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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName METROPOLITAN WEST FUNDS
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jul. 28, 2017
Metropolitan West Floating Rate Income Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Metropolitan West Floating Rate Income Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The Floating Rate Income Fund seeks primarily to maximize current income,
Objective, Secondary [Text Block] rr_ObjectiveSecondaryTextBlock with a secondary objective of long-term capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination July 31, 2018
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 40% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 40.00%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The cost for the Fund reflects the net expenses of the Fund that result from the contractual expense limitation in the first year only. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, which includes borrowings for investment purposes, in floating rate investments and in investments that are the economic equivalent of floating rate investments. We expect the Fund’s portfolio of these investments to produce a floating rate of income over time. These investments may include, but are not limited to, any combination of the following items: (i) senior secured floating rate loans or debt; (ii) second lien or other subordinated or unsecured floating rate loans or debt; (iii) fixed-rate loans or debt, such as corporate bonds, preferred securities, convertible securities, mezzanine investments, collateralized loan obligations, senior loans, second lien loans, structured products and U.S. government debt securities, with respect to which the Fund has entered into derivative instruments that have the effect of converting the fixed-rate interest payments into floating-rate interest payments; and (iv) writing credit derivatives, which would give the Fund exposure to the credit of a single issuer or an index. The market value of written credit derivatives would count toward the 80% test specified above. The Fund may also purchase, without limitation, participations or assignments in senior floating rate loans or second lien floating rate loans. Debt instruments include convertible or preferred securities that produce income.

The portfolio managers may consider many factors in purchasing and selling investments for the Fund, such as a fundamental analysis of the issuer, the credit quality of the issuer and collateral for the investment, capital structure, leverage, operating results for the issuer and the business outlook for the issuer, industry or broader economy.

The Fund’s investments may have any credit quality without limitation, including investments rated below investment grade. Under current market conditions, a substantial portion of the Fund’s portfolio will consist of leveraged loans rated below investment grade or unrated. These investments will have credit risks similar to high yield securities, which are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.”

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in fixed income securities with respect to which the Fund has not entered into derivative instruments to effectively convert the fixed-rate interest payments into floating-rate interest payments. Those fixed income securities may include, but are not limited to, corporate bonds, preferred securities, convertible securities, mezzanine investments, collateralized loan obligations, senior loans, second lien loans, structured products and U.S. government debt securities.

The Fund’s portfolio securities may have any duration or maturity.

The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers, including issuers located in emerging markets. Under normal conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in loans and other securities of U.S. issuers or issuers with their primary operations, assets or management activities in the U.S. (including limited purpose controlled affiliates outside of the U.S. that borrow or issue securities primarily for the benefit of their U.S. parent companies or affiliates).

Up to 15% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in illiquid securities.

The Fund may also invest in companies whose financial condition is uncertain, where the borrower has defaulted in the payment of interest or principal or in the performance of its covenants or agreements, or that may be involved in bankruptcy proceedings, reorganizations or financial restructurings.

The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in common stocks or other equity securities. In addition, the Fund may acquire and hold those securities (or rights to acquire such securities) in unit offerings with fixed income securities, in connection with an amendment, waiver, conversion or exchange of fixed income securities, in connection with the bankruptcy or workout of a distressed fixed income security, or upon the exercise of a right or warrant obtained on account of a fixed income security.

The Fund may buy or sell options or futures on a security or an index of securities, buy or sell options on futures or enter into credit default swaps and interest rate or foreign currency transactions, including swaps and forward contracts (which are commonly known as derivatives). The Fund may use derivatives for hedging purposes, but is not required to do so, as well as to increase the total return on its portfolio investments.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock Because the Fund holds investments with fluctuating market prices, the value of the Fund’s shares will vary as its portfolio holdings increase or decrease in value. Therefore, the value of your investment in the Fund could go down as well as up. You can lose money by investing in the Fund.

The principal risks affecting the Fund that can cause a decline in value are:
  • Market Risk: the risk that returns from the investments held by the Fund will underperform returns from the general securities markets or other types of securities.
  • Interest Rate Risk: the risk that investments held by the Fund will decline in value because of changes in interest rates.
  • Issuer/Credit Risk: the risk that an issuer will default on payment of principal and/or interest on a bond or other fixed-income security. The financial strength of an issuer may decline after the Fund purchases its security. A default or increased risk of default can reduce the value of the Fund’s investment.
  • High Yield Risk: the risk these bonds, sometimes referred to as junk bonds, have a higher degree of default risk and may be less liquid and subject to greater price volatility than investment grade bonds.
  • Loan Risks: commercial banks and other financial institutions or institutional investors make corporate loans to companies that need capital to grow or restructure. Borrowers generally pay interest on corporate loans at rates that change in response to changes in market interest rates such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or the prime rates of U.S. banks. As a result, the value of corporate loan investments is generally less exposed to the adverse effects of shifts in market interest rates than investments that pay a fixed rate of interest. Investments in loans are generally subject to the same risks as investments in other types of debt securities, including, in many cases, investments in high-yield/junk bonds. They may be difficult to value, have wide bid-ask spreads and may be illiquid. If the Fund holds a loan through another financial institution, or relies on a financial institution to administer the loan, its receipt of principal and interest on the loan may be subject to the credit risk of that financial institution. It is possible that any collateral securing a loan may be insufficient or unavailable to the Fund, and that the Fund’s rights to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or insolvency laws. There may be limited public information available regarding the loan. Transactions in loans may settle on a delayed basis, and the Fund may not receive the proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period of time after the sale. In addition, unlike stocks and bonds, loans are not registered and otherwise may not be treated as securities under the federal securities laws, meaning investors in loans have less protection against improper practices than investors in securities that are registered under or are otherwise subject to the protections of the securities laws.
  • Distressed Investment Risks: a security held by the Fund (or the issuer of that security) may become distressed after the Fund’s investment. Distressed securities are speculative and involve substantial risks in addition to the risks of investing in junk bonds. The Fund will generally not receive interest payments on the distressed securities and may incur costs to protect its investment. In addition, distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default at the time of investment. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest on its portfolio holdings. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio company, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such securities may be subject to restrictions on resale.
  • Derivatives Risk: the risk of investing in derivative instruments, which includes liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks as well as risks related to mispricing or improper valuation. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, reference rate or index, and the Fund could lose more than the principal amount invested. These investments can create investment leverage and may create additional risks that may subject the Fund to greater volatility and less liquidity than investments in more traditional securities.
  • Swap Agreements Risk: the risk of using swaps, which, in addition to risks applicable to derivatives generally, includes: (1) the inability to assign a swap contract without the consent of the counterparty; (2) potential default of the counterparty to a swap for those not traded through a central counterparty; (3) absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular swap at any time; and (4) possible inability of the Fund to close out a swap transaction at a time that otherwise would be favorable for it to do so.
  • Leverage Risk: the risk that leverage may result from certain transactions, including the use of derivatives and borrowing. This may impair the Fund’s liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase its volatility or otherwise cause it not to achieve its intended result. The Fund will reduce leverage risk either by segregating an equal amount of liquid assets or by “covering” the transactions that introduce such risk through the use of off-setting or hedging transactions.
  • Foreign Investing Risk: the risk that the value of the Fund’s foreign investments will fluctuate with market conditions, currency exchange rates and the economic and political climates of the foreign countries where the Fund invests or has exposure. Emerging market debt also may be of lower credit quality and subject to greater risk of default.
  • Equities Risk: the risk that equity securities are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value.
  • Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market or restrictions on resale may limit the ability of the Fund to sell a security at an advantageous time or price. In addition, the Fund, by itself or together with other accounts managed by the Adviser may hold a position in a security that is large relative to the typical trading volume for that security, which can make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of the position at an advantageous time or price. Although the Fund is normally able to sell loans within seven days, a substantial portion of the loans held by the Fund will also experience delayed settlement beyond that period, which can impair the ability of the Fund pay redemptions or to re-invest proceeds, or may require the Fund to borrow to meet redemptions. Over recent years, the fixed-income markets have grown more than the ability of dealers to make markets, which can further constrain liquidity and increase the volatility of portfolio valuations. High levels of redemptions in bond funds in response to market conditions could cause greater losses as a result. Recent changes in regulations such as the Volcker Rule may further constrain the ability of market participants to create liquidity, particularly in times of increased market volatility.
  • Senior Loan Risks: There is less readily available, reliable information about most senior loans than is the case for many other types of securities. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non-payment rate, and a senior loan may lose significant value before a default occurs. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a senior loan may decline in value or become illiquid, which would adversely affect the senior loan’s value. No active trading market may exist for certain senior loans, which may impair the ability of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a senior loan and which may make it difficult to value senior loans. Although senior loans in which the Fund will invest generally will be secured by specific collateral, there can be no assurance that liquidation of such collateral would satisfy the borrower’s obligation in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. To the extent that a senior loan is collateralized by stock in the borrower or its subsidiaries, such stock may lose all of its value in the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower. Uncollateralized senior loans involve a greater risk of loss. The senior loans in which the Fund invests are usually rated below investment grade. Senior loans made in connection with highly leveraged transactions are subject to greater risks than other senior loans. For example, the risks of default or bankruptcy of the borrower or the risks that other creditors of the borrower may seek to nullify or subordinate the Fund’s claims on any collateral securing the loan are greater in highly leveraged transactions.
  • Second Lien Loan Risks: Second lien loans generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in senior loans. Because second lien loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior secured obligations of the borrower.
Please see “Principal Risks” and “Other Risks” for a more detailed description of the risks of investing in the Fund.

Your investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, entity, or person.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney You can lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution Your investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, entity, or person.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The bar chart shows performance of the Fund’s Class M shares. Class M performance is lower than Class I performance because Class I has lower expenses than Class M. The table compares the average annual total returns of the Fund to a broad-based securities market index. Total returns would have been lower if certain fees and expenses had not been waived or reimbursed. The inception date of Class M shares and Class I shares of the Fund is June 28, 2013. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information for the Fund is available on our website at www.tcw.com or by calling (800) 241-4671.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The bar chart shows performance of the Fund’s Class M shares. Class M performance is lower than Class I performance because Class I has lower expenses than Class M. The table compares the average annual total returns of the Fund to a broad-based securities market index.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone (800) 241-4671
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.tcw.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Floating Rate Income Fund – Class M Shares
Annual Total Returns for Years Ended 12/31
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Year-to-Date Total Return of Class M Shares as of June 30, 2017: 1.37%

Highest:        2.05%    (quarter ended September 30, 2016)
Lowest:        -0.54%    (quarter ended September 30, 2015)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns

(For Periods Ended December 31, 2016)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns are shown for only Class M Shares. After-tax returns for other classes will vary.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher In some cases, returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may be higher than returns before taxes because the calculations assume that the investor received a tax deduction for any loss incurred on the sale of the shares.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown for only Class M Shares. After-tax returns for other classes will vary. In some cases, returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may be higher than returns before taxes because the calculations assume that the investor received a tax deduction for any loss incurred on the sale of the shares.
Metropolitan West Floating Rate Income Fund | M Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment) rr_ShareholderFeeOther none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.25%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.05%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.15%) [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.90%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 92
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 319
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 565
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,269
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 2.01%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 1.36%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 6.04%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year-to-Date Total Return of Class M Shares as of June 30, 2017:
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Jun. 30, 2017
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 1.37%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Highest:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2016
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 2.05%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Lowest:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2015
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (0.54%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.04%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.78%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jun. 28, 2013
Metropolitan West Floating Rate Income Fund | I Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment) rr_ShareholderFeeOther none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.20%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.75%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.05%) [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.70%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 72
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 235
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 412
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 926
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.15%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.96%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jun. 28, 2013
Metropolitan West Floating Rate Income Fund | After Taxes on Distributions | M Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.51%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.23%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jun. 28, 2013
Metropolitan West Floating Rate Income Fund | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | M Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.39%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.17%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jun. 28, 2013
Metropolitan West Floating Rate Income Fund | S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 10.14%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.90%
[1] Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to reduce advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, including distribution expenses, to limit the Fund’s total annual operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, short sale dividend expenses, swap interest expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, and any expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization or extraordinary expenses such as litigation), to the net expenses shown in the table for the applicable class. The Adviser may recoup reduced fees and expenses within three years, subject to any applicable expense limit at the time of recoupment. This contract will remain in place until July 31, 2018. Although it does not expect to do so, the Board of Trustees is permitted to terminate that contract sooner in its discretion with written notice to the Adviser.