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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 Short Duration Bond Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund Summary
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The Fund seeks maximum total return that is consistent with preservation of capital and liquidity.
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 173% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 173.00%
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 the 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 Fund will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in investment grade bonds. The Fund will select securities based on relative value, maturity, quality and sector. The Fund will maintain an actively managed portfolio of bonds selected from several categories, including U.S. Treasuries and agency securities, commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and corporate bonds. The Fund will maintain an average duration between one and three years based on the portfolio managers’ forecast for interest rates. The Fund may invest up to 20% its net assets in below investment grade quality (“high yield-high risk” or “junk”) bonds and bank loans. For purposes of pursuing its investment goals, the Fund may, from time to time, enter into derivative contracts, including futures contracts on U.S. Treasury securities.
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:

Bank Loan Risk - Bank loans often involve borrowers whose financial conditions are troubled or uncertain and companies that are highly leveraged. The market for bank loans may not be highly liquid and the Fund may have difficulty selling bank loans. These investments expose the Fund to the credit risk of both the financial institution and the underlying borrower. Bank loans generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. In addition, bank loans may have trade settlement periods extending beyond seven days. Bank loans may be structured such that they are not securities under securities laws and subject to securities laws protections against fraud and misrepresentation. As such, there can be no assurances that fraud or misrepresentation will not occur with respect to bank loans in which the Fund invests.

Credit Risk - An issuer may default on its obligations to pay principal and/or interest. A security’s value may be affected by changes in its credit quality rating or its issuer’s financial conditions.

Derivatives Risk - The Fund may invest in derivative instruments, including but not limited to, futures contracts on U.S. Treasury securities. Using derivatives can disproportionately increase losses and reduce opportunities for gains when stock prices, currency rates or interest rates are changing. The 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 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, and may increase the Fund’s volatility. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of derivative contracts will work as intended, and it is possible for the Fund to lose more than its original investment.

High Yield Securities Risk - Below investment grade (“high yield-high risk” or “junk”) bonds have a higher degree of credit risk and interest rate risk and may be less liquid and subject to greater volatility in market value than investment grade bonds.

Interest Rate Risk - The market value of a fixed income security is affected significantly by changes in interest rates. When interest rates rise, the market value of fixed income securities generally declines and when interest rates decline, market values of such securities generally rise. The longer a security’s maturity, that is, the time remaining until the final payment on the security is due, the greater the risk and the higher its yield. Conversely, the shorter a security’s maturity, the lower the risk and the lower its yield. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Recent and potential future changes in monetary policy may affect the level of interest rates.

Liquidity Risk - The fixed income securities and bank loans in which the Fund invests may be less readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuation in price than other securities. 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 Fund’s net asset value. Increased redemptions due to a rise in interest rates may require the Fund to liquidate its holdings at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse or disadvantageous conditions which may negatively affect the Fund.

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

Market Risk - The market values of securities owned by the Fund will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. A security's market value may be reduced by market activity or other results of supply and demand unrelated to the issuer. This is a basic risk associated with all securities. When there are more sellers than buyers, prices tend to fall. Likewise, when there are more buyers than sellers, prices tend to rise.

Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk – Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk. These securities are also subject to the risk that borrowers will prepay the principal on their loans more quickly than expected (prepayment risk) or more slowly than expected (extension risk), which will affect the yield, average life and price of the securities. In addition, faster than expected prepayments may cause the Fund to invest the prepaid principal in lower yielding securities, and slower than expected prepayments may reduce the potential for the Fund to invest in higher yielding securities.

Portfolio Turnover Risk - High portfolio turnover rates generally result in higher transaction costs (which are borne directly by the Fund and indirectly by shareholders).

U.S. Government Securities Risk – U.S. Government securities may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates or a default by, or decline in the credit quality of, the U.S. Government.

U.S. Government-Sponsored Securities Risk - Securities issued by U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises (“GSEs”), such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks, are not issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.

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 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 for the last ten calendar years and by comparing the Fund's average annual total return to the performance of a broad-based securities market 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 for the last ten calendar years and by comparing the Fund's average annual total return to the performance of a broad-based securities market 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 September 2009 3.57%
Worst Quarter September 2008 -0.87%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2017
Great-West Short Duration Bond Fund | Institutional Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.23%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.05%
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.05%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.28%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.03% [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.25%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 26
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 87
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 154
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 353
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 26
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 87
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 154
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 353
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.39%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 1.63% [2]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 01, 2015
Great-West Short Duration Bond Fund | Investor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.23%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.12%
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.47%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.70%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.10% [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.60%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 61
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 214
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 380
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 861
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 61
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 214
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 380
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 861
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 0.33%
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 10.02%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 7.20%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 2.87%
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 4.87%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 1.39%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 1.00%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 0.54%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 1.70%
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 1.96%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 3.57%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (0.87%)
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.96%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.32%
Ten Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.12%
Great-West Short Duration Bond Fund | Class L  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.23%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 65.12%
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 65.47%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 65.95%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 65.10% [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.85%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 87
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 6,727
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 7,740
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 7,920
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 87
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 6,727
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 7,740
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 7,920
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.99%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.31%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 1.36% [3]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 15, 2012
Great-West Short Duration Bond Fund | Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year Credit Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Institutional Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.66%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 1.40% [2]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 01, 2015
Great-West Short Duration Bond Fund | Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year Credit Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Investor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.66%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.44%
Ten Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.82%
Great-West Short Duration Bond Fund | Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year Credit Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class L  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.66%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.44%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 1.44% [3]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 15, 2012
[1] GWCM has contractually agreed to waive fees or reimburse expenses that exceed 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to each Class, excluding Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees, Shareholder Services Fees, brokerage expenses, taxes, dividend interest on short sales, interest expenses, and any extraordinary expenses, including litigation costs (the “Expense Limit”). The agreement’s current term ends on April 30, 2019 and 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. Under the agreement, GWCM may recoup, subject to Board approval, these waivers and reimbursements in future periods, not exceeding three years following the particular waiver/reimbursement, provided Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses of a Class plus such recoupment do not exceed the lesser of the Expense Limit that was in place at the time of the waiver/reimbursement or the Expense Limit in place at the time of recoupment.
[2] Since inception on May 1, 2015
[3] Since inception on October 15, 2012