The 1986–87 North West Counties Football League was the fifth in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England.
Teams were divided into three divisions.
Division One featured 2 new teams: Division Two featured 4 new teams: Division Three featured 4 new teams: 12 sides (highlighted in the table in green) were promoted to the Northern Premier League First Division.
Droylsden and Lancaster City moved to the Northern Premier League First Division while 10 teams (highlighted in the table in lightgreen) were promoted to the Division One.
Newcastle Town, Maine Road and Vauxhall Motors joined the Division as newly admitted teams.