110001 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Investment Objectives and Goals link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 110002 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Fees and Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 110003 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Investment Strategy link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 110004 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Investment Risks link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 110005 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Performance Management link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 120010 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Shareholder Fees link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 120020 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Annual Fund Operating Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 120030 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Expense Example link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 120040 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Expense Example, No Redemption link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 120045 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Risks Data link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 120050 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 120060 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Average Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 120070 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF Market Index Performance link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 110000 - Disclosure - First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF N-1A Cover link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 210001 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Investment Objectives and Goals link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 210002 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Fees and Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 210003 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Investment Strategy link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 210004 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Investment Risks link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 210005 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Performance Management link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220010 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Shareholder Fees link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220020 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Annual Fund Operating Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220030 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Expense Example link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220040 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Expense Example, No Redemption link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220045 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Risks Data link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220050 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220060 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Average Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220070 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF Market Index Performance link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 210000 - Disclosure - First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF N-1A Cover link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 310001 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Investment Objectives and Goals link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 310002 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Fees and Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 310003 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Investment Strategy link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 310004 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Investment Risks link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 310005 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Performance Management link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320010 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Shareholder Fees link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320020 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Annual Fund Operating Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320030 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Expense Example link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320040 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Expense Example, No Redemption link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320045 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Risks Data link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320050 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320060 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Average Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320070 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF Market Index Performance link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 310000 - Disclosure - First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF N-1A Cover link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 410001 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Investment Objectives and Goals link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 410002 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Fees and Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 410003 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Investment Strategy link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 410004 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Investment Risks link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 410005 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Performance Management link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420010 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Shareholder Fees link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420020 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Annual Fund Operating Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420030 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Expense Example link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420040 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Expense Example, No Redemption link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420045 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Risks Data link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420050 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420060 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Average Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420070 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF Market Index Performance link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 410000 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal ETF N-1A Cover link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 510001 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Investment Objectives and Goals link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 510002 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Fees and Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 510003 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Investment Strategy link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 510004 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Investment Risks link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 510005 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Performance Management link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 520010 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Shareholder Fees link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 520020 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Annual Fund Operating Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 520030 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Expense Example link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 520040 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Expense Example, No Redemption link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 520045 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Risks Data link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 520050 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 520060 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Average Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 520070 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF Market Index Performance link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 510000 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF N-1A Cover link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 610001 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Investment Objectives and Goals link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 610002 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Fees and Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 610003 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Investment Strategy link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 610004 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Investment Risks link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 610005 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Performance Management link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 620010 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Shareholder Fees link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 620020 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Annual Fund Operating Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 620030 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Expense Example link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 620040 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Expense Example, No Redemption link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 620045 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Risks Data link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 620050 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 620060 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Average Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 620070 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF Market Index Performance link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 610000 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF N-1A Cover link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 710001 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Investment Objectives and Goals link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 710002 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Fees and Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 710003 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Investment Strategy link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 710004 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Investment Risks link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 710005 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Performance Management link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 720010 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Shareholder Fees link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 720020 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Annual Fund Operating Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 720030 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Expense Example link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 720040 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Expense Example, No Redemption link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 720045 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Risks Data link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 720050 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 720060 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Average Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 720070 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF Market Index Performance link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 710000 - Disclosure - First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF N-1A Cover link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF S000046751 [Member] C000146034 [Member] Bloomberg Emerging Markets Local Currency Government - 10% Country Capped Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] JP Morgan GBI-EM Global Diversified Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Asia Risk [Member] Authorized Participant Concentration Risk [Member] Call Risk [Member] Cash Transactions Risk [Member] Counterparty Risk [Member] Credit Rating Agency Risk [Member] Credit Risk [Member] Credit Spread Risk [Member] Currency Risk [Member] Current Market Conditions Risk [Member] Cyber Security Risk [Member] Debt Securities Risk [Member] Derivatives Risk [Member] Distressed Securities Risk [Member] Emerging Markets Risk [Member] Europe Risk [Member] Extension Risk [Member] Forward Contracts Risk [Member] Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts Risk [Member] Futures Contracts Risk [Member] Global Depositary Notes Risk [Member] High Yield Securities Risk [Member] Income Risk [Member] Index Or Model Constituent Risk [Member] Inflation Risk [Member] Interest Rate Risk [Member] Latin America Risk [Member] Leverage Risk [Member] Liquidity Risk [Member] Management Risk [Member] Market Maker Risk [Member] Market Risk [Member] Risk Nondiversified [Member] Non US Securities Risk [Member] Operational Risk [Member] Options Risk [Member] OTC Derivatives Risk [Member] Premium Discount Risk [Member] Prepayment Risk [Member] Significant Exposure Risk [Member] Sovereign And Quasi Sovereign Debt Securities Risk [Member] Swap Agreements Risk [Member] Trading Issues Risk [Member] Valuation Risk [Member] Volatility Risk [Member] First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF S000058182 [Member] C000190801 [Member] FPEI Blended Benchmark (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] ICE BofA US Investment Grade Institutional Capital Securities Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Banks Risk [Member] Contingent Convertible Securities Risk [Member] Convertible Securities Risk [Member] Depositary Receipts Risk [Member] Equity Securities Risk [Member] Financial Companies Risk [Member] Fixed To Floating Rate Securities Risk [Member] Floating Rate Securities Risk [Member] Hybrid Capital Securities Risk [Member] Large Capitalization Companies Risk [Member] Preferred Securities Risk [Member] REIT Risk [Member] Restricted Securities Risk [Member] Senior Notes Baby Bonds Risk [Member] Smaller Companies Risk [Member] Subordinated Debt Risk [Member] US Government Securities Risk [Member] First Trust Long-Short Equity ETF S000045700 [Member] C000142474 [Member] S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] ETF Risk [Member] Information Technology Companies Risk [Member] MLP Risk [Member] Money Market Short Term Securities Risk [Member] Portfolio Turnover Risk [Member] Short Sales Risk [Member] First Trust Managed Municipal ETF S000044373 [Member] C000138174 [Member] Bloomberg Revenue 10 Year (8-12) Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Alternative Minimum Tax Risk [Member] Industrial Development Bond Risk [Member] Municipal Securities Market Liquidity Risk [Member] Municipal Securities Risk [Member] Private Activity Bonds Risk [Member] First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF S000034980 [Member] C000107588 [Member] FPE Blended Benchmark (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Investment Companies Risk [Member] First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF S000052736 [Member] C000165608 [Member] MSCI EAFE Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Dynamic Hedging Risk [Member] Japan Risk [Member] Model Risk [Member] United Kingdom Risk [Member] Variable Interest Entities Risk [Member] First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF S000052737 [Member] C000165609 [Member] MSCI Emerging Markets Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Taiwan Risk [Member]