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Label Element Value
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Sep. 30, 2019
Entity Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName Investment Managers Series Trust
Entity Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0001318342
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Entity Inv Company Type dei_EntityInvCompanyType N-1A
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Feb. 01, 2020
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Feb. 01, 2020
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Feb. 01, 2020
Towle Deep Value Fund  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading SUMMARY SECTION
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective  
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The investment objective of the Towle Deep Value Fund (the "Fund") is to seek long-term capital appreciation.
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)
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 59% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 59.00%
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 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

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in equity securities of U.S. issuers. The Fund may invest in common stocks of any capitalization, although it primarily focuses on smaller companies that the Fund's advisor views to be out-of-favor, under-appreciated, and under-valued. The Fund's advisor considers smaller capitalization companies to be those with market capitalization of $5 billion or lower at the time of purchase. The Fund generally holds between 25 to 50 positions. Because the Fund maintains a concentrated portfolio of out-of-favor stocks, the Fund's investment approach typically has a long-term time horizon and the Fund may underperform its benchmark for extended periods of time.

 

The Fund may also invest up to 25% of its total net assets in foreign securities, either directly or through the use of American Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), which are receipts that represent interests in foreign securities held on deposit by U.S. banks.

 

Neither Towle & Co. nor the Fund invests in tobacco, liquor, or gaming companies.

 

The Fund is a "non-diversified" fund, which means that the securities laws do not limit the percentage of assets that it may invest in any one company (subject to certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code).
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks of Investing  
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

Equity Risk. The value of the equity securities held by the Fund may fall due to general market and economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate, or factors relating to specific companies in which the Fund invests.

 

Smaller Company Risk. The Fund may invest in common stocks of any capitalization, although it primarily focuses on equity securities of smaller companies, including micro-cap, small-cap, and mid-cap companies. Securities of micro-cap, small-cap and mid-cap companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements and may have lower trading volumes or more erratic trading than securities of larger, more established companies or market averages in general. In addition, such companies typically are more likely to be adversely affected than large capitalization companies by changes in earning results, business prospects, investor expectations or poor economic or market conditions.

 

Value-Oriented Investment Strategy Risk. Value stocks are those that are believed to be undervalued in comparison to their peers due to adverse business developments or other factors. Value investing is subject to the risk that the market will not recognize a security's inherent value for a long time or at all, or that a stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced or overvalued. In addition, during some periods (which may be extensive) value stocks generally may be out of favor in the markets.

 

Management and Strategy Risk. The value of your investment depends on the judgment of the Advisor about the quality, relative yield, value or market trends affecting a particular security, industry, sector or region, which may prove to be incorrect.

 

Market Risk. The market price of a security or instrument may decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The market value of a security or instrument also may decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry.

 

Sector Focus Risk. The Fund may invest a larger portion of its assets in one or more sectors than many other mutual funds, and thus will be more susceptible to negative events affecting those sectors. For example, as of September 30, 2019, 53.6% of the Fund's net assets were invested in the Consumer, Cyclical sector. Companies in the Consumer, Cyclical sector are affected by fluctuations in supply and demand, changes in consumer preferences and changes in discretionary consumer spending as a result of various factors such as political and economic conditions.

 

Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is classified as "non-diversified," which means the Fund may invest a larger percentage of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. Investment in securities of a limited number of issuers exposes the Fund to greater market risk and potential losses than if its assets were diversified among the securities of a greater number of issuers.

 

Foreign Investment Risk. The prices of foreign securities may be more volatile than the prices of securities of U.S. issuers because of economic and social conditions abroad, political developments, and changes in the regulatory environments of foreign countries. In addition, changes in exchange rates and interest rates may adversely affect the values of the Fund's foreign investments. Foreign companies are generally subject to different legal and accounting standards than U.S. companies, and foreign financial intermediaries may be subject to less supervision and regulation than U.S. financial firms. Foreign securities include ADRs. Unsponsored ADRs involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply. In addition, the issuing bank may deduct shareholder distribution, custody, foreign currency exchange, and other fees from the payment of dividends. Emerging markets tend to be more volatile than the markets of more mature economies, and generally have less diverse and less mature economic structures and less stable political systems than those of developed countries.

 

Currency Risk. The values of investments in securities denominated in foreign currencies increase or decrease as the rates of exchange between those currencies and the U.S. Dollar change. Currency conversion costs and currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and are affected by factors such as general economic conditions, the actions of the United States and foreign governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation.

 

Cybersecurity Risk. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or cause the Fund, the Advisor, and/or other service providers (including custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or loss of operational functionality. In an extreme case, a shareholder's ability to exchange or redeem Fund shares may be affected.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus The Fund is classified as "non-diversified," which means the Fund may invest a larger percentage of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. Investment in securities of a limited number of issuers exposes the Fund to greater market risk and potential losses than if its assets were diversified among the securities of a greater number of issuers.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance 
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the average annual total returns of the Fund compare with the average annual total returns of a broad-based market index. Updated performance information is available at the Fund's website, www.towlefund.com, or by calling the Fund at 1-888-99TOWLE (1-888-998-6953). The Fund's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the average annual total returns of the Fund compare with the average annual total returns of a broad-based market index.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 1-888-99TOWLE (1-888-998-6953)
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.towlefund.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 Calendar-Year Total Returns (before taxes)   For each calendar year at NAV
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Highest Calendar Quarter Return at NAV 20.30% Quarter Ended 12/31/2016
Lowest Calendar Quarter Return at NAV (30.07)% Quarter Ended 12/31/2018
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2019
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 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.
Towle Deep Value Fund | Towle Deep Value Fund Shares  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol TDVFX
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Redemption fee if redeemed within 90 days of purchase (as a percentage of amount redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Wire fee imst_WireFee $ 20
Overnight check delivery fee imst_OvernightCheckDeliveryFee 25
Retirement account fees (annual maintenance fee) rr_ShareholderFeeOther $ 15
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.79%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder service fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.07%
All other expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.31%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.38%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.17%
One Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 119
Three Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 372
Five Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 644
Ten Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,420
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 18.35%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 54.87%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 3.08%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (16.49%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 54.42%
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 14.81%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (31.89%)
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 22.57%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Highest Calendar Quarter Return at NAV
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2016
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 20.30%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Lowest Calendar Quarter Return at NAV
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2018
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (30.07%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 22.57%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.33%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.94%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 31, 2011
Towle Deep Value Fund | After Taxes on Distributions | Towle Deep Value Fund Shares  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 22.18% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.57% [1]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.54% [1]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 31, 2011 [1]
Towle Deep Value Fund | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales | Towle Deep Value Fund Shares  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 13.44% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.30% [1]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.99% [1]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 31, 2011 [1]
Towle Deep Value Fund | Russell 2000 Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 22.39%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.99%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 10.67%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 31, 2011
[1] 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.