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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Feb. 28, 2013
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName DELAWARE GROUP STATE TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000201670
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Jun. 28, 2013
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Jun. 28, 2013
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jun. 28, 2013
(Delaware Tax-Free Pennsylvania Fund)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading

What is the Fund's investment objective?

Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

Delaware Tax-Free Pennsylvania Fund seeks as high a level of current income exempt from federal income tax and from Pennsylvania state personal income tax as is consistent with preservation of capital.

Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading

What are the Fund's fees and expenses?

Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

The following 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 if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in Delaware Investments® Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor, in the Fund's prospectus under the section entitled "About your account," and in the Fund's statement of additional information under the section entitled "Purchasing shares."

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 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 20% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 20.00%
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 $100,000 in Delaware Investments® Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor, in the Fund's prospectus under the section entitled "About your account," and in the Fund's statement of additional information under the section entitled "Purchasing shares."
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount 100,000
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 reflects the applicable waivers and reimbursements for the 1-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without waivers for years 2 through 10. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading

What are the Fund's principal investment strategies?

Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities that provide income that is exempt from federal income taxes, including the federal alternative minimum tax, and the personal income tax of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This is a fundamental investment policy that may not be changed without prior shareholder approval.

The Fund will invest primarily in municipal bonds and notes that are exempt from federal and Pennsylvania state personal income taxes. Municipal securities are debt obligations issued by state and local governments to raise funds for various public purposes such as hospitals, schools, and general capital expenses. The Manager invests the Fund's assets in securities with maturities of various lengths, depending on market conditions. The Manager will adjust the average maturity of the bonds in the portfolio to attempt to provide a high level of tax-exempt income consistent with preservation of capital. The Fund's income level will vary depending on current interest rates and the specific securities in the portfolio. The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain types of bonds or in a certain segment of the municipal bond market when the supply of bonds in other sectors does not suit its investment needs.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading

What are the principal risks of investing in the Fund?

Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

Investing in any mutual fund involves the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Over time, the value of your investment in the Fund will increase and decrease according to changes in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio. Principal risks include:

Investments not guaranteed by Delaware Management Company (Manager) or its affiliates — Investments in the Fund are not and will not be deposits with or liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 and its holding companies, including their subsidiaries or related companies (Macquarie Group), and are subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and capital invested. No Macquarie Group company guarantees or will guarantee the performance of the Fund, the repayment of capital from the Fund, or any particular rate of return.

Market risk — The risk that all or a majority of the securities in a certain market — such as the stock or bond market — will decline in value because of factors such as adverse political or economic conditions, future expectations, investor confidence, or heavy institutional selling.

Interest rate risk — The risk that securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise. This risk is generally associated with bonds.

Credit risk — The risk that an issuer of a debt security, including a governmental issuer, or an entity that insures a bond may be unable to make interest payments and repay principal in a timely manner.

High yield (junk bond) risk — The risk that high yield securities, commonly known as "junk bonds," are subject to reduced creditworthiness of issuers; increased risk of default and a more limited and less liquid secondary market; and greater price volatility and risk of loss of income and principal than are higher-rated securities. High yield bonds are sometimes issued by municipalities with less financial strength and therefore less ability to make projected debt payments on the bonds.

Call risk — The risk that a bond issuer will prepay the bond during periods of low interest rates, forcing a fund to reinvest that money at interest rates that might be lower than rates on the called bond.

Liquidity risk — The possibility that securities cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a fund has valued them.

Geographic concentration risk — The risk that heightened sensitivity to regional, state, and local political and economic conditions could adversely affect the holdings in a fund. There is also the risk that there could be an inadequate supply of municipal bonds in a particular state.

Alternative minimum tax risk — If a fund invests in bonds whose income is subject to the alternative minimum tax, that portion of the fund's distributions would be taxable for shareholders who are subject to this tax.

Derivatives risk — Derivative contracts, such as options, futures and swaps, may involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums) and are subject to significant loss if a security, or a securities index to which a derivative contract is associated, moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated.

Counterparty risk — The risk that a counterparty to a derivative contract (such as a swap, futures, or options contract) or a repurchase agreement may fail to perform its obligations under the contract or agreement due to financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization).

Government and regulatory risk — The risk that governments or regulatory authorities have, from time to time, taken or considered actions that could adversely affect various sectors of the securities markets.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney Investing in any mutual fund involves the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Over time, the value of your investment in the Fund will increase and decrease according to changes in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

How has Delaware Tax-Free Pennsylvania Fund performed?

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 Fund's average annual total returns for the 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. The returns reflect expense caps in effect during these periods. The returns would be lower without the expense caps. You may obtain the Fund's most recently available month-end performance by calling 800 523-1918 or by visiting our website at delawareinvestments.com/performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 800 523-1918
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.delawareinvestments.com/performance.
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 it will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading

Year-by-year total return (Class A)

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

As of March 31, 2013, the Fund's Class A shares had a calendar year-to-date return of 0.28%. During the periods illustrated in this bar chart, Class A's highest quarterly return was 8.45% for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and its lowest quarterly return was -4.75% for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. The maximum Class A sales charge of 4.50%, which is normally deducted when you purchase shares, is not reflected in the highest/lowest quarterly returns or in the bar chart. If this sales charge were included, the returns would be less than those shown. The average annual returns in the table below do include the sales charge.
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2012
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the periods presented and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax performance is presented only for Class A shares of the Fund.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

After-tax performance is presented only for Class A shares of the Fund. The after-tax returns for other Fund classes may vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's individual tax situation and may differ from the returns shown. After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the periods presented and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
(Delaware Tax-Free Pennsylvania Fund) | Barclays Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.78%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.91%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.10%
(Delaware Tax-Free Pennsylvania Fund) | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 4.50%
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.29%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.14%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.98%
Fee waivers and expense reimbursements rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.10%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.88%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 536
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 739
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 958
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,589
Annual Return 2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 5.12%
Annual Return 2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 4.36%
Annual Return 2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 4.03%
Annual Return 2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 4.55%
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 2.27%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (6.08%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 16.23%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 2.30%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 10.50%
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 7.92%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel As of March 31, 2013, the Fund's Class A shares had a calendar year-to-date return of 0.28%
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Mar. 31, 2013
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 0.28%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel highest quarterly return was 8.45% for the quarter ended September 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 8.45%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel lowest quarterly return was -4.75% for the quarter ended December 31, 2010.
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2010
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (4.75%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.07%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.94%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.49%
(Delaware Tax-Free Pennsylvania Fund) | Class A | return after taxes on distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.06%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.94%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.46%
(Delaware Tax-Free Pennsylvania Fund) | Class A | return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.34%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.88%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.44%
(Delaware Tax-Free Pennsylvania Fund) | Class B
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 4.00% [1]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.14%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.69%
Fee waivers and expense reimbursements rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.05%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.64%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 567
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 753
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,063
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,805
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 167
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 528
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 913
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,805
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.97%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.82%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.32%
(Delaware Tax-Free Pennsylvania Fund) | Class C
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 1.00% [1]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.14%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.69%
Fee waivers and expense reimbursements rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.05%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.64%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 267
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 528
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 913
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,994
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 167
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 528
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 913
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,994
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.10%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.09%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.17%
[1] If you redeem Class B shares during the first year after you bought them, you will pay a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 4.00%, which declines to 3.00% during the second year, 2.25% during the third year, 1.50% during the fourth and fifth years, 1.00% during the sixth year, and 0% thereafter. Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a 1.00% CDSC.
[2] The Fund's investment manager, Delaware Management Company (Manager) is contractually waiving its investment advisory fees and/or paying/reimbursing expenses (excluding any 12b-1 fees, taxes, interest, inverse floater program expenses, short sale and dividend interest expenses, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and nonroutine expenses or costs, including, but not limited to, those relating to reorganizations, litigation, conducting shareholder meetings, and liquidations) in order to prevent total annual fund operating expenses from exceeding 0.64% of the Fund's average daily net assets from June 28, 2013 through December 29, 2014. The Fund's distributor, Delaware Distributors, L.P. (Distributor), has contracted to limit the Class A shares' 12b-1 fee to no more than 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets from June 28, 2013 through December 29, 2014. These waivers and reimbursements may only be terminated by agreement of the Manager or Distributor, as applicable, and the Fund. Additionally, the Fund's Class A shares are subject to a blended 12b-1 fee of 0.10% on all shares acquired prior to June 1, 1992 and 0.30% on all shares acquired on or after June 1, 1992.