485BPOS

AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 11, 2014

1933 Act File No. 333-40455

1940 Act File No. 811-08495

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933	x
Post-Effective Amendment No. 163	x

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

Amendment No. 164 x

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

NATIONWIDE MUTUAL FUNDS

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)

1000 CONTINENTAL DRIVE, SUITE 400

KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406

(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE) (ZIP CODE)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (610) 230-1300

Send Copies of Communications to:
ALLAN J. OSTER, ESQ.	PRUFESH MODHERA, ESQ.
1000 CONTINENTAL DRIVE, SUITE 400	STRADLEY RONON STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP
KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406	1250 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 500
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)	WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036

It is proposed that this filing will become effective: (check appropriate box)

x immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

¨ on [date] pursuant to paragraph (b)

¨ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

¨ on [date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

¨ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

¨ on [date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

¨ This post-effective amendment designated a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, Nationwide Mutual Funds (a Delaware Statutory Trust) certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment Nos. 163, 164 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Township of Upper Merion, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on this 11^th day of April, 2014.

NATIONWIDE MUTUAL FUNDS
BY:	/s/ Allan J. Oster
	Allan J. Oster, Attorney-In-Fact for Registrant

PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS POST-EFFECTIVE

AMENDMENT NOS. 163, 164 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF NATIONWIDE MUTUAL FUNDS HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES INDICATED ON THE 11^th DAY OF APRIL, 2014.

Signature & Title

Principal Executive Officer

/s/ Michael S. Spangler*

Michael S. Spangler, President and

Chief Executive Officer

Principal Accounting and Financial Officer

/s/ Joseph Finelli*

Joseph Finelli, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

/s/ Charles E. Allen*

Charles E. Allen, Trustee

/s/ Paula H.J. Cholmondeley*

Paula H.J. Cholmondeley, Trustee

/s/ Phyllis Kay Dryden*

Phyllis Kay Dryden, Trustee

/s/ Barbara L. Hennigar*

Barbara L. Hennigar, Trustee

/s/ Barbara I. Jacobs*

Barbara I. Jacobs, Trustee

/s/ Keith F. Karlawish*

Keith F. Karlawish, Trustee

/s/ Douglas F. Kridler*

Douglas F. Kridler, Trustee

/s/ David C. Wetmore*

David C. Wetmore, Trustee and Chairman

*BY:	/s/ Allan J. Oster
	Allan J. Oster, Attorney-In Fact

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Exhibit
EX-101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
EX-101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
EX-101.CALC	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
EX-101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
EX-101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
EX-101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NATIONWIDE MUTUAL FUNDS
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Mar. 25, 2014
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Mar. 25, 2014

XML

Nationwide Bailard Emerging Markets Equity Fund

FUND SUMMARY: NATIONWIDE BAILARD EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY FUND

Objective

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay when buying and holding 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 Nationwide Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Investing with Nationwide Funds” commencing on page 12 of this Prospectus and in “Additional Information on Purchases and Sales” commencing on page 44 of the Statement of Additional Information.

Shareholder Fees (paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Nationwide Bailard Emerging Markets Equity Fund	Class A Shares	Class C Shares	Institutional Service Class Shares	Class M Shares	Institutional Class Shares
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.75%	none	none	none	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering or sale price, whichever is less)	none	1.00%	none	none	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Nationwide Bailard Emerging Markets Equity Fund		Class A Shares	Class C Shares	Institutional Service Class Shares	Class M Shares	Institutional Class Shares
Management Fees		1.00%	1.00%	1.00%	1.00%	1.00%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.25%	1.00%	none	none	none
Other Expenses	[1]	0.75%	0.75%	0.75%	0.50%	0.50%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		2.00%	2.75%	1.75%	1.50%	1.50%
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement	[2]	(0.40%)	(0.40%)	(0.40%)	(0.40%)	(0.40%)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waivers/Reimbursements		1.60%	2.35%	1.35%	1.10%	1.10%

Example

This Example is intended to help you to 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 sell all of your shares at the end of those time periods. It assumes a 5% return each year and no change in expenses. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example Nationwide Bailard Emerging Markets Equity Fund (USD $)	1 Year	3 Years
Class A shares	728	1,130
Class C shares	338	815
Institutional Service Class shares	137	512
Class M shares	112	435
Institutional Class shares	112	435

You would pay the following expenses on the same investment if you did not sell your shares:

Expense Example, No Redemption (USD $)	1 Year	3 Years
Nationwide Bailard Emerging Markets Equity Fund Class C Shares	238	815

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. No portfolio turnover rate is disclosed as the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of issuers located in or economically tied to emerging market countries. Under normal market conditions, the Fund’s subadviser will seek to invest the Fund’s assets across multiple industries and geographic regions.

The Fund’s subadviser uses a disciplined, quantitative approach that focuses first on country selection and then on stock selection within individual countries. A multifactor model is used to rank countries according to their characteristics, including various measures of value, momentum and risk. The relative weighting among these characteristics typically changes over time according to changes in the overall conditions across global markets. The subadviser systematically tracks these changes in overall conditions using various measures of monetary liquidity, sentiment, risk aversion and risk premiums. As conditions change, the model changes the relative weights of the selection factors that generate the rankings for countries. The subadviser’s stock selection models rank securities according to various measures of value, momentum, quality and analysts’ expectations. Instead of looking at global conditions to set the relative weights of selection factors, the models for stock selection use local conditions. Because global economies are not synchronized, the relative importance of these factors varies by country. The subadviser generally overweights those countries and companies that appear to be the most attractive and underweights those countries and companies that appear to be the least attractive. In overweighting and underweighting countries, the subadviser may consider global market indices and its own estimates of competitor portfolio weightings.

The Fund may use derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts (including forward foreign currency cross hedges), options, futures and other derivatives for investing and to hedge its investments and risk. Such instruments will be used principally for hedging and risk management purposes, including to help protect its international stock investments from the risk of a strong U.S. dollar.

Principal Risks

The Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective.

As with any fund, the value of the Fund’s investments—and therefore, the value of Fund shares—may fluctuate. These changes may occur because of:

Stock market risk – the Fund could lose value if the individual stocks in which it invests or overall stock markets in which such stocks trade go down.

Foreign securities risk – foreign securities may be more volatile, harder to price and less liquid than U.S. securities. The prices of foreign securities may be further affected by other factors, such as changes in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which the securities are traded.

Emerging markets risk – emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging securities markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets. Since these markets are smaller than developed markets, they may be more likely to suffer sharp and frequent price changes or long-term price depression because of adverse publicity, investor perceptions or the actions of a few large investors. Many emerging markets also have histories of political instability and abrupt changes in policies. Certain emerging markets may also face other significant internal or external risks, including the risk of war, nationalization of assets, and ethnic, religious and racial conflicts.

Derivatives risk – derivatives may be volatile and may involve significant risks. The underlying security, commodity, measure or other instrument on which a derivative is based, or the derivative itself, may not perform as expected. Certain derivatives may involve leverage, which means that their use can significantly magnify the effect of price movements of the underlying securities or reference measures, disproportionately increasing the Fund’s losses and reducing the Fund’s opportunities for gains. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, including a loss that may be greater than the amount invested. They also present default risks if the counterparty to a derivatives contract fails to fulfill its obligations to the Fund. Certain derivatives held by the Fund may be illiquid, making it difficult to close out an unfavorable position. Derivatives may also be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than other instruments.

        Futures – the prices of futures contracts are typically more volatile than those of stocks and bonds. Small movements in the values of the assets or measures underlying futures contracts can cause disproportionately larger losses to the Fund. While futures may be more liquid than other types of derivatives, they may experience periods when they are less liquid than stocks, bonds or other investments.

        Forwards – using forwards can involve greater risks than if the Fund were to invest directly in the underlying securities or assets. Because forwards often involve leverage, their use can significantly magnify the effect of price movements of the underlying securities or reference measures, disproportionately increasing the Fund’s losses and reducing the Fund’s opportunities for gains. Currently there are few central exchanges or markets for forward contracts, and therefore they may be less liquid than exchange-traded instruments. If a forward counterparty fails to meet its obligations under the contract, the Fund may lose money.

        Options – when options are purchased over the counter, the Fund bears the risk that the counterparty that wrote the option will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the option contract. The Fund’s ability to close out positions in exchange-listed options depends on the existence of a liquid market. Options that expire unexercised have no value.

In addition to these risks, the Fund’s portfolio managers may select securities that underperform the stock market, the Fund’s benchmark or other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies. If the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, you may lose money.

Performance

Performance information gives some indication of the risks of an investment in the Fund by comparing the Fund’s performance with a broad measure of market performance. Performance information is not provided because the Fund did not complete one full calendar year of operations as of the date of this Prospectus.

[1] "Other Expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

[2] Nationwide Mutual Funds (the "Trust") and Nationwide Fund Advisors (the "Adviser") have entered into a written contract limiting annual fund operating expenses to 1.10% until at least November 30, 2015. Under the expense limitation agreement, the level to which operating expenses are limited applies to all share classes, excluding any taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, Rule 12b-1 fees, short-sale dividend expenses, administrative services fees, other expenses which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with any merger or reorganization, and may exclude other non-routine expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business. The expense limitation agreement may be changed or eliminated at any time but only with the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Trust is authorized to reimburse the Adviser for management fees previously waived and/or for expenses previously paid by the Adviser, provided, however, that any reimbursements must be paid at a date not more than three years after the fiscal year in which the Adviser waived the fees or reimbursed the expenses and the reimbursements do not cause the Fund to exceed the expense limitation that was in place at the time the Adviser waived the fees or reimbursed the expenses.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NATIONWIDE MUTUAL FUNDS
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Mar. 25, 2014
Nationwide Bailard Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	FUND SUMMARY: NATIONWIDE BAILARD EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY FUND
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay when buying and holding 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 Nationwide Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Investing with Nationwide Funds” commencing on page 12 of this Prospectus and in “Additional Information on Purchases and Sales” commencing on page 44 of the Statement of Additional Information.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder 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	November 30, 2015
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 rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. No portfolio turnover rate is disclosed as the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
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 Nationwide Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount	$ 50,000
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text]	rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates	"Other Expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	This Example is intended to help you to 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 sell all of your shares at the end of those time periods. It assumes a 5% return each year and no change in expenses. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption	You would pay the following expenses on the same investment if you did not sell your shares:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of issuers located in or economically tied to emerging market countries. Under normal market conditions, the Fund’s subadviser will seek to invest the Fund’s assets across multiple industries and geographic regions. The Fund’s subadviser uses a disciplined, quantitative approach that focuses first on country selection and then on stock selection within individual countries. A multifactor model is used to rank countries according to their characteristics, including various measures of value, momentum and risk. The relative weighting among these characteristics typically changes over time according to changes in the overall conditions across global markets. The subadviser systematically tracks these changes in overall conditions using various measures of monetary liquidity, sentiment, risk aversion and risk premiums. As conditions change, the model changes the relative weights of the selection factors that generate the rankings for countries. The subadviser’s stock selection models rank securities according to various measures of value, momentum, quality and analysts’ expectations. Instead of looking at global conditions to set the relative weights of selection factors, the models for stock selection use local conditions. Because global economies are not synchronized, the relative importance of these factors varies by country. The subadviser generally overweights those countries and companies that appear to be the most attractive and underweights those countries and companies that appear to be the least attractive. In overweighting and underweighting countries, the subadviser may consider global market indices and its own estimates of competitor portfolio weightings. The Fund may use derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts (including forward foreign currency cross hedges), options, futures and other derivatives for investing and to hedge its investments and risk. Such instruments will be used principally for hedging and risk management purposes, including to help protect its international stock investments from the risk of a strong U.S. dollar.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective. As with any fund, the value of the Fund’s investments—and therefore, the value of Fund shares—may fluctuate. These changes may occur because of: Stock market risk – the Fund could lose value if the individual stocks in which it invests or overall stock markets in which such stocks trade go down. Foreign securities risk – foreign securities may be more volatile, harder to price and less liquid than U.S. securities. The prices of foreign securities may be further affected by other factors, such as changes in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which the securities are traded. Emerging markets risk – emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging securities markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets. Since these markets are smaller than developed markets, they may be more likely to suffer sharp and frequent price changes or long-term price depression because of adverse publicity, investor perceptions or the actions of a few large investors. Many emerging markets also have histories of political instability and abrupt changes in policies. Certain emerging markets may also face other significant internal or external risks, including the risk of war, nationalization of assets, and ethnic, religious and racial conflicts. Derivatives risk – derivatives may be volatile and may involve significant risks. The underlying security, commodity, measure or other instrument on which a derivative is based, or the derivative itself, may not perform as expected. Certain derivatives may involve leverage, which means that their use can significantly magnify the effect of price movements of the underlying securities or reference measures, disproportionately increasing the Fund’s losses and reducing the Fund’s opportunities for gains. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, including a loss that may be greater than the amount invested. They also present default risks if the counterparty to a derivatives contract fails to fulfill its obligations to the Fund. Certain derivatives held by the Fund may be illiquid, making it difficult to close out an unfavorable position. Derivatives may also be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than other instruments.         Futures – the prices of futures contracts are typically more volatile than those of stocks and bonds. Small movements in the values of the assets or measures underlying futures contracts can cause disproportionately larger losses to the Fund. While futures may be more liquid than other types of derivatives, they may experience periods when they are less liquid than stocks, bonds or other investments.         Forwards – using forwards can involve greater risks than if the Fund were to invest directly in the underlying securities or assets. Because forwards often involve leverage, their use can significantly magnify the effect of price movements of the underlying securities or reference measures, disproportionately increasing the Fund’s losses and reducing the Fund’s opportunities for gains. Currently there are few central exchanges or markets for forward contracts, and therefore they may be less liquid than exchange-traded instruments. If a forward counterparty fails to meet its obligations under the contract, the Fund may lose money.         Options – when options are purchased over the counter, the Fund bears the risk that the counterparty that wrote the option will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the option contract. The Fund’s ability to close out positions in exchange-listed options depends on the existence of a liquid market. Options that expire unexercised have no value. In addition to these risks, the Fund’s portfolio managers may select securities that underperform the stock market, the Fund’s benchmark or other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies. If the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, you may lose money.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	If the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, you may lose money.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	Performance information gives some indication of the risks of an investment in the Fund by comparing the Fund’s performance with a broad measure of market performance. Performance information is not provided because the Fund did not complete one full calendar year of operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
Performance One Year or Less [Text]	rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess	Performance information is not provided because the Fund did not complete one full calendar year of operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
Nationwide Bailard Emerging Markets Equity Fund | Class A Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	5.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering or sale price, whichever is less)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	1.00%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.75%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	2.00%
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.40%)	[2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waivers/Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.60%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	728
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	1,130
Nationwide Bailard Emerging Markets Equity Fund | Class C Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering or sale price, whichever is less)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	1.00%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.75%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	2.75%
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.40%)	[2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waivers/Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	2.35%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	338
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	815
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	238
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	815
Nationwide Bailard Emerging Markets Equity Fund | Institutional Service Class Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering or sale price, whichever is less)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	1.00%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.75%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.75%
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.40%)	[2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waivers/Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.35%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	137
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	512
Nationwide Bailard Emerging Markets Equity Fund | Class M Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering or sale price, whichever is less)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	1.00%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.50%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.50%
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.40%)	[2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waivers/Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	112
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	435
Nationwide Bailard Emerging Markets Equity Fund | Institutional Class Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering or sale price, whichever is less)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	1.00%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.50%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.50%
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.40%)	[2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waivers/Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	112
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	$ 435

[1] "Other Expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

[2] Nationwide Mutual Funds (the "Trust") and Nationwide Fund Advisors (the "Adviser") have entered into a written contract limiting annual fund operating expenses to 1.10% until at least November 30, 2015. Under the expense limitation agreement, the level to which operating expenses are limited applies to all share classes, excluding any taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, Rule 12b-1 fees, short-sale dividend expenses, administrative services fees, other expenses which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with any merger or reorganization, and may exclude other non-routine expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business. The expense limitation agreement may be changed or eliminated at any time but only with the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Trust is authorized to reimburse the Adviser for management fees previously waived and/or for expenses previously paid by the Adviser, provided, however, that any reimbursements must be paid at a date not more than three years after the fiscal year in which the Adviser waived the fees or reimbursed the expenses and the reimbursements do not cause the Fund to exceed the expense limitation that was in place at the time the Adviser waived the fees or reimbursed the expenses.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Document Type	dei_DocumentType	485BPOS
Document Period End Date	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate	Mar. 25, 2014
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NATIONWIDE MUTUAL FUNDS
Central Index Key	dei_EntityCentralIndexKey	0001048702
Amendment Flag	dei_AmendmentFlag	false
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Mar. 25, 2014
Document Effective Date	dei_DocumentEffectiveDate	Mar. 25, 2014
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Mar. 25, 2014