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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Alger Health Sciences Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

Alger Health Sciences Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading FUND 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. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in Class A Shares of the Alger Family of Funds, including the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in "Purchasing and Redeeming Fund Shares" beginning on page A-2 of the Fund's Prospectus and the sections "Right of Accumulation (Class A Shares)" and "Letter of Intent (Class A Shares)" on page 26 of the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.

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 examples, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 110.37% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 110.37%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading EXAMPLE
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions you would pay the following expenses if you redeemed your shares at the end of each period:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Fred Alger Management, Inc. believes companies undergoing Positive Dynamic Change offer the best investment opportunities. Positive Dynamic Change refers to companies realizing High Unit Volume Growth or companies undergoing Positive Lifecycle Change. High Unit Volume Growth companies are traditional growth companies experiencing, for example, significantly growing demand or market dominance. Positive Lifecycle Change companies are, for example, companies benefitting from regulatory change, a new product introduction or management change.


Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of companies of any market capitalization that are engaged in the health sciences sector. A company will be considered to be engaged in the health sciences sector if it derives at least 50% of its earnings or revenues from, or devotes at least 50% of its assets to, activities in any area of the health sciences sector, including health care services, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and supplies and applied research and development. Such companies include, but are not limited to:


•  hospitals, clinical test laboratories, convalescent and mental health care facilities, home care providers, and companies that supply services to any of the foregoing;


•  companies involved in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, biochemistry and diagnostics; and


•  producers and manufacturers of medical, dental and optical supplies and equipment.


The Fund can leverage, that is, borrow money to buy additional securities. By borrowing money, the Fund has the potential to increase its returns if the increase in the value of the securities purchased exceeds the cost of borrowing, including interest paid on the money borrowed.


The Fund can also invest in derivative instruments. The Fund currently expects that its primary uses of derivatives will involve: (1) purchasing put and call options and selling (writing) covered put and call options, on securities and securities indexes, to increase gain, to hedge against the risk of unfavorable price movements in the underlying securities, or to provide diversification of risk, and (2) entering into forward currency contracts to hedge the Fund's foreign currency exposure when it holds, or proposes to hold, non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.

Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading PRINCIPAL RISKS
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

As with any fund that invests in stocks, your investment will fluctuate in value, and the loss of your investment is a risk of investing. The Fund's price per share will fluctuate due to changes in the market prices of its investments. Also, the Fund's investments may not grow as fast as the rate of inflation and stocks tend to be more volatile than some other investments you could make, such as bonds.


Prices of growth stocks tend to be higher in relation to their companies' earnings and may be more sensitive to market, political and economic developments than other stocks, making their prices more volatile. An investment in the Fund may be better suited to investors who seek long-term capital growth and can tolerate fluctuations in their investment's value.


A small investment in derivatives could have a potentially large impact on the Fund's performance. When purchasing options, the Fund bears the risk that if the market value of the underlying security does not move to a level that would make exercise of the option profitable, the option will expire unexercised. When a call option written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund will not participate in any increase in the underlying security's value above the exercise price. When a put option written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund will be required to purchase the underlying security at a price in excess of its market value. Use of options on securities indexes is subject to the risk that trading in the options may be interrupted if trading in certain securities included in the index is interrupted, the risk that price movements in the Fund's portfolio securities may not correlate precisely with movements in the level of an index, and the risk that Fred Alger Management, Inc. may not predict correctly movements in the direction of a particular market or of the stock market generally. Because certain options may require settlement in cash, the Fund may be forced to liquidate portfolio securities to meet settlement obligations. Forward currency contracts are subject to currency exchange rate risks and the risk of non-performance by the contract counterparty.


The following risks also apply:


•  investing in companies of all capitalizations involves the risk that smaller issuers in which the Fund invests may have limited product lines or financial resources, or lack management depth.


•  it may be difficult or impossible to liquidate a security position at a time and price acceptable to the Fund because of the potentially less frequent trading of stocks of smaller market capitalization.


•  the cost of borrowing money to leverage may exceed the returns for the securities purchased or the securities purchased may actually go down in value; thus, the Fund's net asset value could decrease more quickly than if it had not borrowed.


•  since the Fund concentrates its investments in the health sciences sector, the value of the Fund's shares may be more volatile than mutual funds that do not similarly concentrate their investments. Furthermore, because many of the industries in the health sciences sector are subject to substantial government regulation, changes in applicable regulations could adversely affect companies in those industries. In addition, the comparative rapidity of product development and technological advancement in many areas of the sector may be reflected in greater volatility of the stocks of companies operating in those areas.


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.

Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney As with any fund that invests in stocks, your investment will fluctuate in value, and the loss of your investment is a risk of investing.
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
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and the table beneath it 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 for the indicated periods compare with those of an appropriate benchmark of market performance. Performance in the bar chart does not reflect the effect of the sales charge imposed on purchases of Class A Shares of the Fund. If the bar chart reflected the applicable sales charges, returns would be less than those shown. Remember that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on the Fund's website www.alger.com.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and the table beneath it 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 for the indicated periods compare with those of an appropriate benchmark of market performance.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.alger.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Remember that 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 ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR CLASS A SHARES as of December 31 (%)
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads Performance in the bar chart does not reflect the effect of the sales charge imposed on purchases of Class A Shares of the Fund. If the bar chart reflected the applicable sales charges, returns would be less than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Best Quarter:


Q2 2003 16.75%


Worst Quarter:


Q4 2008 -16.20%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2003
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 16.75%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (16.20%)
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 In the foregoing table, 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 The after-tax returns shown may not be relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns for Class B and C Shares, which are not shown, will vary from those shown for Class A Shares.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher A "return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares" may sometimes be higher than the other two return figures; this happens where there is a capital loss on redemptions, giving rise to a tax benefit to the shareholder.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

In the foregoing table, 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. The after-tax returns shown may not be relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class B and C Shares, which are not shown, will vary from those shown for Class A Shares. A "return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares" may sometimes be higher than the other two return figures; this happens where there is a capital loss on redemptions, giving rise to a tax benefit to the shareholder.

Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2012
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 16.00%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.66%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.10%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 4.67%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 01, 2002
Alger Health Sciences Fund Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a % of offering price rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.25%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [1]
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.81%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.31%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.37%
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock Purchases of $1 million of Class A Shares at net asset value may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% on redemptions made within 12 months of purchase.
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 $25,000 in Class A Shares of the Alger Family of Funds, including the Fund.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount 25,000
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 657
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 936
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,236
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,085
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 657
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 936
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,236
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,085
Annual Return 2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 41.34%
Annual Return 2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 18.10%
Annual Return 2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 18.24%
Annual Return 2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 9.26%
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 16.09%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (26.16%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 27.38%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 2.99%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 10.60%
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 11.38%
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.52%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.48%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 10.96%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.36%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 01, 2002
Alger Health Sciences Fund Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.62%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.11%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 10.12%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.57%
Alger Health Sciences Fund Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.78%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.09%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 9.41%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.98%
Alger Health Sciences Fund Class B
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a % of offering price rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 5.00%
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.81%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.16%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 719
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 976
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,359
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,292
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 219
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 676
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,159
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,292
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.61%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.38%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 10.88%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.27%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 01, 2002
Alger Health Sciences Fund Class C
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a % of offering price rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00%
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.81%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.33%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.14%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 317
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 670
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,149
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,472
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 217
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 670
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,149
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,472
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 9.55%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.79%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 10.72%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.08%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 01, 2002
[1] Purchases of $1 million of Class A Shares at net asset value may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% on redemptions made within 12 months of purchase.