which a security may be sold or a derivative position closed without negatively impacting its market value may be impaired by reduced market activity or participation, legal restrictions, or other economic and market impediments. Widespread selling of fixed-income securities during periods of reduced demand may adversely impact the price or salability of such securities.
         
Lower rated and high yield fixed income securities risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Lower-rated and high-yield fixed-income securities risk. Lower-rated and high-yield fixed-income securities (junk bonds) are subject to greater credit quality risk, risk of default, and price volatility than higher-rated fixed-income securities, may be considered speculative, and can be difficult to resell.
         
Mortgage backed and asset backed securities risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities risk. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are subject to different combinations of prepayment, extension, interest-rate, and other market risks. Factors that impact the value of these securities include interest rate changes, the reliability of available information, credit quality or enhancement, and market perception.
         
Operational and cybersecurity risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Operational and cybersecurity risk. Cybersecurity breaches may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause a fund or its service providers to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Similar incidents affecting issuers of a fund’s securities may negatively impact performance. Operational risk may arise from human error, error by third parties, communication errors, or technology failures, among other causes.
         
Preferred and convertible securities risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
Preferred and convertible securities risk. Preferred stock dividends are payable only if declared by the issuer’s board. Preferred stock may be subject to redemption provisions. The market values of convertible securities tend to fall as interest rates rise and rise as interest rates fall. Convertible preferred stock’s value can depend heavily upon the underlying common stock’s value.
         
U S Government agency obligations risk [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Risk [Text Block]
U.S. Government agency obligations risk. U.S. government-sponsored entities such as Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal Home Loan Banks, although chartered or sponsored by Congress, are not funded by congressional appropriations and the debt securities that they issue are neither guaranteed nor issued by the U.S. government. Such debt securities are subject to the risk of default on the payment of interest and/or principal, similar to the debt securities of private issuers. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. government obligations may greatly exceed their current resources, including any legal right to support from the U.S. government. Although the U.S. government has provided financial support to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the past, there can be no assurance that it will support these or other government-sponsored entities in the future.
         
Note 1 [Member]            
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]            
Investment Objectives and Practices [Text Block]
The fund seeks to generate income for distribution to its shareholders, with capital appreciation as a secondary objective.
         
[1] Six months ended 4-30-25. Unaudited.
[2] Asset coverage equals the total net assets plus borrowings divided by the borrowings of the fund outstanding at period end (Note 8). As debt outstanding changes, the level of invested assets may change accordingly. Asset coverage ratio provides a measure of leverage.