Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Nov. 10, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2023
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36327
Entity Registrant Name	Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	98-0542593
Entity Address, Address Line One	188 East Blaine Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 450
Entity Address, City or Town	Seattle
Entity Address, State or Province	WA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	98102
City Area Code	866
Local Phone Number	245-0312
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.000001
Trading Symbol	NLTX
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		9,397,901
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0001404644
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31