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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName GREAT-WEST FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Apr. 29, 2020
Great-West International Growth 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 long-term growth of capital.
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, 2021
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 generally indicates 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 30% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 30.00%
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates Other Expenses are estimated for Class L shares because the class has not yet commenced operations.
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 Limit 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 Below is a summary of the principal investment strategies of the Fund.

The Fund will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks and related securities, such as preferred stock, convertible securities and depositary receipts, of foreign (including emerging markets) issuers. For purposes of the Fund’s 80% policy, “net assets” means net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes. The Fund may, from time to time, have significant investments in a particular sector or country, a small number of countries, or a particular geographic region; provided that the Fund will, under normal circumstances, invest in at least three different countries. The Fund may invest in companies of any size, including small and medium companies. The Fund may, but is not required to, invest in derivatives, including currency forwards and futures.

The issuer of a security or other investment is generally deemed to be economically tied to a particular country if: the security or other investment is issued or guaranteed by the government of that country or any of its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities; the issuer is organized under the laws of, and maintains a principal office in, that country; the issuer has its principal securities trading market in that country; the issuer derives 50% or more of its total revenues from goods sold or services performed in that country; the issuer has 50% or more of its assets in that country; or the issuer is included in an index which is representative of that country.

The Fund’s investment portfolio is managed by two sub-advisers: Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC (“Franklin Templeton”) and J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (“JPMorgan”) (each, a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”). Franklin Templeton employs a disciplined, bottom-up investment approach to identify attractive investment opportunities that it expects to have higher revenue and earnings growth than their peers. JPMorgan generally focuses on investing its assets in the stocks of companies that it believes have above average growth potential and that are also trading at reasonable valuations.

GWCM maintains a strategic asset allocation of the Fund’s assets with each Sub-Adviser and reviews the asset allocations on a quarterly basis, or more frequently as deemed necessary. As of the date of this Prospectus, the target asset allocation is a 40% allocation of the Fund’s assets to Franklin Templeton and a 60% allocation of the Fund’s assets to JPMorgan. Notwithstanding these target allocations, GWCM may change the asset allocations at any time and without shareholder notice or approval.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Investment Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock Below is a summary of the principal investment risks of investing in the Fund. These risks are presented in an order that reflects GWCM’s current assessment of relative importance, but this assessment could change over time as the Fund’s portfolio changes or in light of changes in the market or the economic environment, among other things. The Fund is not required to and will not update this prospectus solely because its assessment of the relative importance of the principal risks of investing in the Fund changes.

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.

Equity Securities Risk - The value of a company’s stock may fall as a result of factors which directly relate to that company, such as lower demand for the company’s products or services or poor management decisions. In addition, a company’s stock generally pays dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of the stock will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in a company’s financial condition or progress.

Growth Stock Risk - Growth stocks can be volatile for several reasons. Since they usually reinvest a high proportion of earnings in their own business, they may not pay the dividends usually associated with value stocks that can cushion their decline in a falling market. Also, since investors buy these stocks because of the expected superior earnings growth, earnings disappointments may result in sharp price declines.

Developing and Emerging Markets Risk – The risk that markets of developing and emerging market countries are less developed and less liquid, subject to greater price volatility and generally subject to increased economic, political, regulatory and other uncertainties than more developed markets.

Currency Risk - Adverse fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies may cause the Fund to lose money on investments denominated in foreign currencies.

Geographic Concentration Risk - Geographic concentration risk is the risk that economic, political and social conditions in a single country, a limited number of countries or a particular geographic region in which the Fund is invested will have a significant impact on the performance of the Fund.

Market Risk - The value of the Fund's investments may decrease, sometimes rapidly or unexpectedly, due to factors affecting specific issuers held by the Fund, particular industries represented in the Fund's portfolio, or the overall securities markets. A variety of factors can increase the volatility of the Fund's holdings and markets generally, including political or regulatory developments, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes, war or acts of terrorism, natural disasters, outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues, or adverse investor sentiment generally. Certain events may cause instability across global markets, including reduced liquidity and disruptions in trading markets, while some events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors, and industries more significantly than others. These adverse developments may cause broad declines in an issuer’s value due to short-term market movements or for significantly longer periods during more prolonged market downturns.

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.

Depositary Receipts Risk - Depositary receipts are generally subject to the same sort of risks as direct investments in a foreign country, such as, currency risk, political and economic risk, and market risk, because their values depend on the performance of a foreign security denominated in its home currency.

Liquidity Risk - Securities in which the Fund invests may be less readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuation in price than other securities. Investments in many, but not all, foreign securities tend to have greater exposure to liquidity risk than domestic securities.

Sector Risk - Sector risk is the possibility that certain sectors of the economy may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. The Fund may, from time to time, invest a significant portion of its assets in companies within a particular sector and its performance may suffer if that sector underperforms the overall stock market.

Convertible Securities Risk - Convertible securities, particularly securities that are convertible into securities of an issuer other than the issuer of the convertible securities, may be illiquid.

Preferred Stock Risk - Preferred stocks are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk.

Derivatives Risk - The Fund may invest in derivative instruments, including but not limited to, currency forwards and futures. Using derivatives can disproportionately increase losses and reduce opportunities for gains when security 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.

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

Multi-Manager Risk - Each Sub-Adviser makes investment decisions independently. It is possible that the Sub-Advisers’ security selection processes may not complement one another and the Fund may have buy and sell transactions in the same security on the same day.

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 Institutional Class and Investor Class average annual total return to the performance of a broad-based securities market index. No Class L share performance data is provided because Class L shares have not commenced operations. Class L share performance information will appear in future versions of this Prospectus after Class L shares have annual returns for at least one complete calendar year. 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 the fees and expenses of any Permitted Account were reflected, the performance shown would be lower.

On April 27, 2018, the Fund replaced the prior sub-adviser with the current Sub-Advisers. Consequently, the Fund’s total returns shown below for the periods prior to April 27, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the performance of the Fund, as it is currently managed.

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 Institutional Class and Investor Class average annual total return to the performance of a broad-based securities market index.
Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess No Class L share performance data is provided because Class L shares have not commenced operations.
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 the fees and expenses of any Permitted Account were reflected, the performance shown would be lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
  Quarter Ended Total Return
Best Quarter September 2010 16.00%
Worst Quarter September 2011 -20.22%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2019
Great-West International Growth Fund | Institutional Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.82%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.03% [1]
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.03%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.85%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets none [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.85%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 87
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 271
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 471
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,049
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 87
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 271
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 471
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,049
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 34.57%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.66% [3]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 01, 2015
Great-West International Growth Fund | Investor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.82%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.11% [1]
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.46%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.28%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.08% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.20%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 122
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 398
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 695
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,538
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 122
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 398
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 695
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,538
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 10.19%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (10.35%)
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 22.55%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 18.21%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (5.37%)
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 none
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 (0.30%)
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 26.62%
2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (16.87%)
2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 34.07%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2010
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 16.00%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (20.22%)
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 34.07%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.07%
Ten Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.66%
Great-West International Growth Fund | Class L  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.82%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.11% [1]
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.46%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.53%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.08% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.45%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 148
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 476
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 827
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,817
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 148
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 476
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 827
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,817
Great-West International Growth Fund | MSCI EAFE Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Institutional Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 27.90%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05
Ten Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.13%
Great-West International Growth Fund | MSCI EAFE Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Investor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 27.90%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.71%
Ten Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.95%
[1] Other Expenses are estimated for Class L shares because the class has not yet commenced operations.
[2] GWCM has contractually agreed to waive management fees or reimburse expenses if total annual fund operating expenses of any Class exceed 0.85% of the Class's average daily net assets, 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, 2021 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 the 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.
[3] Since inception on May 1, 2015