Label	Element	Value
TIAA-CREF Short-Term Bond Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Supplement to Prospectus [Text Block]	rr_SupplementToProspectusTextBlock	TIAA-CREF FIXED-INCOME & REAL ESTATE SECURITIES FUNDS (collectively with the Green Bond and Short Duration Impact Bond Funds, the “Funds”) SUPPLEMENT NO. 2 dated May 31, 2019, to the Statutory Prospectus dated August 1, 2018 Also, effective immediately, the introductory paragraph in the “Fees and expenses” subsection of the “Summary information” section of each of the Funds is hereby replaced with the following: This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. In addition to the fees and expenses described below, investors may be required to pay a commission to a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary on purchases and sales of Institutional Class or Advisor Class shares of the Fund.
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	TIAA-CREF Short-Term Bond Index Fund

Risk/Return Summary Investment Objectives/Goals Include the following information, in plain English under rule 421(d) under the Securities Act, in the order and subject matter indicated

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Form
-Number N-1A
-Chapter A
-Section 2

Name:	rr_RiskReturnHeading
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration