Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 26, 2012
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	JANUS INVESTMENT FUND
Perkins Select Value Fund | Class A, C, S, I, N, T Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund summary Perkins Select Value Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	Perkins Select Value Fund seeks 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. Each share class has different expenses, but represents an investment in the same 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	November 1, 2013
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 period December 15, 2011 to June 30, 2012, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 80% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	80.00%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts	For Class A Shares, you may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund or in other Janus mutual funds. More information about these and other discounts, as well as eligibility requirements for each share class, is available from your financial professional and in the “Purchases” section on page 60 of the Fund’s Prospectus and in the “Purchases” section on page 83 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount	50,000
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	EXAMPLE:
Expense Example by Year [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearHeading	The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and reinvest all dividends and distributions. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses without waivers remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following Example is based on expenses without waivers. The Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption	If Shares are redeemed:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption	If Shares are not redeemed:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in common stocks selected for their capital appreciation potential. The Fund primarily invests in the common stocks of companies of any size whose stock prices the portfolio managers believe to be undervalued. The Fund may also invest in foreign equity and debt securities, which may include investments in emerging markets. In addition, when the portfolio managers believe that market conditions are unfavorable for investing, or when they are otherwise unable to locate attractive investment opportunities, the Fund’s cash or similar investments may increase. The Fund focuses on companies that have fallen out of favor with the market or that appear to be temporarily misunderstood by the investment community. The Fund’s portfolio managers generally look for companies with: strong balance sheets and solid recurring free cash flows attractive relative and absolute valuation ratios or that have underperformed recently favorable reward to risk characteristics The Fund may invest its assets in derivatives, which are instruments that have a value derived from or directly linked to an underlying asset, such as equity securities, bonds, commodities, currencies, interest rates, or market indices, as substitutes for securities in which the Fund invests. The Fund may invest in derivative instruments (by taking long and/or short positions) for different purposes, including hedging (to offset risks associated with an investment, currency exposure, or market conditions) and to earn income and enhance returns. For more information on the Fund’s use of derivatives, refer to the Fund’s shareholder reports and Form N-Q reports, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	The biggest risk is that the Fund’s returns will vary, and you could lose money. The Fund is designed for long-term investors seeking an equity portfolio, including common stocks. Common stocks tend to be more volatile than many other investment choices. Value Investing Risk. Because different types of stocks tend to shift in and out of favor depending on market and economic conditions, “value” stocks may perform differently than other types of stocks and from the market as a whole, and can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time. It is also possible that a value stock will never appreciate to the extent expected by the Fund’s portfolio managers. When the Fund’s investments in cash or similar investments increase due to a lack of favorable investment opportunities or other extraordinary factors, the Fund may not participate in market advances or declines to the same extent that it would if the Fund had been fully invested. Market Risk. The value of the Fund’s portfolio may decrease if the value of an individual company or security, or multiple companies or securities, in the portfolio decreases or if the portfolio managers’ belief about a company’s intrinsic worth is incorrect. Further, regardless of how well individual companies or securities perform, the value of the Fund’s portfolio could also decrease if there are deteriorating economic or market conditions. It is important to understand that the value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, in response to changes in the market, and you could lose money. Foreign Exposure Risk. The Fund may have exposure to foreign markets as a result of its investments in foreign securities, including investments in emerging markets, which can be more volatile than the U.S. markets. As a result, its returns and net asset value may be affected to a large degree by fluctuations in currency exchange rates or political or economic conditions in a particular country. In some foreign markets, there may not be protection against failure by other parties to complete transactions. It may not be possible for the Fund to repatriate capital, dividends, interest, and other income from a particular country or governmental entity. In addition, a market swing in one or more countries or regions where the Fund has invested a significant amount of its assets may have a greater effect on the Fund’s performance than it would in a more geographically diversified portfolio. The Fund’s investments in emerging market countries may involve risks greater than, or in addition to, the risks of investing in more developed countries. Real Estate Risk. The Fund may be affected by risks associated with investments in real estate-related securities. The value of securities of issuers in the real estate and real estate-related industries, including real estate investment trusts, is sensitive to changes in real estate values and rental income, property taxes, interest rates, tax and regulatory requirements, supply and demand, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. These factors may impact the Fund’s investments in foreign real estate markets differently than U.S. real estate markets. Derivatives Risk. Derivatives can be highly volatile and involve risks in addition to the risks of the underlying referenced securities. Gains or losses from a derivative can be substantially greater than the derivative’s original cost, and can therefore involve leverage. Derivatives can be less liquid than other types of investments and entail the risk that the counterparty will default on its payment obligations. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	The biggest risk is that the Fund’s returns will vary, and you could lose money.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund does not have a full calendar year of operations. Performance information for certain periods is included in the Fund’s first annual and/or semiannual report.
Performance One Year or Less [Text]	rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess	The Fund does not have a full calendar year of operations.
Perkins Select Value Fund | Class A, C, S, I, N, T Shares | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Shareholder Fees Column [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesColumnName	Class A
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	5.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or redemption proceeds)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Operating Expenses Column [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName	Class A
Management Fees (may adjust up or down)	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.70%
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.56%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.51%	[1]
Fee Waiver	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	0.24%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.27%	[1]
Expense Example, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearColumnName	Class A Shares
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	720
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	1,025
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,351
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,273
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearColumnName	Class A Shares
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	720
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	1,025
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,351
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,273
Perkins Select Value Fund | Class A, C, S, I, N, T Shares | Class C
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Shareholder Fees Column [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesColumnName	Class C
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or redemption proceeds)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	1.00%
Operating Expenses Column [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName	Class C
Management Fees (may adjust up or down)	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.70%
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.73%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	2.43%	[1]
Fee Waiver	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	0.41%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	2.02%	[1]
Expense Example, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearColumnName	Class C Shares
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	346
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	758
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,296
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,766
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearColumnName	Class C Shares
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	246
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	758
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,296
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,766
Perkins Select Value Fund | Class A, C, S, I, N, T Shares | Class S
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Shareholder Fees Column [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesColumnName	Class S
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or redemption proceeds)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Operating Expenses Column [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName	Class S
Management Fees (may adjust up or down)	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.70%
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.78%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.73%	[1]
Fee Waiver	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	0.21%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.52%	[1]
Expense Example, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearColumnName	Class S Shares
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	176
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	545
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	939
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,041
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearColumnName	Class S Shares
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	176
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	545
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	939
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,041
Perkins Select Value Fund | Class A, C, S, I, N, T Shares | Class I
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Shareholder Fees Column [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesColumnName	Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or redemption proceeds)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Operating Expenses Column [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName	Class I
Management Fees (may adjust up or down)	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.70%
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.56%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.26%	[1]
Fee Waiver	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	0.24%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.02%	[1]
Expense Example, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearColumnName	Class I Shares
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	128
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	400
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	692
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,523
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearColumnName	Class I Shares
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	128
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	400
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	692
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,523
Perkins Select Value Fund | Class A, C, S, I, N, T Shares | Class N
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Shareholder Fees Column [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesColumnName	Class N
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or redemption proceeds)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Operating Expenses Column [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName	Class N
Management Fees (may adjust up or down)	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.70%
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.56%	[2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.26%	[1]
Fee Waiver	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	0.24%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.02%	[1]
Expense Example, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearColumnName	Class N Shares
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	128
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	400
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	692
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,523
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearColumnName	Class N Shares
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	128
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	400
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	692
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,523
Perkins Select Value Fund | Class A, C, S, I, N, T Shares | Class T
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Shareholder Fees Column [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesColumnName	Class T
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or redemption proceeds)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Operating Expenses Column [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName	Class T
Management Fees (may adjust up or down)	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.70%
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.74%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.44%	[1]
Fee Waiver	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	0.17%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.27%	[1]
Expense Example, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearColumnName	Class T Shares
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	147
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	456
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	787
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,724
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearColumnName	Class T Shares
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	147
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	456
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	787
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,724

[1] Janus Capital has contractually agreed to waive the Fund's total annual fund operating expenses (excluding any performance adjustments to management fees, the distribution and shareholder servicing fees - applicable to Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class S Shares; administrative services fees payable pursuant to the Transfer Agency Agreement (except for networking and omnibus fees for Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares); brokerage commissions; interest; dividends; taxes; acquired fund fees and expenses; and extraordinary expenses) to 1.00% until at least November 1, 2013. The contractual waiver may be terminated or modified prior to this date only at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.

[2] Other Expenses for Class N Shares are based on the estimated expenses that the Shares expect to incur during their initial fiscal period.