The 1985–86 North West Counties Football League was the fourth in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into three divisions.

Division One

Division One featured 2 new teams:

League table

Division Two

Division Two featured 3 new teams:

League table

Division Three

Oldham Dew changed their name to Oldham Town Division Three featured 2 new teams:

League table

Promotion and relegation

Division One

Prescot Cables and Formby were relegated to Division Two.

Division two

Division Two champions Kirkby Town and second placed Rossendale United were promoted to Division One while Ford Motors and Nantwich Town were relegated to Division Three.

Division Three

Division Three champions Blackpool Mechanics and second placed Oldham Town were promoted to Division Two while Bolton ST, Prestwich Heys, Huyton Town and Ashton Athletic left the League at the end of the season and were replaced by newly admitted Flixton and Ashton Town.