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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Feb. 28, 2013
DFA International Value Ex Tobacco Portfolio
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The investment objective of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio is long-term capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio.
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 February 28, 2014
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its investment portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 16.00%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio 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 Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Portfolio reflect the net expenses of the Portfolio that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. 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 Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the "Advisor") believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. In general, the Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases securities of large non-U.S. companies in countries with developed markets that the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of purchase, while excluding securities of companies based on the Portfolio's social issue screen to exclude tobacco companies. The Portfolio defines tobacco companies as companies that derive more than 10% of their total business revenue, or more than 10% of total sales, from the production and/or manufacturing of tobacco and/or tobacco related products. A company's market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a large company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights and even exclude companies after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management, and expected profitability, as well as other factors that the Advisor determines to be appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company's shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a "book to market ratio"). In assessing expected profitability, the Advisor may consider different ratios, such as that of earnings or profits from operations relative to book value or assets.

 The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio intends to purchase securities of large companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. The Advisor determines the minimum market capitalization of a large company with respect to each country or region in which the Portfolio invests. As of December 31, 2012, for the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio invests was $1,378 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions.

 The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio may gain exposure to companies associated with Approved Markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer's domicile country. The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, though they may incorporate, the Portfolio's social criteria.

 The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio seeks to purchase securities that are consistent with the Portfolio's social issue screen, which is monitored by an independent third party. The Portfolio seeks to exclude from its investment portfolio those companies that are identified by the Portfolio's social issue screen, which is designed to identify companies that derive more than 10% of their total business revenue, or more than 10% of total sales, from the production and/or manufacturing of tobacco and/or tobacco related products. The Portfolio may add or remove other social issue screens at any time, without prior shareholder approval or notice.
Strategy Portfolio Concentration [Text] rr_StrategyPortfolioConcentration The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio seeks to purchase securities that are consistent with the Portfolio's social issue screen, which is monitored by an independent third party. The Portfolio seeks to exclude from its investment portfolio those companies that are identified by the Portfolio's social issue screen, which is designed to identify companies that derive more than 10% of their total business revenue, or more than 10% of total sales, from the production and/or manufacturing of tobacco and/or tobacco related products.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading PRINCIPAL RISKS
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities may also be exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar or that a foreign government will convert, or be forced to convert, its currency to another currency, changing its value against the U.S. dollar). The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

Social Investment Risk: The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio's social issue screen may limit the number of investment opportunities available to the Portfolio, and as a result, at times the Portfolio may produce different returns than funds that are not subject to such special investment conditions. For example, the Portfolio may decline to purchase certain securities when it is otherwise advantageous to do so, or the Portfolio may sell certain securities for social reasons when it is otherwise disadvantageous to do so.

Derivatives Risk: Derivatives are instruments, such as futures and foreign exchange forward contracts, whose value is derived from that of other assets, rates or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

Securities Lending Risk: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain adverse tax consequences.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading PERFORMANCE
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio 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 in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s performance from year to year.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.dimensional.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio
Total Returns (%)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock January 2009-December 2012

Highest Quarter    Lowest Quarter
33.89 (4/09-6/09)    -22.31 (7/11-9/11)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Periods ending December 31, 2012
Annualized Returns (%)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate The after-tax returns presented in the table for the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio 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 In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.
DFA International Value Ex Tobacco Portfolio | DFA International Value Ex Tobacco Portfolio Shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) rr_ShareholderFeeOther none
Management Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.45%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.17%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.62%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery) rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.02% [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.60%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 61
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 197
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 344
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 772
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 36.13%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 10.77%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (16.74%)
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 15.91%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Highest Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 33.89%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Lowest Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (22.31%)
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 15.91%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (1.32%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jun. 30, 2008
DFA International Value Ex Tobacco Portfolio | Return After Taxes on Distributions | DFA International Value Ex Tobacco Portfolio Shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 15.31%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (1.78%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jun. 30, 2008
DFA International Value Ex Tobacco Portfolio | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares | DFA International Value Ex Tobacco Portfolio Shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 10.92%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (1.20%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jun. 30, 2008
DFA International Value Ex Tobacco Portfolio | MSCI World ex USA Index (net dividends) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 16.41%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (1.58%)
[1] The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2014, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.