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Shareholder Report
 6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
USD ($)
$ / shares
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Document Type N-CSRS
Amendment Flag false
Registrant Name PUTNAM TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND
Entity Central Index Key 0000205802
Entity Investment Company Type N-1A
Document Period End Date Mar. 31, 2025
Class A  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund
Class Name Class A
Trading Symbol PTAEX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund for the period October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual semi-annual shareholder report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment†
Class A
$46
0.93%
[1]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 46
Expense Ratio, Percent 0.93%
Net Assets $ 567,466,935
Holdings Count | $ / shares 316 [2]
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 4.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of March 31, 2025)
Total Net Assets
$567,466,935
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings*
316
Portfolio Turnover Rate
4%
[2]
Holdings [Text Block]
image
 [3]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Class C  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund
Class Name Class C
Trading Symbol PTECX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund for the period October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual semi-annual shareholder report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment†
Class C
$83
1.68%
[4]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 83
Expense Ratio, Percent 1.68%
Net Assets $ 567,466,935
Holdings Count | $ / shares 316 [5]
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 4.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of March 31, 2025)
Total Net Assets
$567,466,935
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings*
316
Portfolio Turnover Rate
4%
[5]
Holdings [Text Block]
image
 [6]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Class R6  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund
Class Name Class R6
Trading Symbol PEXTX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund for the period October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual semi-annual shareholder report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment†
Class R6
$33
0.66%
[7]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 33
Expense Ratio, Percent 0.66%
Net Assets $ 567,466,935
Holdings Count | $ / shares 316 [8]
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 4.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of March 31, 2025)
Total Net Assets
$567,466,935
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings*
316
Portfolio Turnover Rate
4%
[8]
Holdings [Text Block]
image
 [9]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Class Y  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund
Class Name Class Y
Trading Symbol PTEYX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund for the period October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual semi-annual shareholder report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment†
Class Y
$34
0.68%
[10]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 34
Expense Ratio, Percent 0.68%
Net Assets $ 567,466,935
Holdings Count | $ / shares 316 [11]
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 4.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of March 31, 2025)
Total Net Assets
$567,466,935
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings*
316
Portfolio Turnover Rate
4%
[11]
Holdings [Text Block]
image
 [12]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
[1]
† Annualized.
[2]
* Includes derivatives, if applicable.
[3]
Cash and Equivalents, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.
[4]
† Annualized.
[5]
* Includes derivatives, if applicable.
[6]
Cash and Equivalents, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.
[7]
† Annualized.
[8]
* Includes derivatives, if applicable.
[9]
Cash and Equivalents, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.
[10]
† Annualized.
[11]
* Includes derivatives, if applicable.
[12]
Cash and Equivalents, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.