Label |
Element |
Value |
Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Registrant Name |
dei_EntityRegistrantName |
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund
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Prospectus Date |
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May 01, 2025
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk/Return [Heading] |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12.60pt;font-weight:bold;">First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (MISL)</span>
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Objective [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Investment Objective</span>
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Objective, Primary [Text Block] |
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The First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (the "Fund") seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund's fees and expenses) of an equity index called the Indxx US Aerospace & Defense Index (the “Index”).
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Expense [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Fees and Expenses of the Fund</span>
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Expense Narrative [Text Block] |
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The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. Investors may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
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Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] |
rr_ShareholderFeesCaption |
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;font-weight:bold;">Shareholder Fees</span>
<br/><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">(fees paid directly from your investment)</span>
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Operating Expenses Caption [Text] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;font-weight:bold;">Annual Fund Operating Expenses</span>
<br/><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)</span>
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Portfolio Turnover [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Portfolio Turnover</span>
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Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] |
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The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.
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Portfolio Turnover, Rate |
rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate |
16.00%
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Expense Example [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Example</span>
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Expense Example, No Redemption Narrative [Text Block] |
rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock |
The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds.The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then hold or sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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Strategy [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Principal Investment Strategies</span>
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Strategy Narrative [Text Block] |
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Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in the securities that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Fund will generally employ a full replication strategy, meaning that it will normally invest in all of the securities comprising the Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index. The Index is developed, maintained and sponsored by Indxx, Inc. (the “Index Provider”). The Index Provider is not affiliated with the Fund, the Fund’s investment advisor or the Fund’s distributor. The Index is a rules-based index, however, the Index Provider reserves the right to use qualitative judgment to include, exclude, adjust, or postpone the inclusion of a stock in the Index which is the ordinary course discretion that the Index Provider has to modify which securities qualify for inclusion in the Index in accordance with the rules of its selection methodology. According to the Index Provider, the Index is designed to measure the performance of companies involved in the Aerospace & Defense sector, as defined by the Index Provider. The Index consists of common stocks of companies domiciled in the U.S. The Index excludes all securities that do not meet the listing, price, size, float and liquidity requirements of the Index and duplicate (multiple share classes) companies to create the initial universe. All the companies from the initial universe which belong to the Aerospace & Defense Industry are included in the selection list. The Index Provider defines the Aerospace & Defense Industry to include companies engaged in business activities associated with the following aerospace and defense sub-themes: Advanced Aerospace and Defense 1.Hypersonic: Companies involved in developing hypersonic warfare weapons technology for defense related applications. 2.Directed Energy: Companies involved in developing weapons like high power microwaves, laser technology products and electromagnetic weapons for defense related applications. 3.Space Technologies: Companies involved in developing rockets, satellites and launch vehicles. 4.Unmanned Aerial Vehicle/Advance Air Mobility: Companies that develop military aircraft that are guided by remote control or programmed autonomously and companies involved in developing an air transportation system that moves cargo and people for defense related applications. 5.Autonomous, Cybersecurity and C5ISR Systems: Companies involved in providing autonomous, cybersecurity, and C5ISR solutions to improve national security, enhance public safety and design better combat results. Traditional Aerospace and Defense 1.Includes companies that manufacture construction material, electronics, and telecommunications equipment used in the manufacture of aircraft for both defense and commercial aviation. Avionics, power and control system, interiors, manufacturing of airframe rotables, landing gear and other accessories are examples of common applications in both defense and commercial aviation. These sub-themes also include the commercial (non-government/defense) applications of such activities. From the starting universe, only companies that derive at least 50% of revenues from aerospace and defense activities in one or more of the sub-themes identified above will be eligible for inclusion in the Index, according to the Index Provider. These companies have their principal business strategies and/or growth prospects inextricably linked to aerospace and defense. According to the Index Provider, from the list of eligible companies, the top 50 companies by market capitalization will be selected. In the event there are less than 50 eligible companies, all eligible companies will be selected (i.e., there may be fewer than 50 companies in the Index). The selected securities are assigned weights based on their market capitalization. A single security cap of 8% is applied to securities and the extra weight is redistributed amongst the uncapped securities. The aggregate weight of securities with weights greater than or equal to 5% must not exceed 45%. In case the aggregate weight of such securities exceeds 45%, a secondary cap of 4% is applied to all remaining securities. The Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted semi-annually, and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2025, the Index was composed of 34 securities and the Fund had significant investments in industrials companies, although this may change from time to time. The Fund’s investments will change as the Index changes and, as a result, the Fund may have significant investments in jurisdictions or investment sectors that it may not have had as of March 31, 2025. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector. The Fund is classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
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Strategy Portfolio Concentration [Text] |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">31, 2025, the Index was composed of 34 securities and the Fund had </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">significant investments in industrials companies, although this may change from time to time.</span>
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Risk [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Principal Risks</span>
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Risk Caption |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">You could lose money by investing in the Fund.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;"> There can be no assurance that </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved. The order of the below risk factors does not indicate the significance of any </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">particular risk factor.</span>
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Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Annual Total Return</span>
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Performance Narrative [Text Block] |
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The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index, a broad-based securities market index and a market index. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at http://www.ftportfolios.com.
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Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] |
rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns |
<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index, a </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">broad-based securities market index and a market index. </span>
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Performance Availability Website Address [Text] |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">http://www.ftportfolios.com</span>
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Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.</span>
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Bar Chart [Heading] |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF</span>
<br/><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31</span>
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Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] |
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During the periods shown in the chart above:ReturnPeriod EndedBest Quarter17.30%December 31, 2023Worst Quarter-6.27%September 30, 2023
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Performance Table Heading |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2024</span>
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Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate |
rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate |
<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of any state or local tax.</span>
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Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred |
rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred |
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">Your own actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as individual retirement accounts </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">(</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;font-style:italic;">IRAs</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">) or employee-sponsored retirement plans.</span>
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Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">Returns after taxes on distributions reflect the taxed return on the payment of dividends </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">and capital gains. Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of shares assume you sold your shares at period end, and, therefore, are also adjusted for any capital gains or losses incurred. Returns for </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">an index do not include expenses, which are deducted from Fund returns, or taxes.</span>
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Performance Table Narrative |
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The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of any state or local tax.Returns after taxes on distributions reflect the taxed return on the payment of dividends and capital gains. Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of shares assume you sold your shares at period end, and, therefore, are also adjusted for any capital gains or losses incurred. Returns for an index do not include expenses, which are deducted from Fund returns, or taxes.Your own actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or employee-sponsored retirement plans.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Risk Lose Money [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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You could lose money by investing in the Fund.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Aerospace And Defense Companies Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE COMPANIES RISK. Aerospace and defense companies are subject to numerous risks, including fierce competition, consolidation, adverse political, economic and governmental developments, substantial research and development costs, cuts in government funding, product and technology obsolescence, limited numbers of potential customers and decreased demand for new equipment. In addition, companies involved in the commercial aerospace industry are also subject to aircraft order cancellations, changes in aircraft-leasing contracts, excess capacity, cutbacks in profitable business travel, fuel price hikes, labor union settlements, adverse changes in international politics and relations, intense global competition, government regulation and cyclical market patterns. Aerospace and defense companies rely heavily on U.S. Government and other government demand for their products and services. As a result, these companies could be adversely impacted by future reductions or changes in government spending. Such government spending on aerospace and defense is not generally correlated with economic cycles, but rather with general political support for this type of spending. There is no assurance that future levels of spending on aerospace and defense will increase or that such spending will not decrease in the future. Competition, labor relations and the price of fuel can impact aerospace and defense companies. In addition, deregulation of airlines has substantially decreased the U.S. Government’s role in the air transport industry while promoting competition. However, the profitability of individual carriers as well as the entire industry could be impacted by the regulations and policies of various domestic and foreign governments.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Authorized Participant Concentration Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT CONCENTRATION RISK. Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Fund. A limited number of institutions act as authorized participants for the Fund. To the extent that these institutions exit the business or are unable to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders and no other authorized participant steps forward to create or redeem, the Fund’s shares may trade at a premium or discount (the difference between the market price of the Fund's shares and the Fund's net asset value) and possibly face delisting and the bid/ask spread (the difference between the price that someone is willing to pay for shares of the Fund at a specific point in time versus the price at which someone is willing to sell) on the Fund’s shares may widen.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Current Market Conditions Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS RISK. Current market conditions risk is the risk that a particular investment, or shares of the Fund in general, may fall in value due to current market conditions. As a means to fight inflation, which remains at elevated levels, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have raised interest rates; however, the Federal Reserve has recently lowered interest rates and may continue to do so. U.S. regulators have proposed several changes to market and issuer regulations which would directly impact the Fund, and any regulatory changes could adversely impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment strategies or make certain investments. Recent and potential future bank failures could result in disruption to the broader banking industry or markets generally and reduce confidence in financial institutions and the economy as a whole, which may also heighten market volatility and reduce liquidity. Additionally, challenges in commercial real estate markets, including rising interest rates, declining valuations and increasing vacancies, could have a broader impact on financial markets. The ongoing adversarial political climate in the United States, as well as political and diplomatic events both domestic and abroad, have and may continue to have an adverse impact the U.S. regulatory landscape, markets and investor behavior, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s investments and operations. The change in administration resulting from the 2024 United States national elections could result in significant impacts to international trade relations, tax and immigration policies, and other aspects of the national and international political and financial landscape, which could affect, among other things, inflation and the securities markets generally. Other unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy. For example, ongoing armed conflicts between Russia and Ukraine in Europe and among Israel, Iran, Hamas and other militant groups in the Middle East, have caused and could continue to cause significant market disruptions and volatility within the markets in Russia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. The hostilities and sanctions resulting from those hostilities have and could continue to have a significant impact on certain Fund investments as well as Fund performance and liquidity. The economies of the United States and its trading partners, as well as the financial markets generally, may be adversely impacted by trade disputes, including the imposition of tariffs, and other matters. For example, the United States has imposed trade barriers and restrictions on China. In addition, the Chinese government is engaged in a longstanding dispute with Taiwan, continually threatening an invasion. If the political climate between the United States and China does not improve or continues to deteriorate, if China were to attempt invading Taiwan, or if other geopolitical conflicts develop or worsen, economies, markets and individual securities may be adversely affected, and the value of the Fund’s assets may go down. A public health crisis and the ensuing policies enacted by governments and central banks may cause significant volatility and uncertainty in global financial markets, negatively impacting global growth prospects. As the COVID-19 global pandemic illustrated, such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others. Advancements in technology may also adversely impact markets and the overall performance of the Fund. For instance, the economy may be significantly impacted by the advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence. Additionally, cyber security breaches of both government and non-government entities could have negative impacts on infrastructure and the ability of such entities, including the Fund, to operate properly. These events, and any other future events, may adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio investments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Cyber Security Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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CYBER SECURITY RISK. The Fund is susceptible to operational risks through breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Such events could cause the Fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures and/or financial loss. Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems through “hacking” or malicious software coding but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks through efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users. In addition, cyber security breaches of the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests or the Fund’s third-party service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, or sub-advisor, as applicable, can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. Although the Fund has established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers or third-party service providers.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Equity Securities Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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EQUITY SECURITIES RISK. The value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in the value of the equity securities in which it invests. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant equity market, such as market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting an issuer occur. Common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur in the equity market as a whole, or they may occur in only a particular country, company, industry or sector of the market.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Index Concentration Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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INDEX CONCENTRATION RISK. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in a single asset class or the securities of issuers within the same country, state, region, industry or sector, an adverse economic, business or political development may affect the value of the Fund’s investments more than if the Fund were more broadly diversified. A significant exposure makes the Fund more susceptible to any single occurrence and may subject the Fund to greater market risk than a fund that is more broadly diversified. There may be instances in which the Index, for a variety of reasons including changes in the prices of individual securities held by the Fund, has a larger exposure to a small number of stocks or a single stock relative to the rest of the stocks in the Index. Under such circumstances, the Fund will not deviate from the Index except in rare circumstances or in an immaterial way and therefore the Fund’s returns would be more greatly influenced by the returns of the stock(s) with the larger exposure.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Index Or Model Constituent Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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INDEX OR MODEL CONSTITUENT RISK. The Fund may be a constituent of one or more indices or ETF models. As a result, the Fund may be included in one or more index-tracking exchange-traded funds or mutual funds. Being a component security of such a vehicle could greatly affect the trading activity involving the Fund’s shares, the size of the Fund and the market volatility of the Fund. Inclusion in an index could increase demand for the Fund and removal from an index could result in outsized selling activity in a relatively short period of time. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value could be negatively impacted and the Fund’s market price may be below the Fund’s net asset value during certain periods. In addition, index rebalances may potentially result in increased trading activity in the Fund's shares.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Index Provider Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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INDEX PROVIDER RISK. There is no assurance that the Index Provider, or any agents that act on its behalf, will compile the Index accurately, or that the Index will be determined, maintained, constructed, reconstituted, rebalanced, composed, calculated or disseminated accurately. The Index Provider and its agents do not provide any representation or warranty in relation to the quality, accuracy or completeness of data in the Index, and do not guarantee that the Index will be calculated in accordance with its stated methodology. The Advisor’s mandate as described in this prospectus is to manage the Fund consistently with the Index provided by the Index Provider. The Advisor relies upon the Index provider and its agents to accurately compile, maintain, construct, reconstitute, rebalance, compose, calculate and disseminate the Index accurately. Therefore, losses or costs associated with any Index Provider or agent errors generally will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. To correct any such error, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out an unscheduled rebalance of the Index or other modification of Index constituents or weightings. When the Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. Unscheduled rebalances also expose the Fund to additional tracking error risk. Errors in respect of the quality, accuracy and completeness of the data used to compile the Index may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, particularly where the Index is less commonly used as a benchmark by funds or advisors. For example, during a period where the Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund tracking the Index would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Index’s other constituents. Such errors may negatively impact the Fund and its shareholders. The Index Provider and its agents rely on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in the Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the Fund nor the Advisor can offer assurances that the Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers. Unusual market conditions or issuer-specific events may cause the Index Provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance, exclude or substitute a security in the Index or undertake other measures which could cause the Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. The postponement of a scheduled rebalance in a time of market volatility could mean that constituents that would otherwise be removed at rebalance due to changes in market capitalizations, issuer credit ratings, or other reasons may remain, causing the performance and constituents of the Index to vary from those expected under normal conditions. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Industrials Companies Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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INDUSTRIALS COMPANIES RISK. Industrials companies convert unfinished goods into finished durables used to manufacture other goods or provide services. Examples of industrials companies include companies involved in the production of electrical equipment and components, industrial products, manufactured housing and telecommunications equipment, as well as defense and aerospace companies. General risks of industrials companies include the general state of the economy, exchange rates, commodity prices, intense competition, consolidation, domestic and international politics, government regulation, import controls, excess capacity, consumer demand and spending trends. In addition, industrials companies may also be significantly affected by overall capital spending levels, economic cycles, rapid technological changes, delays in modernization, labor relations, environmental liabilities, governmental and product liability and e-commerce initiatives.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Large Capitalization Companies Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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LARGE CAPITALIZATION COMPANIES RISK. Large capitalization companies may grow at a slower rate and be less able to adapt to changing market conditions than smaller capitalization companies. Thus, the return on investment in securities of large capitalization companies may be less than the return on investment in securities of small and/or mid capitalization companies. The performance of large capitalization companies also tends to trail the overall market during different market cycles.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Market Maker Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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MARKET MAKER RISK. The Fund faces numerous market trading risks, including the potential lack of an active market for Fund shares due to a limited number of market markers. Decisions by market makers or authorized participants to reduce their role or step away from these activities in times of market stress could inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the relationship between the underlying values of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the Fund’s market price. The Fund may rely on a small number of third-party market makers to provide a market for the purchase and sale of shares. Any trading halt or other problem relating to the trading activity of these market makers could result in a dramatic change in the spread between the Fund’s net asset value and the price at which the Fund’s shares are trading on the Exchange, which could result in a decrease in value of the Fund’s shares. This reduced effectiveness could result in Fund shares trading at a discount to net asset value and also in greater than normal intraday bid-ask spreads for Fund shares.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Market Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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MARKET RISK. Market risk is the risk that a particular investment, or shares of the Fund in general, may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by real or perceived adverse economic, political, and regulatory factors or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of the Fund could decline in value or underperform other investments. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, market manipulation, government defaults, government shutdowns, regulatory actions, political changes, diplomatic developments, the imposition of sanctions and other similar measures, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, natural disasters, or other events could have a significant negative impact on the Fund and its investments. Any of such circumstances could have a materially negative impact on the value of the Fund’s shares, the liquidity of an investment, and may result in increased market volatility. During any such events, the Fund’s shares may trade at increased premiums or discounts to their net asset value, the bid/ask spread on the Fund’s shares may widen and the returns on investment may fluctuate.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Non Correlation Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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NON-CORRELATION RISK. The Fund’s return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. The Fund incurs operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and may incur costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund’s portfolio holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings may not exactly replicate the securities included in the Index or the ratios between the securities included in the Index. Additionally, in order to comply with its investment strategies and policies, the Fund portfolio may deviate from the composition of the Index. Accordingly, the Fund's return may underperform the return of the Index.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Risk Nondiversified [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK. The Fund is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act. As a result, the Fund is only limited as to the percentage of its assets which may be invested in the securities of any one issuer by the diversification requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence affecting one or more of these issuers, experience increased volatility and be highly invested in certain issuers.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Operational Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
OPERATIONAL RISK. The Fund is subject to risks arising from various operational factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or systems failures. The Fund relies on third-parties for a range of services, including custody. Any delay or failure relating to engaging or maintaining such service providers may affect the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. Although the Fund and the Fund's investment advisor seek to reduce these operational risks through controls and procedures, there is no way to completely protect against such risks.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Passive Investment Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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PASSIVE INVESTMENT RISK. The Fund is not actively managed. The Fund invests in securities included in or representative of the Index regardless of investment merit. The Fund generally will not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets. In the event that the Index is no longer calculated, the Index license is terminated or the identity or character of the Index is materially changed, the Fund will seek to engage a replacement index.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Portfolio Turnover Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RISK. High portfolio turnover may result in the Fund paying higher levels of transaction costs and may generate greater tax liabilities for shareholders. Portfolio turnover risk may cause the Fund’s performance to be less than expected.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Premium Discount Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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PREMIUM/DISCOUNT RISK. The market price of the Fund’s shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in the Fund’s net asset value as well as the relative supply of and demand for shares on the Exchange. The Fund’s investment advisor cannot predict whether shares will trade below, at or above their net asset value because the shares trade on the Exchange at market prices and not at net asset value. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for shares will be closely related, but not identical, to the same forces influencing the prices of the holdings of the Fund trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. However, given that shares can only be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units, and only to and from broker-dealers and large institutional investors that have entered into participation agreements (unlike shares of closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their net asset value), the Fund’s investment advisor believes that large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of shares should not be sustained. During stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the market for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which could in turn lead to differences between the market price of the Fund’s shares and their net asset value and the bid/ask spread on the Fund’s shares may widen.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Smaller Companies Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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SMALLER COMPANIES RISK. Small and/or mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments, and their securities may be less liquid and may experience greater price volatility than larger, more established companies as a result of several factors, including limited trading volumes, fewer products or financial resources, management inexperience and less publicly available information. Accordingly, such companies are generally subject to greater market risk than larger, more established companies.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Trading Issues Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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TRADING ISSUES RISK. Trading in Fund shares on the Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Fund shares on the Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the Exchange’s “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. The Fund may have difficulty maintaining its listing on the Exchange in the event the Fund’s assets are small, the Fund does not have enough shareholders, or if the Fund is unable to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders.
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)[ctag:span_t-rule1] |
rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice |
none
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Management Fees[ctag:span_t-indent1] |
rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets |
0.60%
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees[ctag:span_t-indent1] |
rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets |
none
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Other Expenses[ctag:span_t-indent1-rule] |
rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets |
none
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses[ctag:span_t-indent1-rule3] |
rr_ExpensesOverAssets |
0.60%
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1 Year |
rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 |
$ 61
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3 Years |
rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 |
192
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5 Years |
rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 |
335
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10 Years |
rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 |
$ 750
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2023 |
rr_AnnualReturn2023 |
14.88%
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2024 |
rr_AnnualReturn2024 |
20.44%
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Highest Quarterly Return, Label |
rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel |
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0.0pt;">Best Quarter</span>
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Highest Quarterly Return, Date |
rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate |
Dec. 31, 2023
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Highest Quarterly Return |
rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn |
17.30%
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Lowest Quarterly Return, Label |
rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel |
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0.0pt;">Worst Quarter</span>
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Lowest Quarterly Return, Date |
rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate |
Sep. 30, 2023
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Lowest Quarterly Return |
rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn |
(6.27%)
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1 Year |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 |
20.44%
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Since Inception |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception |
19.86%
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Inception Date |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate |
Oct. 25, 2022
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | After tax on distributions | First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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1 Year |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 |
20.07%
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Since Inception |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception |
19.53%
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | After tax on distributions and sale of fund shares | First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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1 Year |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 |
12.10%
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Since Inception |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception |
15.34%
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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1 Year |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 |
25.02%
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Since Inception |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception |
23.18%
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | Indxx US Aerospace & Defense Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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1 Year |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 |
21.22%
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Since Inception |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception |
20.57%
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First Trust Indxx Aerospace and Defense ETF | S&P Composite 1500® Aerospace & Defense Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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1 Year |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 |
15.30%
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Since Inception |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception |
15.46%
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