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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Dec. 31, 2011
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName ELFUN TRUSTS
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000032339
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Apr. 27, 2012
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Apr. 30, 2012
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Apr. 30, 2012
ELFUN TRUSTS
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading

Elfun Trusts

Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objectives
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Long-term growth of capital and future income rather than current income.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund
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.
Shareholder Fees: rr_ShareholderFeesAbstract  
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):
Operating Expenses: rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
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 the Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 16.00%
Expense Example: rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Expense Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The example below 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 redeemed all of your units at the end of those periods or continued to hold them. 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 on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing in equity securities of U.S. companies, such as common and preferred stocks. A U.S. company is a company that generates at least 50% of its revenues or profits from business activities in the U.S., has at least 50% of its assets situated in the U.S., or has the principal trading market for its securities in the U.S.

The portfolio manager selects equity securities from a number of industries based on the merits of individual companies. In seeking to satisfy the Fund’s investment objective with respect to future income, the portfolio manager will also consider companies that have the potential to pay dividends in the future. Stock selection is key to the performance of the Fund.

The portfolio manager seeks to identify securities of issuers with characteristics such as:

•  above-average annual growth rates

•  financial strength (favorable debt ratios and other financial characteristics)

•  leadership in their respective industries

•  high quality management focused on generating shareholder value

The portfolio manager may consider selling a security when one of these characteristics no longer applies, or when valuation becomes excessive and more attractive alternatives are identified.

The Fund also may invest to a lesser extent in securities of foreign (non-U.S.) issuers and debt securities. The portfolio manager may also invest in various types of derivatives to gain exposure to certain types of securities as an alternative to investing directly in such securities.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:

Securities Market Risk is the risk that the value of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to factors affecting particular companies or the securities markets generally. A general downturn in the securities market may cause multiple asset classes to decline in value simultaneously, although equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed income securities. Negative conditions and price declines may occur unexpectedly and dramatically. In addition, the Fund could be forced to sell portfolio securities at an inopportune time in order to meet unusually large or frequent redemption requests in times of overall market turmoil or declining prices for the securities.

Growth Investing Risk is the risk of investing in growth stocks that may be more volatile than other stocks because they are more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. Growth-oriented funds will typically underperform when value investing is in favor.

Foreign Investment Risk is the risk that investing in securities of foreign (non-U.S.) issuers may result in the Fund experiencing more rapid and extreme changes in value than a fund that invests exclusively in securities of U.S. companies, due to smaller markets, differing reporting, accounting and auditing standards, nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, currency blockages and political changes or diplomatic developments. The costs of investing in many foreign markets are higher than the U.S. and investments may be less liquid.

Currency Risk is the risk that the dollar value of foreign investments will change in response to changes in currency exchange rates. If a foreign currency weakens against the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of an investment denominated in that currency would also decline.

Credit Risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security, or the counterparty of a derivatives contract or repurchase agreement, is unable or unwilling (or is perceived to be unable or unwilling) to make timely payment of principal and/or interest, or to otherwise honor its obligations.

Interest Rate Risk is the risk that fixed income securities will decline in value because of changes in interest rates. A fund with a longer average portfolio duration will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than a fund with a shorter average portfolio duration.

Derivatives Risk is a combination of several risks, including the risks that: (1) an investment in a derivative instrument will not correlate well with the performance of the securities or asset class to which the Fund seeks exposure, (2) a derivative instrument entailing leverage may result in a loss greater than the principal amount invested, and (3) derivatives not traded on an exchange may be subject to credit risk, as well as liquidity risk and the related risk that the instrument is difficult or impossible to value accurately. The methodology the Fund uses to establish the fair value of a derivative may result in a value materially different from the value obtained using an alternative methodology.

It is possible to lose money on an investment in the Fund, and this risk of loss may be heightened if you hold shares of the Fund for a shorter period. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney It is possible to lose money on an investment in the Fund, and this risk of loss may be heightened if you hold shares of the Fund for a shorter period.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The bar chart and the Average Annual Total Returns 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 returns compare with the returns of a broad-based securities market index. Past performance assumes the reinvestment of all dividend income and capital gains distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. For updated performance information, please visit the Fund’s website at www.geam.com or call 1-800-242-0134.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and the Average Annual Total Returns 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 returns compare with the returns of a broad-based securities market index.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 1-800-242-0134
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.geam.com
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 the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart Table: rr_BarChartTableAbstract  
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Calendar Year Total Returns (%)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this time period were:

Highest     17.68%      (quarter ended June 30, 2009)

Lowest      -25.24%    (quarter ended December 31, 2008)
Average Annual Return: rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading
Average Annual Total Returns (%)
(for the periods ended December 31, 2011)
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 units through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock 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 units through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
ELFUN TRUSTS | Elfun Trusts
  
Shareholder Fees: rr_ShareholderFeesAbstract  
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) rr_ShareholderFeeOther none
Operating Expenses: rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Management Expenses rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.17%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.04%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.21%
Expense Example: rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 22
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 68
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 118
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 268
Bar Chart Table: rr_BarChartTableAbstract  
2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 (19.91%)
2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 22.95%
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 7.94%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 0.80%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 13.10%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 5.05%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (34.53%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 33.62%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 13.07%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 1.33%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 17.68%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (25.24%)
Average Annual Return: rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.33%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.03%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.47%
ELFUN TRUSTS | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Elfun Trusts
  
Average Annual Return: rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.76%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.16%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.43%
ELFUN TRUSTS | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Units | Elfun Trusts
  
Average Annual Return: rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.12%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.81%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.95%
ELFUN TRUSTS | S&P 500 Index (does not reflect fees, expenses or taxes)
  
Average Annual Return: rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.11%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.25%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.92%