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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName Dunham Funds
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Feb. 28, 2020
Dunham Long/Short Credit Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Dunham Long/Short Credit Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective:
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund seeks to maximize total return under varying market conditions through both current income and 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. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in How to Purchase Shares on page 89 of the Fund's Prospectus and in How to Buy and Sell Shares on page 88 of the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
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 426% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 426.00%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 50,000
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 upon these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies:
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund’s Sub-Adviser seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment objective by investing normally at least 80% of its assets (defined as net assets plus borrowing for investment purposes) in various credit-related instruments. Credit-related instruments include, but are not limited to, U.S. Government and agency securities, foreign government and supranational debt securities, corporate bonds, emerging market debt securities, preferred securities, structured products, senior secured floating rate and fixed rate loans or debt, second lien or other subordinated or unsecured floating rate and fixed rate loans or debt, and derivatives with similar economic characteristics. The Fund may invest in credit-related instruments rated below investment grade, which are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.”


The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in equity instruments, including common stock and other instruments whose price is linked to the value of common stock. The Fund may hold long or short positions in equity instruments, and may invest in equity instruments of issuers of any market capitalization.

 

The Fund may also gain both long and short exposure to credit-related instruments by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by investing in, among other instruments, swaps, including total return, credit default and index swaps; options; forward contracts and futures contracts that provide long or short exposure to other credit obligations; and other similar transactions.

 

The Fund may engage in short sales for hedging purposes or to enhance total return. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to achieve its primary investment strategies.

 

When selecting individual securities, the Sub-Adviser focuses on supply/demand factors, historical value trends, and new issue opportunities combined with company-specific research, industry analysis, and its view on overall credit trends. The Sub-Adviser incorporates its quantitative and qualitative analysis to determine the optimal security to purchase in the company’s capital structure as well as to determine the desired allocation to each security or derivative. The Sub-Adviser utilizes short positions and derivatives to manage various risk exposures, including interest rate risk and credit risk.

The Fund may also engage in securities lending.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Investment Risks:
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. Although the Fund will strive to meet its investment objective, there is no assurance that it will do so. Many factors affect the Fund's net asset value and performance.

Short Selling Risk – If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund covers its short position, the Fund will incur a loss which may be unlimited. Also, the Fund is required to deposit collateral in connection with such short sales and may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities.

Derivatives Risk – Financial derivatives may not produce the desired investment results because they are not perfect substitutes for the underlying securities, indices or currencies from which they are derived. Derivatives may also create leverage which will amplify the effect on the Fund, which may produce significant losses. Over the counter derivatives, such as swaps, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation.

Leveraging Risk – Using derivatives can create leverage, which can magnify the Fund’s potential for gain or loss and, therefore, amplify the effects of market volatility on the Fund’s share price.

Event Risk — Event risk is the risk that corporate issuers may undergo restructurings, such as mergers, leveraged buyouts, takeovers, or similar events financed by increased debt. As a result of the added debt, the credit quality and market value of a company’s bonds and/or other debt securities may decline significantly.

Structured Note Risk – Structured notes involve tracking risk, issuer default risk and may involve leverage risk.

Credit Risk – Issuers of debt securities may suffer from a reduced ability to repay their interest and principal obligations. They may even default on interest and/or principal payments due to the Fund. An increase in credit risk or a default will cause the value of Fund debt securities to decline. Issuers with lower credit quality are more susceptible to economic or industry downturns and are more likely to default.

Changing Fixed Income Market Conditions Risk – During periods of sustained rising rates, fixed income risks will be amplified. If the U.S. Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) raises the federal funds interest rate target, interest rates across the U.S. financial system may rise. Rising rates tend to decrease liquidity, increase trading costs, and increase volatility, all of which make portfolio management more difficult and costly to the Fund and its shareholders.

Call or Redemption Risk – If interest rates decline, issuers of debt securities may exercise redemption or call provisions. This may force the Fund to reinvest redemption or call proceeds in securities with lower yields, which may reduce Fund performance.

Interest Rate Risk – In general, the price of a debt security falls when interest rates rise. Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Securities with longer maturities may be more sensitive to interest rate changes.

Corporate Loans Risk — 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. The market for corporate loans may be subject to irregular trading activity and wide bid/ask spreads. In addition, transactions in corporate loans may settle on a delayed basis. As a result, the proceeds from the sale of corporate loans may not be readily available to make additional investments or to meet the Fund’s redemption obligations.

U.S. Government Securities Risk – The risk that U.S. Government securities in the Fund’s portfolio will be subject to price fluctuations, or that an agency or instrumentality will default on an obligation not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

Long-Term Maturities/Durations Risk –The risk of greater price fluctuations than would be associated with securities having shorter maturities or durations.

Lower-Rated Securities Risk – Securities rated below investment-grade, sometimes called "high-yield" or "junk" bonds, are speculative investments that generally have more credit risk than higher-rated securities. Companies issuing high-yield fixed-income securities are not as strong financially as those issuing securities with higher credit ratings and are more likely to encounter financial difficulties. Lower rated issuers are more likely to default and their securities could become worthless.

Portfolio Turnover Risk – A higher portfolio turnover will result in higher transactional and brokerage costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.

Senior Bank Loans Risk – Senior loans are subject to the risk that a court could subordinate a senior loan, which typically holds the most senior position in the issuer’s capital structure, to presently existing or future indebtedness or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior loans. Senior loans settle on a delayed basis, potentially leading to the sale proceeds of such loans not being available to meet redemptions for a substantial period of time after the sale of the senior loans. The market prices of floating rate loans are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices for securities with fixed interest rates. Certain senior loans may not be considered “securities,” and purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the protections of federal securities laws, including anti-fraud provisions.

Emerging Markets Risk – Emerging market countries may have relatively unstable governments, weaker economies, and less-developed legal systems which do not protect securities holders. Emerging market economies may be based on only a few industries and security issuers may be more susceptible to economic weakness and more likely to default. Emerging market securities also tend to be less liquid.

Foreign Investing Risk – Investments in foreign countries are subject to currency risk and country-specific risks such as political, diplomatic, regional conflicts, terrorism, war, social and economic instability and policies that have the effect of decreasing the value of foreign securities. Foreign countries may be subject to different trading settlement practices, less government supervision, less publicly available information, limited trading markets and greater volatility than U.S. investments.

Liquidity Risk – Some securities may have few market-makers and low trading volume, which tend to increase transaction costs and may make it impossible for a Fund to dispose of a security position at all or at a price which represents current or fair market value.

Preferred Stock Risk – Preferred stock is subject to many of the risks associated with fixed-income securities, including interest rate risk. In addition, preferred stocks may not pay dividends, an issuer may suspend payment of dividends on preferred stock at any time, and in certain situations an issuer may call or redeem its preferred stock or convert it to common stock. To the extent that that the Fund invests a portion of its assets in convertible preferred stocks, declining common stock values may also cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline.

Management Risk – The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Sub-Adviser will apply its investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there is no guarantee that its decisions will produce the intended result. The successful use of hedging and risk management techniques may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the hedging vehicles and the securities being hedged.

Securities Lending Risk – The risk of securities lending is that the financial institution that borrows securities from the Fund could go bankrupt or otherwise default on its commitment under the securities lending agreement and the Fund might not be able to recover the loaned securities or their value.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance:
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the performance of Class N Shares of the Fund from year to year and by showing how the Fund's Class A, Class C and Class N average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Class A sales charge is reflected in the average annual total return table. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how a Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.dunham.com or by calling toll free (888) 3DUNHAM (338-6426).
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the performance of Class N Shares of the Fund from year to year and by showing how the Fund's Class A, Class C and Class N average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone (888) 3DUNHAM (338-6426)
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.dunham.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how a Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Class N Shares Annual Total Return for Years Ended December 31
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 12.89% (quarter ended September 30, 2010) and the lowest return for a quarter was -11.07% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel the highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2010
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 12.89%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel the lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (11.07%)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN For the periods ended December 31, 2019
Performance Table Does Reflect Sales Loads rr_PerformanceTableDoesReflectSalesLoads The Class A sales charge is reflected in the average annual total return table.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are estimated, and are based on the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes; actual after-tax returns depend on an individual investor's tax situation and are likely to differ from those shown.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred If you own shares of the Fund in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan, this information is not applicable to your investment, because such accounts are only subject to taxes upon distribution.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After tax returns for Class C and Class A shares, which are not shown, will vary from those of Class N shares.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

After-tax returns are estimated, and are based on the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes; actual after-tax returns depend on an individual investor's tax situation and are likely to differ from those shown. If you own shares of the Fund in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan, this information is not applicable to your investment, because such accounts are only subject to taxes upon distribution. After tax returns for Class C and Class A shares, which are not shown, will vary from those of Class N shares.
Dunham Long/Short Credit Fund | BofA Merrill Lynch 3-month Treasury Bill Index PLUS 300 bps  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel BofA Merrill Lynch 3-month Treasury Bill Index PLUS 300 bps
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.28% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.07% [1]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.58% [1]
Dunham Long/Short Credit Fund | Morningstar Long/Short Credit Category  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Morningstar Long/Short Credit Category (return before taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 7.53% [1],[2]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.63% [1],[2]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.86% [1],[2]
Dunham Long/Short Credit Fund | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a % of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a % of the original purchase price for purchases of $1 million or more) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 0.75%
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and other Distributions rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther none
Redemption Fee rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption none
Exchange Fee rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.91% [3]
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.33%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.02% [4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.51%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 720
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,025
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,351
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 2,273
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel return before taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.37% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.75% [1]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.35% [1]
Dunham Long/Short Credit Fund | Class C  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a % of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a % of the original purchase price for purchases of $1 million or more) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and other Distributions rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther none
Redemption Fee rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption none
Exchange Fee rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.91% [3]
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.33%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.02% [4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.26%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 229
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 706
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,210
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 2,595
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel return before taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.81% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.19% [1]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.18% [1]
Dunham Long/Short Credit Fund | Class N  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a % of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a % of the original purchase price for purchases of $1 million or more) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and other Distributions rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther none
Redemption Fee rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption none
Exchange Fee rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.91% [3]
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.33%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.02% [4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.26%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 128
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 400
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 692
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,523
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 13.14%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (2.48%)
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 7.52%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 19.81%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 4.81%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (2.95%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 1.10%
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 11.53%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 5.15%
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 6.88%
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel return before taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.88% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.22% [1]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.24% [1]
Dunham Long/Short Credit Fund | Class N | return after taxes on distributions  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel return after taxes on distributions                             
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.60% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.97% [1]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.87% [1]
Dunham Long/Short Credit Fund | Class N | return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.06% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.72% [1]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.53% [1]
[1] On July 1, 2018, the Fund’s principal investment strategy was materially changed. Therefore, the Fund’s performance prior to that date may have been different had the current principal investment strategy been in place.
[2] The Morningstar Long/Short Credit Category is generally representative of funds that purchase or sell bonds, credit default swaps, or other credit derivatives to potentially benefit from changes in the credit markets and/or individual issuers.
[3] The Sub-Advisory Fee is a fulcrum fee with a base or fulcrum of 60 bps (0.60%) and can range from 0.05% to 1.15%, based on the Fund’s performance relative to the BofA Merrill Lynch 3-month Treasury Bill Index PLUS 300 bps, the Fund’s benchmark.
[4] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in this fee table may not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund's financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies.