Allowance for Credit Losses (Accrued Interest) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Receivables [Abstract]
Loans and Leases	$ 54.2	$ 84.5
Debt Securities
Held to Maturity	71.7	82.3
Available for Sale	101.0	119.0
Other Financial Assets	$ 1.7	$ 14.7

Debt Securities, Accrued Interest, After Allowance For Credit Loss

No definition available.

Name:	ntrs_DebtSecuritiesAccruedInterestAfterAllowanceForCreditLossAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ntrs_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other Financial Assets, Accrued Interest, After Allowance For Credit Loss

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ntrs_OtherFinancialAssetsAccruedInterestAfterAllowanceForCreditLoss
Namespace Prefix:	ntrs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of accrued interest on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121558606&loc=SL82898722-210454

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121582814&loc=SL120267853-210455

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121645371&loc=SL121698322-111563

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121582814&loc=SL120267856-210455

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAccruedInterestAfterAllowanceForCreditLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of accrued interest on investment in debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5C
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121645371&loc=SL121698325-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121599878&loc=SL120267845-210446

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121599337&loc=SL120267960-210447

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesHeldToMaturityAccruedInterestAfterAllowanceForCreditLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of accrued interest on financing receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121599337&loc=SL120267960-210447

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121599878&loc=SL120267845-210446

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAccruedInterestAfterAllowanceForCreditLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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