Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NORTHERN FUNDS
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Jul. 31, 2013
NORTHERN U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks a high level of current income.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
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)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	July 31, 2014
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 portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 2,761.35% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	2761.35%
Expenses Not Correlated to Ratio Due to Acquired Fund Fees [Text]	rr_ExpensesNotCorrelatedToRatioDueToAcquiredFundFees	The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses and Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement will not correlate to the Fund’s ratios of average net assets to (1) expenses before reimbursements and credits and (2) expenses net of reimbursements and credits, respectively, included in the Fund’s Financial Highlights in the Fund’s complete Prospectus, which do not reflect indirect expenses, such as Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	EXAMPLE
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following 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 those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’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	PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	In seeking a high level of current income, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or by its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises and repurchase agreements relating to such securities. These may include: U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds; Obligations of the U.S. government or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises, including obligations that are issued by private issuers that are guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; Mortgage-related securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or by its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises; Stripped securities evidencing ownership of future interest or principal payments on obligations of the U.S. government or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises; Repurchase agreements collateralized by the above instruments; and Structured debt securities that are issued or guaranteed directly by the U.S. government or by its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. The Fund also may make limited investments in the obligations of supranational organizations (such as the World Bank). In buying and selling securities for the Fund, the Fund's investment adviser uses a relative value approach. This approach involves an analysis of general economic and market conditions. It also involves the use of models that analyze and compare expected returns and assumed risks. Under the relative value approach, the Fund's investment adviser will emphasize particular securities and types of securities (such as treasury, agency, asset-backed and mortgage-related securities) that the team believes will provide a favorable return in light of these risks. The Fund's dollar-weighted average maturity, under normal circumstances, will range between one and ten years. The Fund makes significant investments in securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored entities. Obligations issued by U.S. government-sponsored entities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and therefore are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. The Fund's investment adviser may engage in active trading, and will not consider portfolio turnover a limiting factor in making decisions for the Fund.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	PRINCIPAL RISKS
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	MARKET RISK is the risk that the market values of fixed-income securities owned by the Fund may decline, at times sharply and unpredictably. MANAGEMENT RISK is the risk that a strategy used by the Fund's investment adviser may fail to produce the intended results. LIQUIDITY RISK is the risk that certain portfolio securities may be less liquid than others, which may make them difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like, adversely affecting the value of the Fund's investments and its returns. INTEREST RATE/MATURITY RISK is the risk that the value of the Fund's assets will decline because of rising interest rates. This risk is generally lower for funds that have shorter-weighted maturities, such as money market funds and short-term bond funds. The magnitude of this decline will often be greater for longer-term fixed-income securities than shorter-term fixed-income securities. PREPAYMENT (OR CALL) RISK is the risk that prepayment of the underlying mortgages or other collateral of some fixed-income securities may result in a decreased rate of return and a decline in value of those securities. DEBT EXTENSION RISK is the risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as a mortgage-backed security) later than expected. This may happen during a period of rising interest rates. Under these circumstances, the value of the obligation will decrease and the Fund will suffer from the inability to invest in higher yielding securities. CREDIT (OR DEFAULT) RISK is the risk that the inability or unwillingness of an issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or a counterparty to a repurchase or other transaction, to meet its payment or other financial obligations will adversely affect the value of the Fund's investments and its returns. Changes in the credit rating of a debt security held by the Fund could have a similar effect. PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RISK is the risk that high portfolio turnover is likely to lead to increased Fund expenses that may result in lower investment returns. High portfolio turnover also is likely to result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to shareholders. For the last fiscal year, the annual portfolio turnover rate of the Fund exceeded 100%. U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES RISK is the risk that the U.S. government will not provide financial support to its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law. Many U.S. government securities purchased by the Fund are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. It is possible that the issuers of such securities will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future. INFLATION RISK is the risk that interest payments on inflation-indexed securities can be unpredictable and will vary as the principal and/or interest is periodically adjusted based on the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the interest payable on these securities will be reduced. As with any mutual fund, it is possible to lose money on an investment in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, any other government agency, or The Northern Trust Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries or any other bank.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	As with any mutual fund, it is possible to lose money on an investment in the Fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, any other government agency, or The Northern Trust Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries or any other bank.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	FUND PERFORMANCE
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The bar chart and table that follow provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing (A) changes in the performance of the Fund from year to year, and (B) how the average annual total returns of the Fund compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. The Fund's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information for the Fund is available and may be obtained on the Fund's Web site at www.northernfunds.com or by calling 800-595-9111.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The bar chart and table that follow provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing (A) changes in the performance of the Fund from year to year, and (B) how the average annual total returns of the Fund compare to those of a broad-based securities market index.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-595-9111
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	www.northernfunds.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	CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURN*
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	* Year to date total return for the six months ended June 30, 2013 is (2.85)%. For the periods shown in the bar chart above, the highest quarterly return was 6.60% in the fourth quarter of 2008, and the lowest quarterly return was (2.63)% in the second quarter of 2004.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN (For the periods ended December 31, 2012)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	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.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	In calculating the federal income taxes due on redemptions, capital gains taxes resulting from redemptions are subtracted from the redemption proceeds and the tax benefits from capital losses resulting from the redemptions are added to the redemption proceeds. Under certain circumstances, the addition of the tax benefits from capital losses resulting from redemptions may cause the Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares to be greater than the Returns After Taxes on Distributions or even the Returns Before Taxes.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	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 shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. In calculating the federal income taxes due on redemptions, capital gains taxes resulting from redemptions are subtracted from the redemption proceeds and the tax benefits from capital losses resulting from the redemptions are added to the redemption proceeds. Under certain circumstances, the addition of the tax benefits from capital losses resulting from redemptions may cause the Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares to be greater than the Returns After Taxes on Distributions or even the Returns Before Taxes.
NORTHERN U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND | NORTHERN U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)	rr_ShareholderFeeOther	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.70%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.52%
Administration Fees	rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.15%
Transfer Agency Fees	rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
Other Operating Expenses	rr_Component3OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.27%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.04%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.26%	[1]
Expense Reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.82%)	[2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.44%	[1]
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	45
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	318
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	613
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 1,450
2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	1.77%
2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	1.62%
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	0.85%
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	3.45%
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	5.92%
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	10.05%
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	0.06%
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	4.50%
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	5.77%
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	2.75%
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	Year to date total return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2013
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	(2.85%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest quarterly return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	6.60%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest quarterly return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2004
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(2.63%)
1-Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.75%
5-Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.57%
10-Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.64%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.97%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Apr. 01, 1994
NORTHERN U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND | Return after taxes on distributions | NORTHERN U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1-Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.37%
5-Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.99%
10-Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.18%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	3.13%
NORTHERN U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND | Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares | NORTHERN U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1-Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.79%
5-Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.01%
10-Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.26%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	3.14%
NORTHERN U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND | Barclays Intermediate U.S. Government Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1-Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.73%
5-Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.51%
10-Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.10%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.54%

[1] The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses and Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement will not correlate to the Fund's ratios of average net assets to (1) expenses before reimbursements and credits and (2) expenses net of reimbursements and credits, respectively, included in the Fund's Financial Highlights in the Fund's complete Prospectus, which do not reflect indirect expenses, such as Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.

[2] Northern Trust Investments, Inc. has contractually agreed to reimburse a portion of the operating expenses of the Fund (other than acquired fund fees and expenses; a portion of the compensation paid to each Trustee who is not an officer, director or employee of Northern Trust Corporation or its subsidiaries; expenses related to third-party consultants engaged by the Board of Trustees of the Trust; membership dues paid to the Investment Company Institute and Mutual Fund Directors Forum; and extraordinary expenses and interest, if any) to the extent the "Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses" exceed 0.40%. This contractual limitation may not be terminated before July 31, 2014 without the approval of the Board of Trustees. Northern Trust Investments, Inc. serves as the investment adviser and administrator to the Fund. The Northern Trust Company, an affiliate of Northern Trust Investments, Inc., serves as transfer agent, custodian and sub-administrator to the Fund.