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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName GREAT-WEST FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Apr. 30, 2018
Great-West Lifetime 2050 Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Great-West Lifetime 2050 Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The Fund seeks capital appreciation and income consistent with its current asset allocation.
Objective, Secondary [Text Block] rr_ObjectiveSecondaryTextBlock After 2050, the Fund seeks income and secondarily, capital growth.
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. This table does not reflect the fees and expenses of any Permitted Account. If the fees and expenses imposed by a Permitted Account were reflected, the fees and expenses shown below would be higher.
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, 2019
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. 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 turnover rate was 35% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 35.00%
Expenses Not Correlated to Ratio Due to Acquired Fund Fees [Text] rr_ExpensesNotCorrelatedToRatioDueToAcquiredFundFees The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses may not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets provided in the Fund's Financial Highlights, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund (Underlying Fund) Fees and Expenses.
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 does not reflect the fees and expenses of any Permitted Account. If the fees and expenses of any Permitted Account were reflected, the fees and expenses in the Example would be higher.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and applies whether you hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of each period. The Example also assumes that any expense reimbursement is in place for the first year, that your investment has a 5% return each year, that all dividends and capital gains are reinvested, and that the Fund’s operating expenses are the amount shown in the fee table and remain the same for the years shown. 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 following is a summary of the principal investment strategies of the Fund:

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a professionally selected mix of Underlying Funds that is tailored for investors planning to retire in (or otherwise begin using the invested funds on), or close to, 2050 (which is assumed to be at age 65). The Fund is designed for investors who plan to withdraw the value of their account in the Fund gradually after retirement. Depending on its risk profile and proximity to 2050, the Fund employs a combination of investments among Underlying Funds in order to emphasize, as appropriate, growth, income and/or preservation of capital. The Fund currently expects (as of the date of this Prospectus) to invest 80-98% of its net assets in Underlying Funds that invest primarily in equity securities and 2-20% of its net assets in Underlying Funds that invest primarily in fixed income securities. The Fund may also invest in the GWL&A Contract. Over time, the Fund’s asset allocation strategy will generally become more conservative, with greater emphasis on investments that provide for income and preservation of capital, and less on those offering the potential for growth.

GWCM uses asset allocation strategies to allocate assets among different broad asset classes and the Underlying Funds. Each Underlying Fund has its own investment objectives and strategies and may hold a wide range of securities and other instruments in its portfolio, including, without limitation, U.S. and foreign equity securities (including those from emerging markets), U.S. and foreign fixed income securities (including those rated below investment grade), real estate instruments, short-term investments, and derivatives. The following table shows the Fund’s target allocation for the various asset classes and the Underlying Funds in which the Fund expects to invest as of the date of this Prospectus:
Large Cap 29.93%
Great-West Large Cap Growth Fund Institutional  
Great-West T. Rowe Price Equity Income Fund Institutional  
Great-West Putnam Equity Income Fund Institutional  
Great-West S&P 500® Index Fund Institutional  
Mid Cap 12.85%
Great-West T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Fund Institutional  
Great-West Ariel Mid Cap Value Fund Institutional  
Great-West Mid Cap Value Fund Institutional  
Great-West S&P Mid Cap 400® Index Fund Institutional  
Small Cap 10.98%
Invesco Small Cap Discovery Fund R6  
Janus Triton Fund N  
Great-West Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund Institutional  
AllianzGI NFJ Small-Cap Value Fund R6  
Great-West S&P Small Cap 600® Index Fund Institutional  
International 24.62%
Invesco International Growth Fund R6  
Great-West International Growth Fund Institutional  
Great-West International Value Fund Institutional  
Great-West International Index Fund Institutional  
Emerging Markets 10.36%
Northern Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund  
Great-West Emerging Markets Equity Fund Institutional  
Bond 7.27%
Great-West Templeton Global Bond Fund Institutional  
Oppenheimer International Bond I  
Great-West Putnam High Yield Bond Fund Institutional  
Great-West Inflation-Protected Securities Fund Institutional  
Great-West Loomis Sayles Bond Fund Institutional  
Great-West Core Bond Fund Institutional  
Great-West Bond Index Fund Institutional  
Real Estate 3.80%
Great-West Real Estate Index Fund Institutional  
American Century Real Estate Fund R6  
DFA International Real Estate Securities Fund I  
Invesco Global Real Estate Fund R6  
Short-Term Bond/Cash 0.19%
Great-West Short Duration Bond Fund Institutional  
GWL&A Contract  

The Fund will rebalance its holdings of the Underlying Funds on a periodic basis to maintain the appropriate asset allocation. GWCM reviews asset class allocations, Underlying Fund allocations, and the Underlying Funds themselves on a quarterly basis, or more frequently as deemed necessary. GWCM may add or delete asset classes, and add or delete Underlying Funds at any time and without shareholder notice or approval.

The following chart illustrates the Fund’s target asset allocations among U.S. equity, foreign equity, real estate, and fixed income asset classes as of the date of this Prospectus. The chart represents the asset allocation path (the “glide path”) that the Fund follows to become more conservative over time. The glide path reflects the declining percentage of equities in the Fund as it approaches and passes the target date. The glide path provides for more exposure to equities for investors further from retirement and more exposure to fixed income securities for investors near and through retirement. The glide paths continue to adjust the Fund’s equity exposure downward after the target date is reached.

The illustration reflects the Fund’s neutral allocations (without any tactical adjustments by GWCM). The Fund’s actual asset allocation may differ from this illustration to reflect GWCM’s tactical adjustments to the asset mix based on market outlook or other factors. GWCM periodically reviews the asset allocations and may change target asset allocations or deviate from the target asset allocations at any time without shareholder notice or approval.
chart
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Investment Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock The following is a summary of the principal investment risks of investing in the Fund:

Fund-of-Funds Structure Risk
  • Since the Fund invests directly in the Underlying Funds, all risks associated with the eligible Underlying Funds apply to the Fund. To the extent the Fund invests more of its assets in one Underlying Fund than another, the Fund will have greater exposure to the risks of that Underlying Fund.
  • Since the Fund invests in Underlying Funds, you will bear your proportionate share of expenses of the Fund and indirectly of the Underlying Funds, resulting in an additional layer of expenses.
  • The Fund is classified as non-diversified under the 1940 Act, which means a relatively high percentage of its assets may be invested in securities of a limited number of Underlying Funds. As a result, the Fund’s securities may be more susceptible to any single economic, political or regulatory event than that experienced by a similarly structured diversified fund.
Single Issuer Risk - The GWL&A Contract in which the Fund invests has a stable principal value and pays a fixed rate of interest to the Fund. Both the principal and a minimum rate of interest are guaranteed by GWL&A. However, if GWL&A becomes unable to meet this guarantee, the Fund may lose money from unpaid principal or unpaid or reduced interest.

Target Date Fund Risk - Investments in target date funds are subject to the risks of their Underlying Funds. The year in the Fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the Fund is planning to retire (or otherwise begin using the invested funds). The Fund’s asset allocation is adjusted to become more conservative based on its target date. If an investor chooses to retire significantly earlier or later than the target date, a different asset allocation may be more appropriate. An investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Investors should periodically monitor the portfolio to ensure it is in line with their current situation.

The following are risks associated with Underlying Fund investments that may indirectly result in a loss of your investment in a Fund. There can be no assurance that an Underlying Fund will achieve its investment objective.

Currency Exchange Rate Risk - Adverse fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar and other currencies may cause an Underlying Fund to lose money on investments denominated in foreign currencies. Currency risk is especially high in emerging markets.

Derivatives Risk - Underlying Funds may invest in derivative instruments such as futures, swaps, and structured securities. Using derivatives can disproportionately increase losses and reduce opportunities for gains when stock prices, currency rates or interest rates are changing. An Underlying Fund may not fully benefit from or may lose money on derivatives if changes in their value do not correspond accurately to changes in the value of the Underlying Fund’s holdings. The other parties to certain derivative contracts present the same types of credit risk as issuers of fixed income securities. Derivatives can also make a fund less liquid and harder to value, especially in declining markets. There can be no assurance that an Underlying Fund’s use of derivative contracts will work as intended.

Developing and Emerging Markets Risk - Stocks of companies located in emerging markets may be substantially more volatile, and substantially less liquid, than the stocks of companies located in more developed foreign markets. Emerging market countries may experience higher inflation, interest rates and unemployment, greater social, economic, regulatory and political uncertainties, and greater volatility in currency exchange rates than more developed countries.

Equity Securities Risk - The value of the stocks and other securities owned by the Underlying Funds will fluctuate depending on the performance of the companies that issued them, general market and economic conditions, and investor confidence.

Fixed Income Securities Risk – Investments in fixed income securities will be subject to interest rate risk (the chance that bond prices will decline because of rising interest rates), income risk (the chance that the Underlying Fund's income will decline because of falling interest rates), credit risk (the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that market perception of the issuer will cause the price of a bond to decline), and call/prepayment risk (the chance that bond issuers will redeem bonds prior to their maturity dates). Fixed income securities rated below investment grade (junk bonds) are highly speculative securities that are usually issued by smaller, less creditworthy, and/or highly leveraged (indebted) companies and their issuers are less likely to make payments of interest and repay principal.

Foreign Securities Risk - Foreign markets can be more volatile than the U.S. market due to increased risks of adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, currency valuation or economic developments.

Geographic Concentration Risk - Geographic concentration risk is the risk that economic, political and social conditions in the countries or regions in which an Underlying Fund invests will have a significant impact on the performance of the Underlying Fund.

Investment Style Risk - Because the Fund invests in Underlying Funds with both growth and value characteristics, its share price may be negatively affected if either investing approach falls out of favor.

Liquidity Risk - Underlying Funds may invest in securities that cannot be sold, or cannot be sold quickly, at an acceptable price. When there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities at or near their perceived value. In such a market, the value of such securities and the Fund’s share price may fall dramatically. Extraordinary and sudden changes in interest rates could disrupt the market for fixed-income securities and result in fluctuations in the Underlying Fund’s net asset value. Increased redemptions due to a rise in interest rates may require the Underlying Fund to liquidate its holdings at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse or disadvantageous conditions which may negatively affect the Underlying Fund. Investments in many, but not all, foreign securities tend to have greater exposure to liquidity risk than domestic securities.

Management Risk - A strategy used by the portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended results.

Market Risk - Markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market or economic developments in the U.S. and in other countries. Market risk may affect a single company, industry sector of the economy or the market as a whole.

Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) / Real Estate Risk - Investments in real estate related instruments may be affected by economic, legal, cultural, environmental or technological factors that affect property values, rents or occupancies of real estate.

Small, Medium and Large Size Company Securities Risk - The stocks of small and medium size companies often involve more risk and volatility than those of larger companies. Among other things, small and medium size companies are often dependent on a small number of products and have limited financial resources, and there is generally less publicly available information about them. Securities of small and medium size companies have lower trading volume and are less liquid than securities of larger, more established companies. Companies with large market capitalizations go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions, and could underperform returns of smaller companies.

Sovereign Debt Securities Risk - Sovereign debt securities are subject to various risks in addition to those relating to debt securities and foreign securities generally, including, but not limited to, the risk that a governmental entity may be unwilling or unable to pay interest and repay principal on its sovereign debt, or otherwise meet its obligations when due because of cash flow problems, insufficient foreign reserves, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the government's policy towards principal international lenders such as the International Monetary Fund, or the political situations to which the government may be subject. If a sovereign debtor defaults (or threatens to default) on its sovereign debt obligations, the indebtedness may be restructured. Some sovereign debtors in the past have been able to restructure their debt payments without the approval of some or all debt holders or to declare moritoria on payments. In the event of a default on sovereign debt, the Underlying Fund may also have limited legal recourse against the defaulting government entity.

Tracking a Benchmark Index Risk - Index Funds are mutual funds designed to track the performance of a specified securities benchmark index. The benchmark index may perform unfavorably and/or underperform the market as a whole. In addition, an Index Fund may not be able to precisely track the performance of its benchmark index.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit with a bank, is not insured, endorsed or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency, and is subject to the possible loss of your original investment.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney is subject to the possible loss of your original investment.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus
  • The Fund is classified as non-diversified under the 1940 Act, which means a relatively high percentage of its assets may be invested in securities of a limited number of Underlying Funds. As a result, the Fund’s securities may be more susceptible to any single economic, political or regulatory event than that experienced by a similarly structured diversified fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the Fund is not a deposit with a bank, is not insured, endorsed or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency,
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risk of investment in the Fund by showing changes in the performance of the Fund’s Investor Class shares in each full calendar year since inception and by comparing the Fund’s Institutional Class, Investor Class, Service Class, and Class L average annual total return to the performance of a broad-based securities market index and a secondary index. The returns shown below are historical and are not an indication of future performance. Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions and include the effect of the Fund’s recurring expenses, but do not include fees and expenses of any Permitted Account. If those fees and expenses were reflected, the performance shown would have been lower.

Updated performance information may be obtained at www.greatwestfunds.com (the website does not form a part of this Prospectus).
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risk of investment in the Fund by showing changes in the performance of the Fund’s Investor Class shares in each full calendar year since inception and by comparing the Fund’s Institutional Class, Investor Class, Service Class, and Class L average annual total return to the performance of a broad-based securities market index and a secondary index.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.greatwestfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The returns shown below are historical and are not an indication of future performance.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Calendar Year Total Returns
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions and include the effect of the Fund’s recurring expenses, but do not include fees and expenses of any Permitted Account. If those fees and expenses were reflected, the performance shown would have been lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
  Quarter Ended Total Return
Best Quarter March 2017 6.00%
Worst Quarter June 2017 4.09%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2017
Great-West Lifetime 2050 Fund | Institutional Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.12%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets none
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets none
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.48%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.60% [1]
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.01% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.59%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 60
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 191
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 334
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 749
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 60
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 191
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 334
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 749
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 21.16%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 17.15%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 28, 2016
Great-West Lifetime 2050 Fund | Investor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.12%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.48%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.95% [1]
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.01% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.94%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 96
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 302
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 525
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,165
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 96
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 302
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 525
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,165
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 20.59%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2017
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 6.00%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2017
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn 4.09%
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 20.59%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 16.62%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 28, 2016
Great-West Lifetime 2050 Fund | Service Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.12%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.10%
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.48%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.05% [1]
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.01% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.04%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 106
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 333
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 578
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,282
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 106
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 333
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 578
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,282
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 20.67%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 16.68%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 28, 2016
Great-West Lifetime 2050 Fund | Class L  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.12%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.48%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.20% [1]
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.01% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.19%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 121
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 380
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 659
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,454
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 121
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 380
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 659
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,454
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 20.46%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 16.48%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 28, 2016
Great-West Lifetime 2050 Fund | MSCI ACWI Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 23.97%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 17.14%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 28, 2016
Great-West Lifetime 2050 Fund | Morningstar Lifetime Moderate 2050 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 20.78%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 16.25%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 28, 2016
[1] The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses may not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets provided in the Fund's Financial Highlights, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund (Underlying Fund) Fees and Expenses.
[2] GWCM has contractually agreed to reduce its management fee in an amount at least equal to any compensation (including Rule 12b-1 fees) received from registered open-end management investment companies that are not part of the same “group of investment companies” (within the meaning of Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940) as the Fund (“Unaffiliated Fund(s)”) by GWCM, or an affiliated person of GWCM, in connection with investment by the Fund in the Unaffiliated Fund. The agreement’s current term ends on April 30, 2019. The agreement automatically renews for one-year terms unless it is terminated by Great-West Funds or GWCM upon written notice within 90 days of the end of the current term or upon termination of the investment advisory agreement.