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Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName FRANKLIN FEDERAL TAX FREE INCOME FUND
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Mar. 01, 2019
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund Summary
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund-15 | Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Goal
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock To provide investors with as high a level of income exempt from federal income taxes as is consistent with prudent investment management and the preservation of shareholders’ capital.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in Franklin Templeton funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Your Account” on page 30 in the Fund's Prospectus and under “Buying and Selling Shares” on page buySellPageNumber of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. In addition, more information about sales charge discounts and waivers for purchases of shares through specific financial intermediaries is set forth in Appendix A – "Intermediary Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers" to the Fund’s prospectus.

Please note that the tables and examples below do not reflect any transaction fees that may be charged by financial intermediaries, or commissions that a shareholder may be required to pay directly to its financial intermediary when buying or selling Class R6 or Advisor Class shares.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption <div><p>Annual Fund Operating Expenses</p><p>(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)</p></div>
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 Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 16.46% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 16.46%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in Franklin Templeton funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 100,000
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 assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption If you do not sell your shares:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in investment grade municipal securities whose interest is free from federal income taxes, including the federal alternative minimum tax. Although the Fund tries to invest all of its assets in tax-free securities, it is possible that up to 20% of the Fund's total assets may be in securities that pay interest that may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax and, although not anticipated, in securities that pay taxable interest.

The Fund only buys municipal securities rated, at the time of purchase, in one of the top four ratings categories by one or more U.S. nationally recognized rating services (or unrated or short-term rated securities of comparable credit quality).

The Fund may invest in municipal securities issued by U.S. territories. The Fund does not necessarily focus its investments in a particular state or territory.

Although the investment manager will search for investments across a large number of municipal securities that finance different types of projects, from time to time, based on economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in municipal securities that finance similar types of projects.

The Fund may invest in insured municipal securities. Insured municipal securities are covered by insurance policies that guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest. The insurance premium costs, however, are typically reflected in a lower yield and/or higher price for the insured bond. It is important to note that insurance does not guarantee the market value of an insured security, or the Fund’s share price or distributions, and shares of the Fund are not insured.

The investment manager selects securities that it believes will provide the best balance between risk and return within the Fund’s range of allowable investments and typically uses a buy and hold strategy. This means it generally holds securities in the Fund’s portfolio for income purposes, rather than trading securities for capital gains, although the investment manager may sell a security at any time if it believes it could help the Fund meet its goal.
Strategy Portfolio Concentration [Text] rr_StrategyPortfolioConcentration Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in investment grade municipal securities whose interest is free from federal income taxes, including the federal alternative minimum tax.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Mutual fund shares are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank, and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other agency of the U.S. government.

Interest Rate

When interest rates rise, debt security prices generally fall. The opposite is also generally true: debt security prices rise when interest rates fall. Interest rate changes are influenced by a number of factors, including government policy, monetary policy, inflation expectations, perceptions of risk, and supply of and demand for bonds. In general, securities with longer maturities or durations are more sensitive to interest rate changes.

Market

The market values of securities or other investments owned by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The market value of a security or other investment 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 investments. When there are more sellers than buyers, prices tend to fall. Likewise, when there are more buyers than sellers, prices tend to rise.

Credit

An issuer of debt securities may fail to make interest payments or repay principal when due, in whole or in part. Changes in an issuer's financial strength or in a security's credit rating may affect a security's value.

A change in the credit rating of a municipal bond insurer that insures securities in the Fund’s portfolio may affect the value of the securities it insures, the Fund’s share price and Fund performance. The Fund might also be adversely impacted by the inability of an insurer to meet its insurance obligations.

Focus

The Fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in municipal securities that finance similar types of projects, such as utilities, hospitals, higher education and transportation. A change that affects one project, such as proposed legislation on the financing of the project, a shortage of the materials needed for the project, or a declining need for the project, would likely affect all similar projects, thereby increasing market risk.

Tax-Exempt Securities

Failure of a municipal security issuer to comply with applicable tax requirements may make income paid thereon taxable, resulting in a decline in the security’s value. In addition, there could be changes in applicable tax laws or tax treatments that reduce or eliminate the current federal income tax exemption on municipal securities or otherwise adversely affect the current federal or state tax status of municipal securities.

Income

The Fund's distributions to shareholders may decline when prevailing interest rates fall, when the Fund experiences defaults on debt securities it holds, or when the Fund realizes a loss upon the sale of a debt security.

Prepayment

Prepayment risk occurs when a debt security can be repaid in whole or in part prior to the security's maturity and the Fund must reinvest the proceeds it receives, during periods of declining interest rates, in securities that pay a lower rate of interest. Also, if a security has been purchased at a premium, the value of the premium would be lost in the event of prepayment. Prepayments generally increase when interest rates fall.

States

The Fund’s portfolio is generally widely diversified among issuers of municipal securities. However, to the extent that the Fund has exposure from time to time to the municipal securities of a particular state, events in that state may affect the Fund’s investments and performance. These events may include economic or political policy changes, tax base erosion, unfunded pension and healthcare liabilities, constitutional limits on tax increases, budget deficits and other financial difficulties, and changes in the credit ratings assigned to municipal issuers of the state. The same is true of events in U.S. territories, to the extent that the Fund has exposure to any particular territory at any given time.

Bond Insurers

Because of the consolidation among municipal bond insurers the Fund is subject to additional risks including the risk that credit risk may be concentrated among fewer insurers and the risk that events involving one or more municipal bond insurers could have a significant adverse effect on the value of the securities insured by an insurer and on the municipal markets as a whole.

Liquidity

From time to time, the trading market for a particular security or type of security or other investments in which the Fund invests may become less liquid or even illiquid. Reduced liquidity will have an adverse impact on the Fund’s ability to sell such securities or other investments when necessary to meet the Fund’s liquidity needs, which may arise or increase in response to a specific economic event or because the investment manager wishes to purchase particular investments or believes that a higher level of liquidity would be advantageous. Reduced liquidity will also generally lower the value of such securities or other investments. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be relatively volatile.

Management

The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Fund's investment manager applies investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or since inception, as applicable, compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You can obtain updated performance information at franklintempleton.com or by calling (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or since inception, as applicable, compared with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress franklintempleton.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Class A Annual Total Returns
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Best Quarter:Q3'098.10%
Worst Quarter:Q4'10-5.34%
As of June 30, 2018, the Fund's year-to-date return was -0.16%.
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading <div><p>Average Annual Total Returns<br/>(figures reflect sales charges)</p><p>For the periods ended December 31, 2017</p></div>
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

Performance information for Class R6 shares is not shown because it had not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus.

The figures in the average annual total returns table above reflect the Class A and Class A1 maximum front-end sales charge of 4.25% that was in effect prior to March 1, 2019. Class A and A1 shares, however, currently are subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 3.75% effective on March 1, 2019. If the maximum front-end sales charge of 3.75% was reflected, performance for Class A and Class A1 in the average annual total returns table would be higher.

Historical performance for Class A shares in the bar chart and table above is based on the performance of Class A1 shares and has not been adjusted to reflect differences in Rule 12b-1 fees between classes. If Class A shares’ performance was recalculated to reflect Class A shares’ Rule 12b-1 fees, the performance shown would be lower.

Historical performance for Advisor Class shares prior to inception is based on the performance of Class A1 shares. Advisor Class performance has been adjusted to reflect differences in sales charges between classes.

The 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. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A and after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund-15 | Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 3.75% [1]
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none [1],[2]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.08% [3],[4]
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.77%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 451
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 612
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 787
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,293
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund-15 | Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund | Class A1  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 3.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none [2]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.10%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.08% [3],[4]
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.62%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 436
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 566
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 708
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,120
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (7.05%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 16.31%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 0.86%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 12.12%
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 9.03%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 (4.46%)
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 11.21%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 2.44%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 0.70%
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 3.61%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel As of June 30, 2018, the Fund's year-to-date return was -0.16%.
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 8.10%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2010
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (5.34%)
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund-15 | Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund | Class C  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none [5]
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 1.00% [5]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.65%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.08% [3],[4]
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.17%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 219
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 372
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 644
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,420
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 119
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 372
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 644
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,420
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund-15 | Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund | Class R6  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.05% [3],[4]
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.49%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 50
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 157
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 274
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 616
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund-15 | Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund | Advisor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.08% [3],[4]
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.52%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 53
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 167
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 291
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 653
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund-15 | Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund | Return Before Taxes | Class A1  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Column rr_AverageAnnualReturnColumnName Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.77%)
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.68%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.78%
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund-15 | Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund | Return Before Taxes | Class C  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.77%)
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.68%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.78%
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund-15 | Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund | Return Before Taxes | Advisor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.71%
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.68%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.33%
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund-15 | Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund | After Taxes on Distributions | Class A1  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Column rr_AverageAnnualReturnColumnName Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.77%)
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.68%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.78%
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund-15 | Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales | Class A1  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Column rr_AverageAnnualReturnColumnName Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.17%
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.15%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.85%
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund-15 | Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund | Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index (index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Past 1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.45%
Past 5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.02%
Past 10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.46%
[1] The Fund publicly began offering Class A shares (formerly Class M shares) on September 10, 2018.
[2] There is a 0.75% contingent deferred sales charge that applies to investments of $1 million or more (see "Investments of $1 Million or More" under "Choosing a Share Class") and purchases by certain retirement plans without an initial sales charge on shares sold within 18 months of purchase. Effective September 10, 2018, the 0.75% contingent deferred sales charge applies to investments of $500,000 or more and purchases by certain retirement plans without an initial sales charge on shares sold within 18 months of purchase.
[3] Other expenses have been restated to exclude non-recurring prior period expenses and, for Class R6, to reflect current fiscal year fees and expenses. If the prior period's non-recurring expenses were included in the table above, the amounts stated would have been greater. Consequently, the total annual Fund operating expenses differ from the ratio of expenses to average net assets shown in the Financial Highlights.
[4] The Fund began publicly offering Class A shares on September 10, 2018. Other expenses for Class A are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
[5] Effective October 5, 2018, Class C shares of the Fund convert automatically to Class A shares of the Fund on a monthly basis in the month of, or the month following, the 10-year anniversary of the Class C shares’ purchase date. Such conversions are on the basis of the relative net asset values of the two classes, are not subject to Class A shares’ sales charges and are not expected to be a taxable event for federal income tax purposes. Certain shares that are invested through retirement plans, omnibus accounts or in certain other instances may not automatically convert if the financial intermediary does not have the ability to track purchases to credit individual shareholders’ holding periods. (See “Your Account – Choosing a Share Class – Sales Charges - Class C – Automatic Conversion of Class C Shares to Class A Shares After 10-Year Holding Period” for more information.)