v3.24.4
Label Element Value
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Sep. 30, 2024
Entity Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST
Entity Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000072760
Entity Inv Company Type dei_EntityInvCompanyType N-1A
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Feb. 01, 2025
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Feb. 01, 2025
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Feb. 01, 2025
NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading SUMMARY SECTION
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objectives
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

Northeast Investors Trust is a no load high yield bond fund whose primary objective is the production of income. Capital appreciation is also an objective of the Trust but its achievement must be compatible with the primary objective.

Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Trust.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (Fees Paid Directly From Your Investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Trust Operating Expenses as of 9/30/24 (Expenses Deducted From Fund Assets)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Trust pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys or sells securities (or ‘turns over’ its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may result in higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Trust operating expenses or in the example, may affect the Trust’s investment performance. Also, a higher portfolio turnover rate may result in an elevated level of capital gains. During the most recent fiscal year, the Trust’s portfolio turnover rate was 27.83% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 27.83%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Trust with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Trust for the time periods indicated and redeem at the end of the period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, including reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions, and that the Trust’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 Primary Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Trust invests primarily in marketable securities of established companies which the Trust’s portfolio managers believe provide income and which, where consistent with the objective, may have potential for capital appreciation. These investments may include bonds which may be purchased at a discount or premium, preferred securities, common stocks, convertible securities and securities with warrants attached. The Trust’s portfolio emphasizes high yield corporate bonds (sometimes referred to as ‘junk bonds’) which are unrated or rated as lower than investment grade by either of the two principal rating services. Equity investments, which are generally acquired via corporate debt restructurings, are considered for their potential for appreciation.

Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following performance related information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Trust. The table shows the average annual returns (including operating expenses) compared with those of a relevant market index for the periods indicated. The table also presents the impact of taxes on the Trust’s returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state or local income taxes. Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Trust shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to the tax benefit of realizing a capital loss on the sale of Trust shares. Actual after-tax returns depend on the individual investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown below. The bar chart illustrates how the Trust’s performance (including operating expenses) varied from one calendar year to another over the past ten years.

 

The after-tax returns shown below are not relevant to investors who own the Trust in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account (IRA) or a 401(k) plan, because such accounts are subject to taxes only upon distribution. Keep in mind that past performance – whether before taxes or after taxes – does not guarantee future results.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart illustrates how the Trust’s performance (including operating expenses) varied from one calendar year to another over the past ten years.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Keep in mind that past performance – whether before taxes or after taxes – does not guarantee future results.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Total Returns:
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart shows the change in value of the Trust’s shares over the past 10 years. It illustrates how the returns can differ from one year to the next. The Trust may experience short-term swings of performance as suggested by the best and worst calendar quarter returns shown below.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Best quarter: 2nd quarter 2016, up 14.92% Worst quarter: 1st quarter 2016, down 10.32%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2024
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes It is shown for comparative purposes only and reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes.
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 or local income taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred The after-tax returns shown below are not relevant to investors who own the Trust in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account (IRA) or a 401(k) plan, because such accounts are subject to taxes only upon distribution.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Trust shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to the tax benefit of realizing a capital loss on the sale of Trust shares.
NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Index  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.20% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.04% [1]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.08% [1]
NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | Risks of Lower Rated or Unrated Debt Securities  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock

Risks of Lower Rated or Unrated Debt Securities: Lower rated or unrated debt securities (sometimes referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds) may be subject to more market volatility than higher rated debt securities, which can present an increased risk of investment loss. Prices of high yield bonds are generally more negatively sensitive to a decline of domestic and global economic activity, which may adversely affect the issuer’s perceived or actual ability to make current interest or principal (maturity) payments.

NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | Equity Risk  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock

Equity Risk: To the extent the Trust holds equity securities, it runs the risk that general deterioration in equity markets or in a particular holding may result in the Trust’s stock holdings to decline and its net asset value per share to fall.

NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | Income Risk  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock

Income Risk: Falling interest rates and bond defaults may negatively impact the Trust’s distributable income. In addition, during periods of declining interest rates, higher yielding securities may be called and the Trust may be unable to reinvest those proceeds in similar yielding securities. Therefore, shareholders should expect the Trust’s quarterly dividend distributions to decline under these circumstances.

NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | Indemnification Risk  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock

Indemnification Risk: Under the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust.

 

In addition, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications to other parties. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these contractual arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Trust expects the risk of loss from these third party service contracts with indemnification clauses to be minimal.

NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | Interest Rate Risk  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock

Interest Rate Risk: The value of debt securities, generally, moves inversely to the rise and fall of interest rates. Longer-term debt securities are more sensitive to changes in interest rates than those with shorter maturities. Therefore, shareholders should generally expect the Trust’s net asset value per share to decline during periods of rising interest rates.

NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | Issuer Risk  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock

Issuer Risk: The value of a specific security may decline for reasons directly related to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage or a reduced demand for its products or services.

NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | Liquidity Risk  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock

Liquidity Risk: The market for high yield debt securities is generally less liquid than markets for higher rated fixed income instruments, which may present more difficulty in valuing or selling these securities timely at a desired price, especially during times of elevated market volatility. General market volatility can lead to an unexpected rise in investor redemptions from the Trust and across the asset class which in turn may contribute to the illiquidity of high yield debt markets and an increase to liquidity risk. The Trust may have difficulty in the timely disposal of securities at current prices during periods of elevated market illiquidity leading to a decline of its net asset value.

NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | Market Risk  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock

Market Risk: There is the risk that the value of the securities owned by the Trust may go up or down, sometimes sharply or unpredictably, due to factors, both domestic and foreign, affecting securities markets in general or affecting particular sectors. There is a risk that you could lose money by investing in the Trust, and there is no assurance that it will achieve its investment objectives. The Trust is generally for investors with longer-term investment horizons, and should not be used for short term trading purposes. An investment in the Trust involves risk and should be part of a balanced investment program.

NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | Risk Lose Money [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock There is a risk that you could lose money by investing in the Trust, and there is no assurance that it will achieve its investment objectives.
NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST SHARES  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol NTHEX
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Maximum Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends and Distributions (as a percentage) rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther none
Redemption Fee rr_RedemptionFee none
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.50% [2]
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Component1 Other Expenses rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.06%
Component2 Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 1.58%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 1.64%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.14%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 217
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 670
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,149
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 2,472
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (17.99%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 16.72%
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 6.28%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (5.04%)
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 0.92%
Annual Return 2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 (3.61%)
Annual Return 2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 5.17%
Annual Return 2022 rr_AnnualReturn2022 (2.49%)
Annual Return 2023 rr_AnnualReturn2023 11.76%
Annual Return 2024 rr_AnnualReturn2024 6.06%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2016
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 14.92%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2016
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (10.32%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.06%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.22%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.34%
NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST SHARES | After Taxes on Distributions  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.67%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.91%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 (1.07%)
NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST | NORTHEAST INVESTORS TRUST SHARES | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.55%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.40%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 (0.08%)
[1] The ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Index is an unmanaged market capitalization-weighted index comprised of all domestic and yankee high-yield bonds, including deferred interest bonds and payment-in-kind securities. Bonds included in the index have maturities of one year or more and have a below investment grade rating, but are not in default. It is shown for comparative purposes only and reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes.
[2] The Trustees are responsible for the portfolio management of the Trust.