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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName COLUMBIA FUNDS SERIES TRUST
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jan. 01, 2014
Columbia Marsico Global Fund
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Summary of the Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Columbia Marsico Global Fund (the Fund) seeks long-term growth of capital.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock This table 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 December 31, 2014
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The Fund may pay 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 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 98% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 98.00%
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates Other expenses are based on estimated amounts for the Fund's current fiscal year.
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock The following 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 illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
  • you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
  • your investment has a 5% return each year, and
  • the Fund's total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire as indicated in the preceding table, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the other examples.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest significantly (generally, at least 40% of its net assets) in the securities of companies organized or located outside the United States or doing business outside the United States (unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the portfolio managers, in which case the Fund generally will invest at least 30% of net assets in such foreign securities). The Fund normally invests in common stocks and may invest in companies of any size throughout the world that are selected for their long-term growth potential. The Fund normally invests in companies from at least three different countries, including the United States, and may invest in companies operating in or economically tied to emerging market countries.

The Fund may invest without limit in foreign securities. These securities may be publicly traded in the United States or in foreign markets or both, and may be bought and sold in a foreign currency that the Fund may or may not also hold. The portfolio managers generally select foreign securities on a security-by-security basis based primarily on considerations such as growth potential rather than geographic location or other considerations.

Primarily for hedging purposes, the Fund may invest in derivatives, including futures (including futures on securities indices and foreign currencies), forward contracts on foreign currencies, options (including options on securities and securities indices) and other derivative instruments.

The core investments of the Fund (i.e., the primary investments held by the Fund over time) generally may include established companies and securities that are expected to offer long-term growth potential. However, the Fund's portfolio also may typically include securities of less mature companies, securities with more aggressive growth characteristics, and securities of companies undergoing significant positive developments, such as, without limitation, the introduction of a new product line, the appointment of a new management team, or an acquisition.

The Fund's investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund's performance) and may increase taxable distributions for shareholders.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money. The value of the Fund's holdings may decline, and the Fund's net asset value (NAV) and Fund share price may go down.

Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.

Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivatives will typically increase the Fund's exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and liquidity risk.

Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country's or region's currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund's strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.

Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund's NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.

Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk and hedging risk.

Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.

Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly where the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

Frequent Trading Risk. The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading of investments increases the possibility that the Fund, as relevant, will realize taxable capital gains (including short-term capital gains, which are generally taxable to shareholders at higher rates than long-term capital gains for U.S. federal income tax purposes), which could reduce the Fund's after-tax return. Frequent trading can also mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs and tax effects associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund's performance.

Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. In addition, the private and public sectors' debt problems of a single EU country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. As a result, the Fund may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.

Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may be more sensitive to adverse economic or other circumstances or changes in current or expected earnings than the market values of other types of securities. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.

Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund's performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.

Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. In general, equity securities tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities.

Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund's Class A share performance (without sales charges) has varied for each full calendar year shown. If the sales charges were reflected, returns shown would be lower. Class A share performance (without sales charges) is shown in the bar chart because the Fund has less than ten calendar years of performance and Class A shares are at least as old as any other share class of the Fund. Class A shares are offered in a separate prospectus. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund's returns (after applicable sales charges) for the periods shown with benchmark performance.

Class R4 and Class R5 shares of the Fund did not commence operations prior to the date of this prospectus and, therefore, performance is not yet available. Any share class that does not have available performance would have annual returns substantially similar to those of Class A shares. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.

The after-tax returns shown in the table below are calculated using the highest historical individual U.S. federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your personal tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown in the table do not apply to shares held in tax-deferred accounts such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and will vary for other share classes. Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares are higher than before-tax returns for certain periods shown because they reflect the tax benefit of capital losses realized on the redemption of Fund shares. After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares because the Fund has less than ten calendar years of performance and Class A shares are at least as old as any other share class of the Fund.

The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund's Class A share performance (without sales charges) has varied for each full calendar year shown. If the sales charges were reflected, returns shown would be lower. Class A share performance (without sales charges) is shown in the bar chart because the Fund has less than ten calendar years of performance and Class A shares are at least as old as any other share class of the Fund. Class A shares are offered in a separate prospectus. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund's returns (after applicable sales charges) for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess Class R4 and Class R5 shares of the Fund did not commence operations prior to the date of this prospectus and, therefore, performance is not yet available.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 800.345.6611
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress columbiamanagement.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The bar chart shows how the Fund's Class A share performance (without sales charges) has varied for each full calendar year shown. If the sales charges were reflected, returns shown would be lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart


Best                            1st Quarter 2012                            21.68%

Worst                         3rd Quarter 2011                           -20.45%
Bar Chart, Returns for Class Not Offered in Prospectus [Text] rr_BarChartReturnsForClassNotOfferedInProspectus Class R4 and Class R5 shares of the Fund did not commence operations prior to the date of this prospectus and, therefore, performance is not yet available. Any share class that does not have available performance would have annual returns substantially similar to those of Class A shares. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2012)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate The after-tax returns shown in the table below are calculated using the highest historical individual U.S. federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred In addition, the after-tax returns shown in the table do not apply to shares held in tax-deferred accounts such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and will vary for other share classes.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares are higher than before-tax returns for certain periods shown because they reflect the tax benefit of capital losses realized on the redemption of Fund shares.
Columbia Marsico Global Fund | Class R4
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a % of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a % of the lower of the original purchase price or current net asset value) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.79%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 1.05% [1]
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.84%
Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.59%) [2]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.25%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 127
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 521
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 941
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,110
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 127
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 521
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 941
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,110
Columbia Marsico Global Fund | Class R5
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a % of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a % of the lower of the original purchase price or current net asset value) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.79%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.98% [1]
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.77%
Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.57%) [2]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.20%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 122
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 502
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 906
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,037
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 122
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 502
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 906
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,037
Columbia Marsico Global Fund | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 33.94% [3]
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 24.20% [3]
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (12.28%) [3]
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 20.28% [3]
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year to Date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Sep. 30, 2013
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 25.87%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2012
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 21.68%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (20.45%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 13.41%
Life of Fund rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (0.12%)
Share Class Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 30, 2008
Columbia Marsico Global Fund | returns after taxes on distributions | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 13.41%
Life of Fund rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (0.19%)
Share Class Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 30, 2008
Columbia Marsico Global Fund | returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.71%
Life of Fund rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (0.11%)
Share Class Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 30, 2008
Columbia Marsico Global Fund | MSCI All Country World Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 16.13%
Life of Fund rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (0.32%)
[1] Other expenses are based on estimated amounts for the Fund's current fiscal year.
[2] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until December 31, 2014, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 1.25% for Class R4 and 1.20% for Class R5.
[3] Year to Date return as of September 30, 2013: 25.87%