485BPOS

	As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 12, 2019
	Registration No. 333-00515
	811-07513
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM N-1A
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	REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933	/ X /
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	Pre-Effective Amendment No.	/   /
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	Post-Effective Amendment No. 307	/ X /
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	REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY	/ X /
	ACT OF 1940	----
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	Amendment No. 308	/ X /
	(Check appropriate box or boxes)	----
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PUTNAM FUNDS TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code
(617) 292-1000
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	It is proposed that this filing will become effective
	(check appropriate box)
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/   /	immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
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/ X /	on February 28, 2019 pursuant to paragraph (b)
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/   /	60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
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/   /	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
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/   /	75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
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/   /	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.
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If appropriate, check the following box:
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/   /	this post-effective amendment designates a new
----	effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
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	ROBERT T. BURNS, Vice President
	PUTNAM FUNDS TRUST
	100 Federal Street
	Boston, Massachusetts 02110
	(Name and address of agent for service)
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	Copy to:
	BRYAN CHEGWIDDEN, Esquire
	ROPES & GRAY LLP
	1211 Avenue of the Americas
	New York, New York 10036
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This Post-Effective Amendment relates solely to the Registrant's Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund, Putnam Global Sector Fund, Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund and Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund series. Information contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement relating to any other series of the Registrant is neither amended nor superseded hereby.

PUTNAM FUNDS TRUST

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and has duly caused this Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 12th day of March, 2019.

Putnam Funds Trust

By: /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz, Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer and Compliance Liaison

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:

Signature Title

Kenneth R. Leibler* Chair, Board of Trustees

Robert L. Reynolds* President and Trustee

Jonathan S. Horwitz* Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer and Compliance Liaison

Janet C. Smith* Vice President, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Assistant Treasurer

Liaquat Ahamed* Trustee

Ravi Akhoury* Trustee

Barbara M. Baumann* Trustee

Katinka Domotorffy* Trustee

Catharine Bond Hill* Trustee

Paul L. Joskow* Trustee

Robert E. Patterson* Trustee

George Putnam, III* Trustee

Manoj P. Singh* Trustee

By: /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz, as Attorney-in-Fact

March 12, 2019

* Signed pursuant to power of attorney filed in Post-Effective Amendment No. 297 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on October 26, 2018.

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Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund*

*Prior to April 30, 2018, the fund was known as Putnam Absolute Return 300 Fund.

Fund summary

Goal

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund seeks positive total return.

Fees and expenses

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 $100,000 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 18 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 (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees - Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund	Class A		Class B		Class C		Class M	Class P	Class R	Class R6	Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	2.25%		none		none		0.75%	none	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	1.00%	[1]	1.00%	[2]	1.00%	[3]	none	none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund		Class A	Class B	Class C	Class M	Class P	Class R	Class R6	Class Y
Management fees	[1]	0.54%	0.54%	0.54%	0.54%	0.54%	0.54%	0.54%	0.54%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees		0.25%	0.45%	1.00%	0.30%		0.50%
Other expenses		0.01%	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%
Total annual fund operating expenses		0.80%	1.00%	1.55%	0.85%	0.55%	1.05%	0.55%	0.55%

Example

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. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.

Expense Example - Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund - USD ($)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Class A	305	475	659	1,193
Class B	202	318	552	1,168
Class C	258	490	845	1,845
Class M	161	344	543	1,116
Class P	56	176	307	689
Class R	107	334	579	1,283
Class R6	56	176	307	689
Class Y	56	176	307	689

Expense Example, No Redemption - Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund - USD ($)	Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years
Class B	102	318	552	1,168
Class C	158	490	845	1,845

Portfolio turnover

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 532%.

Investments, risks, and performance

Investments
The fund is designed to pursue a consistent absolute return through a broadly diversified portfolio reflecting uncorrelated fixed-income strategies designed to exploit market inefficiencies across global markets and fixed-income sectors. These strategies include investments in the following asset categories: (a) sovereign debt: obligations of governments in developed and emerging markets; (b) corporate credit: investment-grade debt, below-investment-grade debt (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”), bank loans, convertible bonds and structured credit; and (c) securitized assets: asset-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities (which may be backed by non-qualified or “sub-prime” mortgages), commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. In pursuing a consistent absolute return, the fund’s strategies are also generally intended to produce lower volatility over a reasonable period of time than has been historically associated with traditional asset classes that have earned similar levels of return over long historical periods. These traditional asset classes might include, for example, bonds with moderate exposure to interest rate and credit risks.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed-income securities (fixed-income securities include any debt instrument, and may be represented by other investment instruments, including derivatives). This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders. 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 typically use derivatives, such as futures, options, certain foreign currency transactions, warrants and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes. Accordingly, we may use derivatives to a significant extent to obtain or enhance exposure to the fixed-income sectors and strategies mentioned above, and to hedge against risk.

Risks

It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.

Our allocation of assets among fixed-income strategies and sectors may hurt performance. The value of investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political or financial market conditions, investor sentiment and market perceptions, government actions, geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings.

Bond investments are subject to interest rate risk, which means the value of the fund’s bond investments is likely to fall if interest rates rise. Bond investments also are subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the bond may default on payment of interest or principal. Interest rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds, which may be considered speculative. 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- and asset-backed investments, in other investments with less attractive terms and yields.

The value of international investments traded in foreign currencies may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates. International investments, particularly investments in emerging markets, may carry risks associated with potentially less stable economies or governments (such as the risk of seizure by a foreign government, the imposition of currency or other restrictions, or high levels of inflation), and may be or become illiquid. 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. The fund’s efforts to produce lower volatility returns may not be successful. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance

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.

Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges

Best calendar quarter
Q1 2012  3.36%

Worst calender quarter
Q3 2011  −4.09%

Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ended 12/31/18)

Average Annual Total Returns - Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund		Label	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A		before taxes	(1.61%)	1.02%	2.15%
Class A | after taxes on distributions			(2.83%)	(0.56%)	0.94%
Class A | after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares			(0.94%)	0.06%	1.13%
Class B		before taxes	(0.48%)	1.27%	2.17%
Class C		before taxes	(1.09%)	0.71%	1.62%
Class M		before taxes	(0.23%)	1.26%	2.23%
Class P	[1]	before taxes	0.90%	1.74%	2.64%
Class R		before taxes	0.34%	1.21%	2.12%
Class R6	[1]	before taxes	0.90%	1.74%	2.65%
Class Y		before taxes	0.90%	1.72%	2.63%
ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)			1.88%	0.64%	0.40%
ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 300 basis points (no deduction for fees, expense or taxes)			4.88%	3.64%	3.40%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)			0.01%	2.52%	3.48%
S&P 500 Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)			(4.38%)	8.49%	13.12%

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.

Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.

ICE BofAML Indexes: ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofAML”), used with permission. ICE BofAML permits use of the ICE BofAML indices and related data on an “as is” basis; makes no warranties regarding same; does not guarantee the suitability, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the ICE BofAML indices or any data included in, related to, or derived therefrom; assumes no liability in connection with the use of the foregoing; and does not sponsor, endorse, or recommend Putnam Investments, or any of its products or services.

ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar denominated U.S. Treasury bills, which represent obligations of the U.S. Government having a maturity of one year or less, and is intended as an approximate measure of the rate of inflation. ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index +3.00% is the benchmark and hurdle rate for the performance adjustment component of the fund’s management fee.

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and the S&P 500 Index are broad measures of market performance. Securities in the fund do not match those in the indexes and the performance of the fund will differ.

[1] Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.

[2] This charge is phased out over two years.

[3] This charge is eliminated after one year.

[1] Management fees are subject to a performance adjustment. The fund's base management fee is subject to adjustment, up or down, based on the fund's performance relative to the performance of the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 300 basis points. The fund's management fee prior to any performance adjustment was 0.60%.

[1] Performance for class R6 shares prior to its inception (7/2/12) and for class P shares prior to their inception (8/31/16) is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares.

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Putnam Global Sector Fund

Fund summary

Goal

Putnam Global Sector Fund seeks capital appreciation.

Fees and expenses

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 20 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 (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees - Putnam Global Sector Fund	Class A		Class B		Class C		Class M	Class R	Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.75%		none		none		3.50%	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	1.00%	[1]	5.00%	[2]	1.00%	[3]	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Putnam Global Sector Fund		Class A	Class B	Class C	Class M	Class R	Class Y
Management fees		none	none	none	none	none	none
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees		0.25%	1.00%	1.00%	0.75%	0.50%
Other expenses		0.47%	0.47%	0.47%	0.47%	0.47%	0.47%
Acquired fund fees and expenses		0.99%	0.99%	0.99%	0.99%	0.99%	0.99%
Total annual fund operating expenses		1.71%	2.46%	2.46%	2.21%	1.96%	1.46%
Expense reimbursement	[1]	(0.47%)	(0.47%)	(0.47%)	(0.47%)	(0.47%)	(0.47%)
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement		1.24%	1.99%	1.99%	1.74%	1.49%	0.99%

Example

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.

Expense Example - Putnam Global Sector Fund - USD ($)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Class A	694	1,040	1,408	2,441
Class B	702	1,022	1,468	2,575
Class C	302	722	1,268	2,761
Class M	521	973	1,452	2,770
Class R	152	570	1,014	2,247
Class Y	101	416	753	1,706

Expense Example, No Redemption - Putnam Global Sector Fund - USD ($)	Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years
Class B	202	722	1,268	2,575
Class C	202	722	1,268	2,761

Portfolio turnover

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 42%.

Investments, risks, and performance

Investments
We allocate the fund’s assets among eight Putnam global sector funds to provide exposure to sectors of the global market in approximately the same proportions as the sector weightings in the MSCI World Index. Each underlying fund is a non-diversified fund (other than Putnam Global Financials Fund, which currently operates as a diversified fund) concentrating in the market sector specified in its name, and each invests mainly in common stocks (growth or value stocks or both) of large and midsize companies worldwide that we believe have favorable investment potential.

Global Communications Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the communication industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Consumer Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the consumer staples and consumer discretionary products and services industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Financials Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the financial services industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Health Care Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the health care industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Industrials Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the industrial products, services or equipment industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Natural Resources Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the energy or other natural resources industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Technology Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the technology industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Utilities Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies worldwide in the utilities industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.

Each underlying fund may invest in emerging markets, use derivatives, such as futures, options, foreign currency transactions, warrants and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes, and engage in short sales of securities.

We seek to rebalance the fund’s allocations monthly to remain in alignment with the index. The following table shows the fund’s approximate allocations to the underlying funds as of 12/31/18:

Underlying fund	Approximate allocation as of 12/31/18
Putnam Global Financials Fund	19.45%
Putnam Global Consumer Fund	18.66%
Putnam Global Technology Fund	14.82%
Putnam Global Health Care Fund	13.42%
Putnam Global Industrials Fund	10.82%
Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund	10.60%
Putnam Global Communications Fund	8.29%
Putnam Global Utilities Fund	3.53%

We may also invest in money market securities or affiliated money market or short-term fixed income funds for cash management.

Risks

It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.

Our allocation of investments among the underlying funds may hurt performance. In addition, the fund’s performance is subject to the risks that may affect the performance of the underlying funds, which are as follows. The value of investments in an underlying fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political or financial market conditions, investor sentiment and market perceptions, government actions, geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. Growth stocks may be more susceptible to earnings disappointments, and value stocks may fail to rebound. An underlying fund’s policy of concentrating on a limited group of industries and an underlying fund’s “non-diversified” status, which means the underlying fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund, can increase the underlying fund’s vulnerability to adverse developments affecting a single issuer, which may result in greater losses and volatility.

The value of international investments traded in foreign currencies may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates. International investments, particularly investments in emerging markets, may carry risks associated with potentially less stable economies or governments (such as the risk of seizure by a foreign government, the imposition of currency or other restrictions, or high levels of inflation), and may be illiquid. An underlying fund’s use of derivatives may increase the risk 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. An underlying fund’s use of short selling may result in losses if the securities appreciate in value.

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.

Performance

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.

Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges

Best calendar quarter
Q1 2012   13.67%

Worst calendar quarter
Q3 2011 −20.98%

Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ended 12/31/18)

Average Annual Total Returns - Putnam Global Sector Fund	Label	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	before taxes	(16.07%)	2.33%	6.17%
Class A | after taxes on distributions		(17.74%)	0.35%	4.50%
Class A | after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares		(8.53%)	1.57%	4.71%
Class B	before taxes	(15.76%)	2.50%	6.15%
Class C	before taxes	(12.50%)	2.78%	6.09%
Class M	before taxes	(14.56%)	2.29%	5.92%
Class R	before taxes	(11.24%)	3.28%	6.62%
Class Y	before taxes	(10.80%)	3.81%	7.15%
MSCI World Index (ND) (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes, other than withholding taxes on reinvested dividends)		(8.71%)	4.56%	7.45%

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.

Class B share performance reflects conversion to Class A shares after eight years.

[1] Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.

[2] This charge is phased out over two years.

[3] This charge is eliminated after one year.

[1] Reflects Putnam Investment Management, LLC's contractual obligation to limit certain fund expenses through February 28, 2020. This obligation may be modified or discontinued only with approval of the Board of Trustees.

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Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund*

*Prior to April 30, 2018, the fund was known as Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund.

Fund summary

Goal

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund seeks positive total return.

Fees and expenses

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 22 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 (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees - Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund	Class A		Class B		Class C		Class M	Class P	Class R	Class R6	Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.75%		none		none		3.50%	none	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	1.00%	[1]	5.00%	[2]	1.00%	[3]	none	none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund		Class A	Class B	Class C	Class M	Class P	Class R	Class R6	Class Y
Management fees	[1]	0.52%	0.52%	0.52%	0.52%	0.52%	0.52%	0.52%	0.52%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees		0.25%	1.00%	1.00%	0.75%		0.50%
Other expenses	[2]	0.23%	0.23%	0.23%	0.23%	0.09%	0.23%	0.13%	0.23%
Acquired fund fees and expenses		0.04%	0.04%	0.04%	0.04%	0.04%	0.04%	0.04%	0.04%
Total annual fund operating expenses		1.04%	1.79%	1.79%	1.54%	0.65%	1.29%	0.69%	0.79%
Expense reimbursement	[3]	(0.03%)	(0.03%)	(0.03%)	(0.03%)	(0.03%)	(0.03%)	(0.03%)	(0.03%)
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement		1.01%	1.76%	1.76%	1.51%	0.62%	1.26%	0.66%	0.76%

Example

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.

Expense Example - Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund - USD ($)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Class A	672	884	1,113	1,770
Class B	679	860	1,167	1,905
Class C	279	560	967	2,103
Class M	498	817	1,157	2,118
Class P	63	205	359	808
Class R	128	406	705	1,554
Class R6	67	218	381	856
Class Y	78	249	436	975

Expense Example, No Redemption - Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund - USD ($)	Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years
Class B	179	560	967	1,905
Class C	179	560	967	2,103

Portfolio turnover

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 479%.

Investments, risks, and performance

Investments
The fund seeks a positive total return. In pursuing a positive total return, the fund’s strategies are generally intended to produce lower volatility over a reasonable period of time than has been historically associated with traditional asset classes that have earned similar levels of return over long historical periods. The Fund aims to accomplish this objective by combining “directional” strategies and “non-directional” strategies. The directional strategies seek efficient, diversified exposure to investment markets. They also seek to balance risk and provide positive total return by investing, without limit, in many different asset classes, including U.S., international, and emerging markets equity securities (growth or value stocks or both) and fixed-income securities; mortgage- and asset-backed securities; below-investment-grade securities (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”); inflation-protected securities; commodities; and real estate investment trusts (REITs). The non-directional strategies aim to provide positive returns that have minimal correlation with traditional asset classes, such as equities or equity-like investments. The non-directional strategies are generally implemented using paired long and short positions in an effort to capitalize on long-term market inefficiencies and short-term opportunities. The non-directional strategies may involve the use of active trading strategies, currency transactions and options transactions.

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 when deciding whether to buy or sell equity investments, and, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks when deciding whether to buy or sell fixed-income investments. We may also take into account general market conditions when making investment decisions. We typically use derivatives, such as futures, options, certain foreign currency transactions, warrants and swap contracts, to a significant extent for hedging purposes and to increase the fund’s exposure to the asset classes and strategies mentioned above, which may create investment leverage.

Risks

It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.

Our allocation of assets among asset classes may hurt performance. The value of investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political or financial market conditions, investor sentiment and market perceptions, government actions, geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, asset class, geography, industry or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. Growth stocks may be more susceptible to earnings disappointments, and value stocks may fail to rebound.

Bond investments are subject to interest rate risk, which means the value of the fund’s bond investments is likely to fall if interest rates rise. Bond investments also are subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the bond may default on payment of interest or principal. Interest rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds, which may be considered speculative. 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- and asset-backed investments, in other investments with less attractive terms and yields.

The value of international investments traded in foreign currencies may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates. International investments, particularly investments in emerging markets, may carry risks associated with potentially less stable economies or governments (such as the risk of seizure by a foreign government, the imposition of currency or other restrictions, or high levels of inflation), and may be or become illiquid. Our non-directional strategies may lose money or not earn a return sufficient to cover associated trading and other costs. Our use of leverage obtained through derivatives increases the risk of investing in the fund by increasing investment exposure. Derivatives also involve the risk, in the case of many over-the-counter instruments, 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. The fund’s efforts to produce lower volatility returns may not be successful. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance

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.

Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges

Best calendar quarter
Q1 2012 6.07%

Worst calendar quarter
Q4 2018 −5.98%

Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ended 12/31/18)

Average Annual Total Returns - Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund		Label	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A		before taxes	(14.43%)	0.10%	3.17%
Class A | after taxes on distributions			(15.58%)	(1.25%)	2.13%
Class A | after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares			(8.52%)	(0.34%)	2.14%
Class B		before taxes	(14.32%)	0.20%	3.15%
Class C		before taxes	(10.79%)	0.54%	3.00%
Class M		before taxes	(12.91%)	0.07%	2.86%
Class P	[1]	before taxes	(8.88%)	1.61%	4.05%
Class R		before taxes	(9.51%)	1.03%	3.48%
Class R6	[1]	before taxes	(8.97%)	1.63%	4.08%
Class Y		before taxes	(9.04%)	1.55%	4.02%
ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)			1.88%	0.64%	0.40%
ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 500 basis points (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)			6.88%	5.64%	5.40%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)			0.01%	2.52%	3.48%
S&P 500 Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)			(4.38%)	8.49%	13.12%

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 individual retirement account (IRA), or another tax-advantaged arrangement.

Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.

ICE BofAML Indexes: ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofAML”), used with permission. ICE BofAML permits use of the ICE BofAML indices and related data on an “as is” basis; makes no warranties regarding same; does not guarantee the suitability, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the ICE BofAML indices or any data included in, related to, or derived therefrom; assumes no liability in connection with the use of the foregoing; and does not sponsor, endorse, or recommend Putnam Investments, or any of its products or services.

ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar denominated U.S. Treasury bills, which represent obligations of the U.S. Government having a maturity of one year or less, and is intended as an approximate measure of the rate of inflation. ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index +5.00% is the benchmark and hurdle rate for the performance adjustment component of the fund’s management fee.

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and the S&P 500 Index are broad measures of market performance. Securities in the fund do not match those in the indexes and the performance of the fund will differ.

[1] Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.

[2] This charge is phased out over six years.

[3] This charge is eliminated after one year.

[1] Management fees reflect a performance adjustment. The fund's base management fee is subject to adjustment, up or down, based on the fund's performance relative to the performance of the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 500 basis points.

[2] Restated to reflect current fees.

[3] Reflects Putnam Investment Management, LLC's contractual obligation to limit certain fund expenses through February 28, 2020. This obligation may be modified or discontinued only with approval of the Board of Trustees.

[1] Performance for class R6 shares prior to their inception (7/2/12) and for class P shares prior to their inception (8/31/16) 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 and class P shares; had it, returns would have been higher.

XML

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund*

*Prior to June 1, 2018, the fund was known as Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund.

Fund summary

Goal

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund seeks as high a rate of current income as Putnam Investment Management, LLC (Putnam Management) believes is consistent with preservation of capital.

Fees and expenses

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 $100,000 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 17 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 (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees - Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund	Class A		Class B		Class C		Class M	Class R	Class R6	Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	2.25%		none		none		0.75%	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	1.00%	[1]	1.00%	[2]	1.00%	[3]	none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class M	Class R	Class R6	Class Y
Management fees	0.37%	0.37%	0.37%	0.37%	0.37%	0.37%	0.37%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	0.25%	0.45%	1.00%	0.30%	0.50%
Other expenses	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.63%	0.83%	1.38%	0.68%	0.88%	0.38%	0.38%

Example

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. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.

Expense Example - Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund - USD ($)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Class A	288	422	568	994
Class B	185	265	460	968
Class C	240	437	755	1,657
Class M	144	291	451	915
Class R	90	281	488	1,084
Class R6	39	122	213	480
Class Y	39	122	213	480

Expense Example, No Redemption - Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund - USD ($)	Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years
Class B	85	265	460	968
Class C	140	437	755	1,657

Portfolio turnover

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 386%.

Investments, risks, and performance

Investments
We invest in a diversified portfolio of fixed income securities. The fund’s investments may include corporate credit, including investment-grade debt, below-investment-grade debt (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”), bank loans and structured credit; sovereign debt, including obligations of governments in developed and emerging markets; and securitized assets, including asset-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities (which may be backed by non-qualified or “sub-prime” mortgages), commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in bonds (bonds include any debt instrument, and may be represented by other investment instruments, including derivatives). This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders. We normally maintain an effective duration of three years or less. 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.

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, certain foreign currency transactions and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes.

We may invest in securities that are purchased in private placements, which may be illiquid because they are subject to restrictions on resale.

Risks

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 investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political or financial market conditions, investor sentiment and market perceptions, government actions, geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry or sector. 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. Interest rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds, which may be considered speculative. Mortgage- and asset-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- and asset-backed investments, in other investments with less attractive terms and yields. The fund’s investments in mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities, and in certain other securities and derivatives, may be or become illiquid.

The value of international investments traded in foreign currencies may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates. International investments, particularly investments in emerging markets, may carry risks associated with potentially less stable economies or governments (such as the risk of seizure by a foreign government, the imposition of currency or other restrictions, or high levels of inflation or deflation), and may be or become illiquid.

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.

Performance

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. Before June 1, 2018, the fund was managed with a materially different investment strategy and may have achieved materially different performance results under its current investment strategy from that shown for periods before this date. 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.

Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges

Best calendar quarter
Q1 2012  1.71%

Worst calender quarter
Q3 2011  −2.22%

Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ended 12/31/18)

Average Annual Total Returns - Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund		Label	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A		before taxes	(0.33%)	1.03%	1.29%
Class A | after taxes on distributions			(1.07%)	0.23%	0.67%
Class A | after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares			(0.20%)	0.42%	0.73%
Class B		before taxes	0.81%	1.31%	1.30%
Class C		before taxes	0.31%	0.76%	0.77%
Class M		before taxes	1.17%	1.30%	1.39%
Class R		before taxes	1.69%	1.24%	1.26%
Class R6	[1]	before taxes	2.22%	1.76%	1.78%
Class Y		before taxes	2.23%	1.76%	1.78%
ICE BofAML 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[2]		1.62%	1.62%	3.50%
ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill - ICE BofAML 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate Linked Benchmark	[3]		2.17%	0.70%	0.43%

ICE BofAML Indexes: ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofAML”), used with permission. ICE BofAML permits use of the ICE BofAML indices and related data on an “as is” basis; makes no warranties regarding same; does not guarantee the suitability, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the ICE BofAML indices or any data included in, related to, or derived therefrom; assumes no liability in connection with the use of the foregoing; and does not sponsor, endorse, or recommend Putnam Investments, or any of its products or services.

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 individual retirement account (IRA), or another tax-advantaged arrangement.

Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.

[1] Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.

[2] This charge is phased out over two years.

[3] This charge is eliminated after one year.

[1] Performance for class R6 shares prior to their inception (7/2/12) is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares.

[2] As of June 1, 2018, the ICE BofAML 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate Index replaced the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index and the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 100 basis points as the primary benchmark for this fund because in Putnam Management's opinion, the securities tracked by this index more accurately reflect the types of securities that generally will be held by the fund. The average annual total returns of the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index for the one-year, five-year and life of fund periods ended December 31, 2018 were 1.88%, 0.64% and 0.40%, respectively. The average annual total returns of the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 100 basis points for the one-year, five-year and life of fund periods ended December 31, 2018 were 2.88%, 1.64% and 1.40%, respectively.

[3] The ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill-ICE BofAML 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate Linked Benchmark represents performance of the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index from the inception date of the fund, December 23, 2008, through May 31, 2018, and performance of the ICE BofAML 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate Index from June 1, 2018, and thereafter.

XML

Label

Element

Value

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

Document Type

dei_DocumentType

485BPOS

Document Period End Date

dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate

Dec. 31, 2018

Entity Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

PUTNAM FUNDS TRUST

Entity Central Index Key

dei_EntityCentralIndexKey

0001005942

Amendment Flag

dei_AmendmentFlag

false

Entity Inv Company Type

dei_EntityInvCompanyType

N-1A

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

PFT

Document Creation Date

dei_DocumentCreationDate

Feb. 27, 2019

Document Effective Date

dei_DocumentEffectiveDate

Feb. 28, 2019

Prospectus Date

rr_ProspectusDate

Feb. 28, 2019

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

Fund summary

Footnote

PFT_FootnotetText

*Prior to April 30, 2018, the fund was known as Putnam Absolute Return 300 Fund.

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Goal

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund seeks positive total return.

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 $100,000 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 18 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)

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 532%.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

532.00%

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 $100,000 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 18 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

$ 100,000

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. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Investments, risks, and performance

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Investments
The fund is designed to pursue a consistent absolute return through a broadly diversified portfolio reflecting uncorrelated fixed-income strategies designed to exploit market inefficiencies across global markets and fixed-income sectors. These strategies include investments in the following asset categories: (a) sovereign debt: obligations of governments in developed and emerging markets; (b) corporate credit: investment-grade debt, below-investment-grade debt (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”), bank loans, convertible bonds and structured credit; and (c) securitized assets: asset-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities (which may be backed by non-qualified or “sub-prime” mortgages), commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. In pursuing a consistent absolute return, the fund’s strategies are also generally intended to produce lower volatility over a reasonable period of time than has been historically associated with traditional asset classes that have earned similar levels of return over long historical periods. These traditional asset classes might include, for example, bonds with moderate exposure to interest rate and credit risks.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed-income securities (fixed-income securities include any debt instrument, and may be represented by other investment instruments, including derivatives). This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders. 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 typically use derivatives, such as futures, options, certain foreign currency transactions, warrants and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes. Accordingly, we may use derivatives to a significant extent to obtain or enhance exposure to the fixed-income sectors and strategies mentioned above, and to hedge against risk.

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.

Our allocation of assets among fixed-income strategies and sectors may hurt performance. The value of investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political or financial market conditions, investor sentiment and market perceptions, government actions, geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings.

Bond investments are subject to interest rate risk, which means the value of the fund’s bond investments is likely to fall if interest rates rise. Bond investments also are subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the bond may default on payment of interest or principal. Interest rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds, which may be considered speculative. 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- and asset-backed investments, in other investments with less attractive terms and yields.

The value of international investments traded in foreign currencies may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates. International investments, particularly investments in emerging markets, may carry risks associated with potentially less stable economies or governments (such as the risk of seizure by a foreign government, the imposition of currency or other restrictions, or high levels of inflation), and may be or become illiquid. 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. The fund’s efforts to produce lower volatility returns may not be successful. 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

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Best calendar quarter
Q1 2012  3.36%

Worst calender quarter
Q3 2011  −4.09%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best calendar quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

3.36%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst calendar quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2011

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(4.09%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ended 12/31/18)

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.

Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.

ICE BofAML Indexes: ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofAML”), used with permission. ICE BofAML permits use of the ICE BofAML indices and related data on an “as is” basis; makes no warranties regarding same; does not guarantee the suitability, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the ICE BofAML indices or any data included in, related to, or derived therefrom; assumes no liability in connection with the use of the foregoing; and does not sponsor, endorse, or recommend Putnam Investments, or any of its products or services.

ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar denominated U.S. Treasury bills, which represent obligations of the U.S. Government having a maturity of one year or less, and is intended as an approximate measure of the rate of inflation. ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index +3.00% is the benchmark and hurdle rate for the performance adjustment component of the fund’s management fee.

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and the S&P 500 Index are broad measures of market performance. Securities in the fund do not match those in the indexes and the performance of the fund will differ.

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.88%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.64%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

0.40%

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 300 basis points (no deduction for fees, expense or taxes)

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

4.88%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.64%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.40%

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

0.01%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.52%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.48%

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | S&P 500 Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(4.38%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

8.49%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

13.12%

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

2.25%

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

0.54%

^[2]

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.25%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.80%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 305

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

475

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

659

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 1,193

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

8.23%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

3.10%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(4.374%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

5.63%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

4.35%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

1.53%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(1.91%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

2.01%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

5.24%

Annual Return 2018

rr_AnnualReturn2018

0.66%

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(1.61%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.02%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

2.15%

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | Class B

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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%

^[3]

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.54%

^[2]

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.45%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.00%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 202

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

318

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

552

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,168

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

102

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

318

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

552

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 1,168

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(0.48%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.27%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

2.17%

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | Class C

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.54%

^[2]

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.55%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 258

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

490

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

845

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,845

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

158

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

490

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

845

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 1,845

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(1.09%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.71%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

1.62%

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | Class M

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

0.75%

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

0.54%

^[2]

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.85%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 161

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

344

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

543

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 1,116

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(0.23%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.26%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

2.23%

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | Class P

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.54%

^[2]

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.55%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 56

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

176

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

307

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 689

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

^[5]

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

0.90%

^[5]

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.74%

^[5]

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

2.64%

^[5]

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | Class R

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.54%

^[2]

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.50%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.05%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 107

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

334

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

579

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 1,283

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

0.34%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.21%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

2.12%

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | Class R6

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.54%

^[2]

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.55%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 56

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

176

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

307

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 689

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

^[5]

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

0.90%

^[5]

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.74%

^[5]

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

2.65%

^[5]

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund | Class Y

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.54%

^[2]

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.55%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 56

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

176

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

307

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 689

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

0.90%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.72%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

2.63%

Putnam Global Sector Fund

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

Fund summary

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Goal

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

Putnam Global Sector Fund seeks capital appreciation.

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 20 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

February 28, 2020

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 42%.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

42.00%

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 20 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

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Investments
We allocate the fund’s assets among eight Putnam global sector funds to provide exposure to sectors of the global market in approximately the same proportions as the sector weightings in the MSCI World Index. Each underlying fund is a non-diversified fund (other than Putnam Global Financials Fund, which currently operates as a diversified fund) concentrating in the market sector specified in its name, and each invests mainly in common stocks (growth or value stocks or both) of large and midsize companies worldwide that we believe have favorable investment potential.

Global Communications Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the communication industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Consumer Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the consumer staples and consumer discretionary products and services industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Financials Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the financial services industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Health Care Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the health care industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Industrials Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the industrial products, services or equipment industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Natural Resources Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the energy or other natural resources industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Technology Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies in the technology industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Global Utilities Fund — Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of this underlying fund’s net assets in securities of companies worldwide in the utilities industries. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders.

Each underlying fund may invest in emerging markets, use derivatives, such as futures, options, foreign currency transactions, warrants and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes, and engage in short sales of securities.

We seek to rebalance the fund’s allocations monthly to remain in alignment with the index. The following table shows the fund’s approximate allocations to the underlying funds as of 12/31/18:

Underlying fund	Approximate allocation as of 12/31/18
Putnam Global Financials Fund	19.45%
Putnam Global Consumer Fund	18.66%
Putnam Global Technology Fund	14.82%
Putnam Global Health Care Fund	13.42%
Putnam Global Industrials Fund	10.82%
Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund	10.60%
Putnam Global Communications Fund	8.29%
Putnam Global Utilities Fund	3.53%

We may also invest in money market securities or affiliated money market or short-term fixed income funds for cash management.

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.

Our allocation of investments among the underlying funds may hurt performance. In addition, the fund’s performance is subject to the risks that may affect the performance of the underlying funds, which are as follows. The value of investments in an underlying fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political or financial market conditions, investor sentiment and market perceptions, government actions, geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. Growth stocks may be more susceptible to earnings disappointments, and value stocks may fail to rebound. An underlying fund’s policy of concentrating on a limited group of industries and an underlying fund’s “non-diversified” status, which means the underlying fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund, can increase the underlying fund’s vulnerability to adverse developments affecting a single issuer, which may result in greater losses and volatility.

The value of international investments traded in foreign currencies may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates. International investments, particularly investments in emerging markets, may carry risks associated with potentially less stable economies or governments (such as the risk of seizure by a foreign government, the imposition of currency or other restrictions, or high levels of inflation), and may be illiquid. An underlying fund’s use of derivatives may increase the risk 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. An underlying fund’s use of short selling may result in losses if the securities appreciate in value.

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

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Best calendar quarter
Q1 2012   13.67%

Worst calendar quarter
Q3 2011 −20.98%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best calendar quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

13.67%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst calendar quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2011

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(20.98%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ended 12/31/18)

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.

Class B share performance reflects conversion to Class A shares after eight years.

Putnam Global Sector Fund | MSCI World Index (ND) (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes, other than withholding taxes on reinvested dividends)

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(8.71%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.56%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.45%

Putnam Global Sector Fund | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

none

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.25%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.47%

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.99%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.71%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.47%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.24%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 694

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

1,040

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,408

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 2,441

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(9.80%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

17.95%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

29.04%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

3.17%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(0.23%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

5.52%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

23.07%

Annual Return 2018

rr_AnnualReturn2018

(10.95%)

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(16.07%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.33%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.17%

Putnam Global Sector Fund | Class B

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

none

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.47%

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.99%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

2.46%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.47%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.99%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 702

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

1,022

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,468

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,575

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

202

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

722

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,268

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 2,575

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(15.76%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.50%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.15%

Putnam Global Sector Fund | Class C

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

none

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.47%

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.99%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

2.46%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.47%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.99%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 302

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

722

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,268

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,761

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

202

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

722

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,268

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 2,761

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(12.50%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.78%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.09%

Putnam Global Sector Fund | Class M

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

none

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.75%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.47%

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.99%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

2.21%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.47%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.74%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 521

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

973

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,452

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 2,770

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(14.56%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.29%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.92%

Putnam Global Sector Fund | Class R

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

none

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.50%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.47%

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.99%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.96%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.47%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.49%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 152

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

570

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,014

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 2,247

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(11.24%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.28%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.62%

Putnam Global Sector Fund | Class Y

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

none

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.47%

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.99%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.46%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.47%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.99%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 101

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

416

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

753

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 1,706

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(10.80%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.81%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.15%

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

Fund summary

Footnote

PFT_FootnotetText

*Prior to April 30, 2018, the fund was known as Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund.

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Goal

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund seeks positive total return.

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 22 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

February 28, 2020

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 479%.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

479.00%

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 22 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

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Investments
The fund seeks a positive total return. In pursuing a positive total return, the fund’s strategies are generally intended to produce lower volatility over a reasonable period of time than has been historically associated with traditional asset classes that have earned similar levels of return over long historical periods. The Fund aims to accomplish this objective by combining “directional” strategies and “non-directional” strategies. The directional strategies seek efficient, diversified exposure to investment markets. They also seek to balance risk and provide positive total return by investing, without limit, in many different asset classes, including U.S., international, and emerging markets equity securities (growth or value stocks or both) and fixed-income securities; mortgage- and asset-backed securities; below-investment-grade securities (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”); inflation-protected securities; commodities; and real estate investment trusts (REITs). The non-directional strategies aim to provide positive returns that have minimal correlation with traditional asset classes, such as equities or equity-like investments. The non-directional strategies are generally implemented using paired long and short positions in an effort to capitalize on long-term market inefficiencies and short-term opportunities. The non-directional strategies may involve the use of active trading strategies, currency transactions and options transactions.

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 when deciding whether to buy or sell equity investments, and, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks when deciding whether to buy or sell fixed-income investments. We may also take into account general market conditions when making investment decisions. We typically use derivatives, such as futures, options, certain foreign currency transactions, warrants and swap contracts, to a significant extent for hedging purposes and to increase the fund’s exposure to the asset classes and strategies mentioned above, which may create investment leverage.

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.

Our allocation of assets among asset classes may hurt performance. The value of investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political or financial market conditions, investor sentiment and market perceptions, government actions, geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, asset class, geography, industry or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. Growth stocks may be more susceptible to earnings disappointments, and value stocks may fail to rebound.

Bond investments are subject to interest rate risk, which means the value of the fund’s bond investments is likely to fall if interest rates rise. Bond investments also are subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the bond may default on payment of interest or principal. Interest rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds, which may be considered speculative. 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- and asset-backed investments, in other investments with less attractive terms and yields.

The value of international investments traded in foreign currencies may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates. International investments, particularly investments in emerging markets, may carry risks associated with potentially less stable economies or governments (such as the risk of seizure by a foreign government, the imposition of currency or other restrictions, or high levels of inflation), and may be or become illiquid. Our non-directional strategies may lose money or not earn a return sufficient to cover associated trading and other costs. Our use of leverage obtained through derivatives increases the risk of investing in the fund by increasing investment exposure. Derivatives also involve the risk, in the case of many over-the-counter instruments, 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. The fund’s efforts to produce lower volatility returns may not be successful. 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

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Best calendar quarter
Q1 2012 6.07%

Worst calendar quarter
Q4 2018 −5.98%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best calendar quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

6.07%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst calendar quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2018

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(5.98%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ended 12/31/18)

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 individual retirement account (IRA), or another tax-advantaged arrangement.

Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.

ICE BofAML Indexes: ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofAML”), used with permission. ICE BofAML permits use of the ICE BofAML indices and related data on an “as is” basis; makes no warranties regarding same; does not guarantee the suitability, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the ICE BofAML indices or any data included in, related to, or derived therefrom; assumes no liability in connection with the use of the foregoing; and does not sponsor, endorse, or recommend Putnam Investments, or any of its products or services.

ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar denominated U.S. Treasury bills, which represent obligations of the U.S. Government having a maturity of one year or less, and is intended as an approximate measure of the rate of inflation. ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index +5.00% is the benchmark and hurdle rate for the performance adjustment component of the fund’s management fee.

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and the S&P 500 Index are broad measures of market performance. Securities in the fund do not match those in the indexes and the performance of the fund will differ.

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.88%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.64%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

0.40%

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 500 basis points (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

6.88%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

5.64%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.40%

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

0.01%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.52%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.48%

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | S&P 500 Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(4.38%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

8.49%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

13.12%

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.52%

^[7]

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.25%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.23%

^[8]

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.04%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.04%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.03%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.01%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 672

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

884

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,113

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 1,770

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

14.42%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

3.54%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

0.51%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

7.75%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

5.91%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

5.95%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(1.65%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

2.71%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

9.74%

Annual Return 2018

rr_AnnualReturn2018

(9.21%)

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(14.43%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.10%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.17%

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | Class B

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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%

^[9]

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.52%

^[7]

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.23%

^[8]

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.04%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.79%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.03%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.76%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 679

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

860

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,167

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,905

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

179

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

560

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

967

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 1,905

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(14.32%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.20%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.15%

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | Class C

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.52%

^[7]

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.23%

^[8]

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.04%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.79%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.03%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.76%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 279

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

560

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

967

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,103

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

179

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

560

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

967

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 2,103

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(10.79%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.54%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.00%

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | Class M

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.52%

^[7]

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.75%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.23%

^[8]

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.04%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.54%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.03%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.51%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 498

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

817

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,157

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 2,118

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(12.91%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.07%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

2.86%

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | Class P

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.52%

^[7]

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.09%

^[8]

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.04%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.65%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.03%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.62%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 63

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

205

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

359

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 808

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

^[10]

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(8.88%)

^[10]

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.61%

^[10]

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.05%

^[10]

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | Class R

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.52%

^[7]

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.50%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.23%

^[8]

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.04%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.29%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.03%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.26%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 128

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

406

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

705

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 1,554

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(9.51%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.03%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.48%

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | Class R6

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.52%

^[7]

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.13%

^[8]

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.04%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.69%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.03%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.66%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 67

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

218

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

381

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 856

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

^[10]

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(8.97%)

^[10]

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.63%

^[10]

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.08%

^[10]

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund | Class Y

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.52%

^[7]

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.23%

^[8]

Acquired fund fees and expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.04%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.79%

Expense reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.03%)

^[6]

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.76%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 78

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

249

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

436

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 975

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(9.04%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.55%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.02%

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

Fund summary

Footnote

PFT_FootnotetText

*Prior to June 1, 2018, the fund was known as Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund.

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Goal

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund seeks as high a rate of current income as Putnam Investment Management, LLC (Putnam Management) believes is consistent with preservation of capital.

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 $100,000 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 17 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)

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 386%.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

386.00%

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 $100,000 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 17 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

$ 100,000

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. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Investments, risks, and performance

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Investments
We invest in a diversified portfolio of fixed income securities. The fund’s investments may include corporate credit, including investment-grade debt, below-investment-grade debt (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”), bank loans and structured credit; sovereign debt, including obligations of governments in developed and emerging markets; and securitized assets, including asset-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities (which may be backed by non-qualified or “sub-prime” mortgages), commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in bonds (bonds include any debt instrument, and may be represented by other investment instruments, including derivatives). This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders. We normally maintain an effective duration of three years or less. 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.

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, certain foreign currency transactions and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes.

We may invest in securities that are purchased in private placements, which may be illiquid because they are subject to restrictions on resale.

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 investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political or financial market conditions, investor sentiment and market perceptions, government actions, geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry or sector. 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. Interest rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds, which may be considered speculative. Mortgage- and asset-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- and asset-backed investments, in other investments with less attractive terms and yields. The fund’s investments in mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities, and in certain other securities and derivatives, may be or become illiquid.

The value of international investments traded in foreign currencies may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates. International investments, particularly investments in emerging markets, may carry risks associated with potentially less stable economies or governments (such as the risk of seizure by a foreign government, the imposition of currency or other restrictions, or high levels of inflation or deflation), and may be or become illiquid.

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. Before June 1, 2018, the fund was managed with a materially different investment strategy and may have achieved materially different performance results under its current investment strategy from that shown for periods before this date. 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

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Best calendar quarter
Q1 2012  1.71%

Worst calender quarter
Q3 2011  −2.22%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best calendar quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

1.71%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst calendar quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2011

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(2.22%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ended 12/31/18)

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 Footnotes, Reason Performance Information for Class Different from Immediately Preceding Period [Text]

rr_PerformanceTableFootnotesReasonPerformanceInformationForClassDifferentFromImmediatelyPrecedingPeriod

As of June 1, 2018, the ICE BofAML 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate Index replaced the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index and the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 100 basis points as the primary benchmark for this fund because in Putnam Management's opinion, the securities tracked by this index more accurately reflect the types of securities that generally will be held by the fund

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

ICE BofAML Indexes: ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofAML”), used with permission. ICE BofAML permits use of the ICE BofAML indices and related data on an “as is” basis; makes no warranties regarding same; does not guarantee the suitability, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the ICE BofAML indices or any data included in, related to, or derived therefrom; assumes no liability in connection with the use of the foregoing; and does not sponsor, endorse, or recommend Putnam Investments, or any of its products or services.

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 individual retirement account (IRA), or another tax-advantaged arrangement.

Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund | ICE BofAML 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.62%

^[11]

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.62%

^[11]

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.50%

^[11]

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund | ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill - ICE BofAML 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate Linked Benchmark

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

2.17%

^[12]

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.70%

^[12]

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

0.43%

^[12]

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

2.25%

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

0.37%

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.25%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.63%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 288

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

422

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

568

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 994

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

4.04%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

1.16%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(1.91%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

2.77%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

1.77%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

0.69%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(0.51%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

2.27%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

3.10%

Annual Return 2018

rr_AnnualReturn2018

1.97%

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(0.33%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.03%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

1.29%

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund | Class B

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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%

^[3]

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.37%

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.45%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.83%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 185

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

265

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

460

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

968

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

85

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

265

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

460

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 968

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

0.81%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.31%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

1.30%

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund | Class C

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.37%

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.38%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 240

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

437

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

755

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,657

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

140

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

437

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

755

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 1,657

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

0.31%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.76%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

0.77%

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund | Class M

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

0.75%

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

0.37%

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.68%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 144

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

291

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

451

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 915

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.17%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.30%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

1.39%

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund | Class R

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.37%

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.50%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.88%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 90

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

281

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

488

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 1,084

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.69%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.24%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

1.26%

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund | Class R6

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.37%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.38%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 39

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

122

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

213

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 480

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

^[13]

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

2.22%

^[13]

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.76%

^[13]

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

1.78%

^[13]

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund | Class Y

Prospectus [Line Items]

rr_ProspectusLineItems

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

0.37%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.38%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 39

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

122

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

213

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 480

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

before taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

2.23%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.76%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

1.78%

[1] Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.

[2] Management fees are subject to a performance adjustment. The fund's base management fee is subject to adjustment, up or down, based on the fund's performance relative to the performance of the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 300 basis points. The fund's management fee prior to any performance adjustment was 0.60%.

[3] This charge is phased out over two years.

[4] This charge is eliminated after one year.

[5] Performance for class R6 shares prior to its inception (7/2/12) and for class P shares prior to their inception (8/31/16) is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares.

[6] Reflects Putnam Investment Management, LLC's contractual obligation to limit certain fund expenses through February 28, 2020. This obligation may be modified or discontinued only with approval of the Board of Trustees.

[7] Management fees reflect a performance adjustment. The fund's base management fee is subject to adjustment, up or down, based on the fund's performance relative to the performance of the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 500 basis points.

[8] Restated to reflect current fees.

[9] This charge is phased out over six years.

[10] Performance for class R6 shares prior to their inception (7/2/12) and for class P shares prior to their inception (8/31/16) 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 and class P shares; had it, returns would have been higher.

[11] As of June 1, 2018, the ICE BofAML 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate Index replaced the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index and the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 100 basis points as the primary benchmark for this fund because in Putnam Management's opinion, the securities tracked by this index more accurately reflect the types of securities that generally will be held by the fund. The average annual total returns of the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index for the one-year, five-year and life of fund periods ended December 31, 2018 were 1.88%, 0.64% and 0.40%, respectively. The average annual total returns of the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 100 basis points for the one-year, five-year and life of fund periods ended December 31, 2018 were 2.88%, 1.64% and 1.40%, respectively.

[12] The ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill-ICE BofAML 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate Linked Benchmark represents performance of the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index from the inception date of the fund, December 23, 2008, through May 31, 2018, and performance of the ICE BofAML 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate Index from June 1, 2018, and thereafter.

[13] Performance for class R6 shares prior to their inception (7/2/12) is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares.