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Label Element Value
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Dec. 31, 2019
Entity Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName FORUM FUNDS
Entity Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000315774
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Entity Inv Company Type dei_EntityInvCompanyType N-1A
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Apr. 24, 2020
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate May 01, 2020
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate May 01, 2020
The BeeHive Fund  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading The BeeHive Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The objective of The BeeHive Fund (the "Fund") is capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
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)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination April 30, 2021
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 10% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 10.00%
Expenses Not Correlated to Ratio Due to Acquired Fund Fees [Text] rr_ExpensesNotCorrelatedToRatioDueToAcquiredFundFees Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets given in the financial highlights, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses ("AFFE").
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, except that it reflects the Expense Cap through the time periods described above. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, whether you do or do not redeem your shares at the end of each period described below, your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal market conditions, the Fund primarily invests in equity securities of domestic companies with large and mid-sized market capitalizations. The Advisor defines (1) companies with large market capitalizations as those companies with market capitalizations of more than $80 billion and (2) companies with mid-sized market capitalizations as those companies with market capitalizations of at least $9 billion but not more than $80 billion. Equity securities include common and preferred stock, warrants, convertible securities and sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). The Fund may also invest in foreign securities and equity securities of domestic companies with small market capitalizations (defined by the Advisor as those companies with market capitalizations of less than $9 billion). In addition, the Fund may invest in domestic fixed-income securities, including high-yield securities (or "junk bonds").

 

The Advisor seeks to generate superior long-term capital appreciation through a focused portfolio of companies that the Advisor believes to have dynamic businesses with leading and defensible market positions. The management philosophy of the Advisor emphasizes specific security selection rather than asset allocation. The Advisor looks for investments that it believes to offer favorable asymmetric expected-return profiles over the coming three-year period and to possess catalysts to unlock value.

 

The Advisor conducts proprietary fundamental research to develop an understanding of a business and its position within its industry. In this process, the Advisor analyzes company filings and communicates with company management and industry analysts. The Advisor creates financial models that consider multiple scenarios, including a reasonable worst-case scenario. Fund holdings are continuously monitored to seek to ensure that the initial rationale for investment remains. If it is determined that the initial reason for investment is no longer valid, the Advisor may sell the holding. A Fund holding may also be sold if the valuation exceeds a target, if valuation appears inconsistent with industry comparables or if other investments with higher expected returns become available.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Investment Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund's net asset value ("NAV") and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, and the Fund could underperform other investments. There is no guarantee that the Fund will meet its investment objective. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

It is important that you closely review and understand the risks of investing in the Fund prior to making an investment in the Fund.

 

Focused Portfolio Risk. Because the Fund may make significant investments in the securities of certain issuers, industries and sectors, changes in the values of such securities will disproportionately impact the Fund's returns and may cause the value of the Fund shares to be volatile.

 

Market Events Risk. Geopolitical events, including pandemics (such as COVID-19), may destabilize various countries' economies and markets, which may experience increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Policy changes by the Federal Reserve and/or other government actors could similarly cause increased volatility in financial markets. Trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those in the U.S.) may also result in market turbulence. Market volatility and reductions in market liquidity may negatively affect issuers worldwide, including issuers in which the Fund invests. Under such circumstances, the Fund may have difficulty liquidating portfolio holdings, particularly at favorable prices. To the extent that the Fund experiences higher levels of redemptions, the Fund may be required to transact in contemporaneous markets, even if they are volatile and/or illiquid, which may negatively impact the Fund's net asset value.

 

Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance will reflect the Advisor's ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the Fund's investment objective.

 

Large Capitalization Company Risk. The Fund's investments in large capitalization companies may underperform other segments of the market because they may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.

 

Financials Sector Risk. Performance of companies in the financials sector may be adversely impacted by many factors, including, among others, government regulations, economic conditions, credit rating downgrades, changes in interest rates, and decreased liquidity in credit markets. The impact of more stringent capital requirements, recent or future regulation of any individual financial company, or recent or future regulation of the financials sector as a whole cannot be predicted.

 

Industrials Sector Risk. The value of securities issued by companies in the industrials sector may be adversely affected by supply and demand related to their specific products or services and industrials sector products in general. The products of manufacturing companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Government regulations, world events, economic conditions and exchange rates may adversely affect the performance of companies in the industrials sector. Companies in the industrials sector may be adversely affected by liability for environmental damage and product liability claims. Companies in the industrials sector, particularly aerospace and defense companies, may also be adversely affected by government spending policies because companies involved in this sector rely to a significant extent on government demand for their products and services.

 

Foreign Investments Risk. The value of foreign investments may be affected by risks in addition to those affecting domestic investments, including the imposition of new, amended, or limited government regulations, changes in diplomatic relations between the U.S. and another country, political and economic instability, less favorable economic conditions, the imposition or tightening of exchange controls, trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those in the U.S.), or other limitations on repatriation of foreign capital or nationalization and/or increased taxation or confiscation of investors' assets. Investments in securities of foreign issuers are subject to fluctuations in the value of the issuer's local currency relative to the U.S dollar and may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes.

 

Equity Risk. The Fund's investments in equity securities may include common and preferred stock, warrants, convertible securities and sponsored and unsponsored ADRs. Common stock generally is subordinate to preferred stock and debt securities upon the liquidation or bankruptcy of the issuing company. Preferred stocks and convertible securities are sensitive to movements in interest rates. The Fund's equity holdings may decline in value because of changes in price of a particular holding or a broad stock market decline. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuer of a security.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a class of a capital stock that typically pays dividends at a specified rate. Preferred stock is generally senior to common stock, but subordinate to debt securities, with respect to the payment of dividends and on liquidation of the issuer. The market value of preferred stock generally decreases when interest rates rise and is also affected by the issuer's ability to make payments on the preferred stock.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. Investments in convertible securities entail some of the risks of both equity and debt securities. The value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates rise and, because of the conversion feature, tends to vary with the fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities or any changes in the issuer's credit rating. Convertible securities are subject to the risk that the credit rating of the issuer may have an effect on the value of the convertible securities.

 

ADR Risk. The Fund may invest in ADRs. ADR risks include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in foreign currencies and foreign investment risks, such as political and financial instability, less liquidity, lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and increased price volatility. In addition, ADRs may not track the price of the underlying foreign securities, and their value may change materially at times when U.S. markets are not open for trading. Unsponsored ADRs may involve additional risks, and their prices may be more volatile than the prices of sponsored ADRs.

 

Warrants Risk. Warrants can provide a greater potential for loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. The price of a warrant does not necessarily move in tandem with the price of the underlying security, and therefore, a warrant may be highly volatile and speculative. If a warrant held by the

Fund were not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Fund would lose the entire purchase price of the warrant.

 

Small and Mid-Sized Capitalization Company Risk. Investments in small and mid-sized capitalization companies may be less liquid, and the prices of such securities may fluctuate more than those of larger, more established companies. These factors could adversely affect the Fund's ability to sell such securities at a desirable time and price.

 

Fixed-Income Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in fixed-income (debt) securities, which are generally subject to the following risks:

 

Credit Risk. The financial condition of an issuer of a fixed-income security may cause the issuer to default. A decline in an issuer's credit rating may cause a decrease in the value of the security and an increase in investment risk and price volatility.

 

Interest Rate Risk. An increase in interest rates typically causes a decrease in the value of fixed-income securities in which the Fund may invest. Given that interest rates are near historic lows, risks associated with rising rates may be heightened.

 

High-Yield Securities Risk. Investments in "high yield securities" or "junk bonds" are inherently speculative and have a greater risk of default than investments in investment grade fixed-income securities. If an issuer defaults, a below-investment grade security could lose all of its value, be renegotiated at a lower interest rate or principal amount or become illiquid. Below-investment grade securities may be less liquid and more volatile than investment grade fixed-income securities and may be more difficult to value or sell.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, and the Fund could underperform other investments.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank 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 bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the performance of the Fund from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Updated performance information is available by calling (866) 684-4915 (toll free).

 

Performance information (before and after taxes) represents only past performance and does not necessarily indicate future results.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the performance of the Fund from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone (866) 684-4915
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Performance information (before and after taxes) represents only past performance and does not necessarily indicate future results.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Returns as of December 31
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the period shown, the highest return for a quarter was 17.02% for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, and the lowest return was -18.74% for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns (For the periods ended December 31, 2019)
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
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 After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher The return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit from any losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the measurement period.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

S&P 500® Index is a broad-based, unmanaged measure of changes in stock market conditions based on the average performance of stocks of 500 large U.S. companies.

 

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-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

The return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit from any losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the measurement period.
The BeeHive Fund | The BeeHive Fund Shares  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol BEEHX
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of the offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the offering price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and Distributions (as a percentage of the offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther none
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none [1]
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.23%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.99% [2]
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets none [3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.99%
One Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 101
Three Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 315
Five Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 547
Ten Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,213
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 16.90%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (5.10%)
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 11.46%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 35.13%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 7.87%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (1.42%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 6.11%
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 11.07%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (10.98%)
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 36.28%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel highest return for a quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2019
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 17.02%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (18.74%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 36.28%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.10%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 9.77%
The BeeHive Fund | After Taxes on Distributions | The BeeHive Fund Shares  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 34.72%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.31%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.91%
The BeeHive Fund | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales | The BeeHive Fund Shares  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 22.56%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.47%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.90%
The BeeHive Fund | S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 31.49%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 11.70%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 13.56%
[1] The Trust has adopted a Rule 12b-1 plan under which the Fund is authorized to pay an aggregate fee of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund as compensation for distribution-related and/or shareholder services. The Trust's Board of Trustees (the "Board") has not approved the payment of any fees by the Fund under the Rule 12b-1 plan. Accordingly, no such fees are currently charged to the Fund. Fees pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 plan may only be imposed upon a Board determination that such fees are in the best interest of the shareholders. There are no current plans to impose 12b-1 fees.
[2] Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets given in the financial highlights, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses ("AFFE").
[3] Spears Abacus Advisors LLC (the "Advisor") has contractually agreed to waive its fee and/or reimburse Fund expenses to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (excluding taxes, interest, portfolio transaction expenses and extraordinary expenses) to 0.99% through April 30, 2021 ("Expense Cap"). The Expense Cap may only be raised or eliminated with the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Advisor may be reimbursed by the Fund for fees waived and expenses reimbursed by the Advisor pursuant to the Expense Cap if such payment is made within three years of the fee waiver or expense reimbursement and does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement of the Fund (after giving effect to the recouped amount) to exceed the lesser of (i) the then-current expense cap, and (ii) the expense cap in place at the time the fees/expenses were waived/reimbursed.