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Summary of Status of Stock Options Under Twenty Twelve Plan and Twenty Zero Two Plan (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Shares      
Granted 386,749us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod    
Exercised (2,515,769)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised (3,088,490)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised (973,270)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
Stock options under the Plan, the 2002 Plan, and the 1992 Plan      
Shares      
Options Outstanding, at beginning of the year 11,992,811us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Granted 386,749us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Exercised (2,515,769)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Forfeited, Expired or Cancelled (192,710)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Options Outstanding, at the end of year 9,671,081us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Options Exercisable at the end of year 7,642,521us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Weighted average exercise price per share      
Options Outstanding, Beginning Balance 53.64us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Granted 60.85us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Exercised 50.70us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Forfeited, Expired or Cancelled 53.54us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Options Outstanding, Ending Balance 54.70us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Options Exercisable, at the end of the year 55.82us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Weighted average remaining contractual term (years)      
Options Outstanding, at the end of the year 5 years 1 month 6 days    
Options Exercisable, at the end of the year 4 years 6 months    
Aggregate intrinsic value      
Options Outstanding, at the end of year 132.6us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember
   
Options Exercisable at end of the year 96.9us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ntrs_StockOptionPlansMember