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Label Element Value
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Dec. 31, 2016
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName PUTNAM FUNDS TRUST
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0001005942
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol PFT
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Nov. 25, 2017
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Nov. 30, 2017
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Nov. 30, 2017
Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund summary
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Goal
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund seeks a total return comparable to that of the U.S. equity markets, but with lower volatility, over a market cycle (generally at least three years or more).
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Putnam funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in How do I buy fund shares? beginning on page 14 of the fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix to the fund’s prospectus, and in How to buy shares beginning on page II-1 of the fund’s statement of additional information (SAI).
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual fund operating expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination Nov. 30, 2018
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The fund pays transaction-related costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or the above example, affect fund performance. The fund’s turnover rate in the most recent fiscal year was 47%.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 47.00%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Putnam funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in How do I buy fund shares? beginning on page 14 of the fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix to the fund’s prospectus, and in How to buy shares beginning on page II-1 of the fund’s statement of additional information (SAI).
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 50,000
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock The following hypothetical example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds. It assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Only the first year of each period in the example takes into account the expense reimbursement described above. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Investments, risks and performance

Investments
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock The fund invests mainly in common stocks of large U.S. companies across all sectors. Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of the fund’s net assets in equity investments. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders. The fund expects to allocate its investments across sectors so that the fund’s portfolio approximately reflects sector weightings across the broader equity markets. Within each sector, the fund generally focuses its investments on those stocks that we believe are likely to have lower sensitivity to broader market or sector movements. We refer to these stocks as “low beta” stocks. Beta is a measurement of a stock’s anticipated sensitivity to price movements in a particular market, as measured by a market or sector index. A stock with a beta higher than 1.0 is generally expected to be more volatile than the index, and a stock with a beta of less than 1.0 should be less volatile than the index and may be expected to rise and fall in price more slowly than the market or sector. We generally emphasize investments within each sector in low beta stocks (measured relative to the S&P 500 Index) because we believe that, over a full market cycle (generally at least three years or more), a portfolio of low beta stocks may be able to earn investment returns comparable to market returns, but with less volatility than the market, thus earning an attractive risk-adjusted return relative to the market.

We intend to write (sell) call options, generally on equity indices but also on individual portfolio securities. We sell call options to earn premium income. Selling call options may also reduce the volatility of the fund’s portfolio.

We intend to buy put options, generally on equity indices but also on individual portfolio securities. We buy put options to reduce the volatility of the fund’s portfolio by protecting the fund from the impact of significant market declines.

In addition to call options and put options, we may use derivatives, such as futures, options, warrants and swap contracts, for hedging purposes and to adjust the return and volatility characteristics of the fund’s investments. We may also make other investments, including in derivatives, intended to protect the fund from market volatility, or to take advantage of the potential for returns from instruments that perform well during periods of market volatility.

We may consider, among other factors, a company’s valuation, financial strength, growth potential, competitive position in its industry, projected future earnings, cash flows and dividends, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell investments. As noted above, we will also consider the fund’s overall exposure to each sector.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading

Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.

The value of stocks in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general financial market conditions, changing market perceptions, changes in government intervention in the financial markets, and factors related to a specific issuer or industry. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. There may be times when stocks in the fund’s portfolio exhibit higher volatility than we expect, are not correlated with market movements as we expect, or underperform the markets. By selling covered call options, the fund limits its opportunity to profit from an increase in the price of the underlying portfolio securities, but continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of these securities. The fund also risks losing all or part of the cash paid for purchasing put options. Our use of derivatives may increase the fund’s risk of loss by increasing investment exposure or, in the case of many over-the-counter instruments, because of the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions and the potential failure of the other party to the instrument to meet its obligations. If the quantitative models or data that are used in managing the fund prove to be incorrect or incomplete, investment decisions made in reliance on the models or data may not produce the desired results and the fund may realize losses.

The fund may not achieve its goal, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time. The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower. Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results. Monthly performance figures for the fund are available at putnam.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress putnam.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results. Monthly performance figures for the fund are available at putnam.com.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading

Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Year-to-date performance
through 9/30/17  7.98%

Best calendar quarter
Q4 2014   4.00%

Worst calendar quarter
Q3 2015    -2.65%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year-to-date performance through
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Sep. 30, 2017
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 7.98%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best calendar quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2014
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 4.00%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst calendar quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2015
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (2.65%)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ending 12/31/16)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes. These after-tax returns do not apply if you hold your fund shares through a 401(k) plan, an IRA, or another tax-advantaged arrangement.
Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund | Class A  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.75%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [1]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.62%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.65%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.52%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.32%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.20%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 690
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 998
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,328
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 2,258
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 8.87%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (3.05%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 4.43%
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.57%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.71%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Mar. 18, 2013
Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund | Class B  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 5.00% [3]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.62%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.65%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.27%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.32%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.95%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 698
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 979
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,386
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,392
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 198
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 679
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,186
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,392
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.29%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.86%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Mar. 18, 2013
Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund | Class C  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [4]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.62%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.65%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.27%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.32%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.95%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 298
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 679
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,186
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,581
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 198
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 679
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,186
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,581
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.67%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 4.55%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Mar. 18, 2013
Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund | Class M  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 3.50%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.62%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.75%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.65%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.02%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.32%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.70%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 517
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 932
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,371
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 2,591
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.23%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.82%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Mar. 18, 2013
Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund | Class T  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 2.50%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.62%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.65% [5]
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.52%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.32%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.20%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 369
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 688
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,029
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,991
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.82% [6]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 4.64% [6]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Mar. 18, 2013
Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund | Class Y  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.62%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.65%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.27%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.32%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.95%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 97
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 371
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 666
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,506
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.66%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.61%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Mar. 18, 2013
Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund | after taxes on distributions | Class A  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.95%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.81%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Mar. 18, 2013
Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund | after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares | Class A  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.58%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.72%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Mar. 18, 2013
Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund | S&P 500 Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.96%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 12.51%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Mar. 18, 2013
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Nov. 30, 2017
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund summary
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Goal
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Putnam Short Duration Income Fund seeks as high a rate of current income as Putnam Investment Management, LLC believes is consistent with preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. Information about sales charge discounts is available from your financial advisor and in the Appendix to the fund’s prospectus.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual fund operating expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination Nov. 30, 2018
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The fund pays transaction-related costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or the above example, affect fund performance. The fund’s turnover rate in the most recent fiscal year was 45%.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 45.00%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock The following hypothetical example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds. It assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem or hold all your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Only the first year of each period in the example takes into account the expense reimbursement described above. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Investments, risks and performance

Investments
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock We invest in a diversified portfolio of fixed income securities comprised of short duration, investment-grade money market and other fixed income securities. The fund’s investments may include obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States (e.g., U.S. Treasury bonds and Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed bonds) or by only the credit of a federal agency or government-sponsored entity (e.g., Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac mortgage-backed bonds), domestic corporate debt obligations, taxable municipal debt securities, securitized debt instruments (such as mortgage- and asset-backed securities), repurchase agreements, certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances, commercial paper (including asset-backed commercial paper), time deposits, Yankee Eurodollar securities and other money market instruments. We may also invest in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign securities of these types. Under normal circumstances, the effective duration of the fund’s portfolio will generally not be greater than one year. Effective duration provides a measure of a fund’s interest-rate sensitivity. The longer a fund’s duration, the more sensitive the fund is to shifts in interest rates. Under normal circumstances, the dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of the fund is not expected to exceed three and one-half years.

We may consider, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell investments. We may also use derivatives, such as futures, options and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading

Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.

The effects of inflation may erode the value of your investment over time. The value of securities in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general financial market conditions, changing market perceptions (including perceptions about the risk of default and expectations about monetary policy or interest rates), changes in government intervention in the financial markets, and factors related to a specific issuer or industry. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. The risks associated with fixed income investments include interest rate risk, which means the value of the fund’s investments is likely to fall if interest rates rise. Fixed income investments are also subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the issuer of a fixed income investment may default on payment of interest or principal. Credit risk is generally greater for debt not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and interest rate risk is generally greater for longer-term debt. Mortgage-backed investments, unlike traditional debt investments, are also subject to prepayment risk, which means that they may increase in value less than other bonds when interest rates decline and decline in value more than other bonds when interest rates rise. We may have to invest the proceeds from prepaid investments, including mortgage-backed investments, in other investments with less attractive terms and yields.

Our use of derivatives may increase the risks of investing in the fund by increasing investment exposure (which may be considered leverage) or, in the case of many over-the-counter instruments, because of the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions and the potential failure of the other party to the instrument to meet its obligations.

The fund may not achieve its goal, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney

It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time. The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower. Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results. Monthly performance figures for the fund are available at putnam.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress putnam.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results. Monthly performance figures for the fund are available at putnam.com.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading

Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Year-to-date performance
through 9/30/17    1.04%

Best calendar quarter
Q3 2012   0.42%

Worst calendar quarter
Q3 2015    -0.10%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year-to-date performance through
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Sep. 30, 2017
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 1.04%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best calendar quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2012
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 0.42%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst calendar quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2015
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (0.10%)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ending 12/31/16)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown

After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes. These after-tax returns do not apply if you hold your fund shares through a 401(k) plan, an IRA, or another tax-advantaged arrangement.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes. These after-tax returns do not apply if you hold your fund shares through a 401(k) plan, an IRA, or another tax-advantaged arrangement.
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund | Class A  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [7]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.10%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.55%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.15%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.40%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 41
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 161
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 292
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 675
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 0.94%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 0.59%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 0.51%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 0.27%
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 0.98%
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.98%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.66%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.64%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 17, 2011
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund | Class B  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 5.00% [7]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.50%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.95%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.15%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.80%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 582 [8]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 588 [8]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 711 [8]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,039 [8]
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 82
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 288
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 511
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,039
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.68%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.27%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.24%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 17, 2011
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund | Class C  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [7]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.50%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.95%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.15%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.80%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 182
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 288
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 511
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,153
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.68%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.27%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.24%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 17, 2011
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund | Class M  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.15%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.60%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.15%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.45%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 46
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 177
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 320
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 736
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.03%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.61%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.59%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 17, 2011
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund | Class R  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.50%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.95%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.15%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.80%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 82
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 288
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 511
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,153
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.58%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.27%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.24%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 17, 2011
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund | Class R6  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.35%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.09%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.44%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.15%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.29%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 30
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 126
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 231
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 540
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.19% [9]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.80% [9]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.78% [9]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 17, 2011
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund | Class T  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10% [5]
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.70%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.15%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.55%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 56
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 209
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 375
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 856
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.83% [10]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.51% [10]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.49% [10]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 17, 2011
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund | Class Y  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.35%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.45%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.15%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.30%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 31
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 129
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 237
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 552
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.08%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.78%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.75%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 17, 2011
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund | after taxes on distributions | Class A  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.64%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.42%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.40%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 17, 2011
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund | after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares | Class A  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.57%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.39%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.38%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 17, 2011
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund | BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Bill Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.37%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.14%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 17, 2011
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund summary
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Goal
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Putnam Short Term Investment Fund seeks as high a rate of current income as Putnam Investment Management, LLC believes is consistent with preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual fund operating expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination Nov. 30, 2016
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The fund pays transaction-related costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or the above example, affect fund performance. The fund’s turnover rate in the most recent fiscal year was 0%.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate none
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The following hypothetical example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds. It assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem or hold all your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Only the first year of each period in the example takes into account the expense reimbursement described above. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Investments, risks and performance

Investments
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock We invest in a diversified portfolio of fixed income securities comprised of short duration, investment-grade money market and other fixed income securities. The fund’s investments may include obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States (e.g., U.S. Treasury bonds and Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed bonds) or by only the credit of a federal agency or government-sponsored entity (e.g., Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac mortgage-backed bonds), domestic corporate debt obligations, municipal debt securities, securitized debt instruments (such as mortgage- and asset-backed securities), repurchase agreements, certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances, commercial paper (including asset-backed commercial paper), time deposits, Yankee Eurodollar securities and other money market instruments. We may also invest in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign securities of these types. Under normal circumstances, the effective duration of the fund’s portfolio will generally not be greater than one year. Effective duration provides a measure of a fund’s interest-rate sensitivity. The longer a fund’s duration, the more sensitive the fund is to shifts in interest rates. The fund will maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of three years or less.

We may consider, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell investments. We may also use derivatives, such as futures, options, and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading

Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.

The effects of inflation may erode the value of your investment over time. The value of securities in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general financial market conditions, changing market perceptions (including perceptions about the risk of default and expectations about monetary policy or interest rates), changes in government intervention in the financial markets, and factors related to a specific issuer or industry. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. The risks associated with fixed income investments include interest rate risk, which means the value of the fund’s investments is likely to fall if interest rates rise. Fixed income investments are also subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the issuer of a fixed income investment may default on payment of interest or principal. Credit risk is generally greater for debt not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and interest rate risk is generally greater for longer-term debt. Mortgage-backed investments, unlike traditional debt investments, are also subject to prepayment risk, which means that they may increase in value less than other bonds when interest rates decline and decline in value more than other bonds when interest rates rise. We may have to invest the proceeds from prepaid investments, including mortgage-backed investments, in other investments with less attractive terms and yields.

Our use of derivatives may increase the risks of investing in the fund by increasing investment exposure (which may be considered leverage) or, in the case of many over-the-counter instruments, because of the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions and the potential failure of the other party to the instrument to meet its obligations.

The fund may not achieve its goal, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time. Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund's performance year to year and over time.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress putnam.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading

Annual total returns for class P shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Year-to-date performance
through 9/30/17   0.71%

Best calendar quarter
Q4 2016   0.14%

Worst calendar quarter
Q3 2014    0.01%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year-to-date performance through
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Sep. 30, 2017
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 0.71%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best calendar quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2016
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 0.14%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst calendar quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2014
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn 0.01%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ending 12/31/16)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund | Class P  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.25%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.04%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.29%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.25%) [11]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.04%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 4
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 68
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 138
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 344
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 0.07%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 0.12%
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 0.46%
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund | before taxes | Class P  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.46%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.18%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 19, 2013
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund | after taxes on distributions | Class P  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.26%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.10%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 19, 2013
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund | after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares | Class P  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.26%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.10%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 19, 2013
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund | BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Bill Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.37%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.15%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 19, 2013
[1] Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.
[2] Reflects Putnam Investment Management, LLC's contractual obligation to limit certain fund expenses through November 30, 2018. This obligation may be modified or discontinued only with approval of the Board of Trustees.
[3] This charge is phased out over six years.
[4] This charge is eliminated after one year.
[5] Other expenses are based on expenses of class A shares for the fund's last fiscal year.
[6] Class T shares were not outstanding during the periods shown. Performance shown for class T shares is derived from the historical performance of class A shares, adjusted for the lower initial sales charge currently applicable to class T shares.
[7] A deferred sales charge on class A, B and C shares may apply to certain redemptions of shares purchased by exchange from another Putnam fund.
[8] Reflects assessment of deferred sales charge assuming class B shares were acquired by exchange from one or more other Putnam funds immediately after purchase of shares from such other fund(s).
[9] Performance for class R6 shares prior to its inception (7/2/12) is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares and has not been adjusted for the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class R6 shares; had it, returns would have been higher.
[10] Class T shares were not outstanding during the periods shown. Performance shown for class T shares is derived from the historical performance of class A shares, adjusted for the higher 12b-1 fees currently applicable to class T shares.
[11] Reflects Putnam Investment Management, LLC's contractual obligation to waive its management fee for this fund through at least November 30, 2018. This obligation may be modified or discontinued only with approval of the Board of Trustees.