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AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The Fund’s investment objective is to seek the highest level of income that is available without assuming what the Adviser considers to be undue risk to principal.
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. You may qualify for sales charge reductions if you and members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in AB Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary and in Investing in the Funds—Sales Charge Reduction Programs for Class A Shares on page 55 of this Prospectus, in Appendix C—Financial Intermediary Waivers of this Prospectus and in Purchase of Shares—Sales Charge Reduction Programs for Class A Shares on page 121 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Advisor Class shares, which are not reflected in the tables or the examples below.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination January 31, 2022
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys or 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 transaction costs, which are not reflected in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Examples, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 60% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 60.00%
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock Purchases of Class A shares in amounts of $1,000,000 or more, or by certain group retirement plans, may be subject to a 1%, 1-year contingent deferred sales charge, or CDSC, which may be subject to waiver in certain circumstances.For Class C shares, the CDSC is 0% after the first year. Class C shares automatically convert to Class A shares after ten years.
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge reductions if you and members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in AB Mutual Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 100,000
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Examples
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock The Examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the
end of those periods. The Examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s operating expenses stay the same and that any fee waiver and/or expense limitation is in effect for only the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
The Fund invests primarily in fixed-income securities, with an emphasis on corporate fixed-income securities rated below investment grade (commonly known as “junk bonds”), unrated securities considered by the Adviser to be of comparable quality, and related derivatives. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will maintain a dollar-weighted average duration of less than four years, although it may invest in individual fixed-income securities with durations in excess of four years.
The Fund may also invest in investment grade fixed-income securities, high-yield securities of governments and government-related issuers, loan participations and assignments and, to a lesser extent, equity securities, and derivatives related to these instruments. The Fund will not invest more than 10% of its net assets in securities rated at or below Caa1 by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”), CCC+ by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or CCC by Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) at the time of purchase. (For the purpose of this 10% limit, the Fund will rely on the highest rating from any of the three rating agencies, and the notional amount of derivatives related to these instruments will be counted.)
The Fund invests on a global basis, including securities of issuers in both developed and emerging market countries. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, although it expects to use hedging instruments frequently to attempt to limit the currency exposure resulting from such investments.
In selecting securities for purchase or sale by the Fund, the Adviser attempts to take advantage of inefficiencies that it believes exist in the global fixed-income markets. These inefficiencies arise from investor behavior, market complexity, and the investment limitations to which investors are subject. The Adviser combines its quantitative forecasts with fundamental economic and credit research in seeking to exploit these inefficiencies.
The Adviser employs strategies to manage the Fund’s volatility relative to the global high-yield market. Such strategies may include shortening the duration of the Fund, adding higher rated investments, investing in various fixed-income sectors with relatively low correlation among them, and using hedging strategies that seek to provide protection from substantial market downturns. The Adviser utilizes different combinations of the above strategies at different points in time, taking into consideration, among other factors, the shape of the credit curve, the relative effect on yield associated with changes in credit quality, and the cost of hedging strategies.
The Fund expects to use derivatives, such as options, futures contracts, forwards and swaps, to a significant extent, subject to the limits of applicable law. Derivatives may provide more efficient and economical exposure to market segments than direct investments, and may also be a quicker and more efficient way to alter the Fund’s exposure. For example, the Fund may use credit default and interest rate swaps to gain exposure to the fixed-income markets. In determining when and to what extent to enter into derivative transactions, the Adviser considers factors such as the risks and returns of these investments relative to direct investments and the costs of such transactions. Derivatives such as options and forwards may also be used for hedging purposes, including to hedge against interest rate, credit market and currency fluctuations.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading PRINCIPAL RISKS
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
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Market Risk:
The value of the Fund’s assets will fluctuate as the stock, bond, currency and commodity markets fluctuate. The value of its investments may decline, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, simply because of economic changes or other events, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness), that affect large portions of the market.
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Interest Rate Risk:
Changes in interest rates will affect the value of investments in fixed-income securities. When interest rates rise, the value of existing investments in fixed-income securities tends to fall and this decrease in value may not be offset by higher income from new investments. Interest rate risk is generally greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. Very low or negative interest rates would likely magnify the risks associated with changes in interest rates. During periods of very low or negative rates, the Fund’s returns would likely be adversely affected.
 
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Credit Risk:
An issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivatives or other contract, may be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal, or to otherwise honor its obligations. The issuer, guarantor or counterparty may default, causing a loss of the full principal amount of a security and accrued interest. The degree of risk for a particular security may be reflected in its credit rating. There is the possibility that the credit rating of a fixed-income security may be downgraded after purchase, which may adversely affect the value of the security.
 
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Below Investment Grade Securities Risk:
Investments in fixed-income securities with lower ratings (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to a higher probability that an issuer will default or fail to meet its payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments and negative perceptions of the junk bond market generally and may be more difficult to trade than other types of securities.
 
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Duration Risk:
Duration is a measure that relates the expected price volatility of a fixed-income security to changes in interest rates. The duration of a fixed-income security may be shorter than or equal to full maturity of a fixed-income security. Fixed- income securities with longer durations have more risk and will decrease in price as interest rates rise.
 
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Inflation Risk:
This is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the value of the Fund’s assets can decline as can the value of the Fund’s distributions. This risk is significantly greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities.
 
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Derivatives Risk:
Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund. Derivatives, especially over-the-counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk.
 
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Foreign (Non-U.S.) Risk:
Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers may involve more risk than those of U.S. issuers. These securities may fluctuate more widely in price and may be more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.
 
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Emerging Market Risk:
Investments in emerging market countries may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory and other uncertainties.
 
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Currency Risk:
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments or reduce its returns.
 
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Loan Participations and Assignments Risk:
When the Fund purchases loan participations and assignments, it is subject to the credit risk associated with the underlying corporate borrower. In addition, the lack of a liquid secondary market for loan participations and assignments may have an adverse impact on the value of such investments and the Fund’s ability to dispose of particular assignments or participations when necessary to meet the Fund’s liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the borrower.
 
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Illiquid Investments Risk:
Illiquid investments risk exists when certain investments become difficult to purchase or sell. Difficulty in selling such investments may result in sales at disadvantageous prices affecting the value of your investment in the Fund. Causes of illiquid investments risk may include low trading volumes, large positions and heavy redemptions of Fund shares. Illiquid investments risk may be higher in a rising interest rate environment, when the value and liquidity of fixed-income securities generally decline.
 
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Management Risk:
The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively-managed investment fund. The Adviser will apply its investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions, but there is no guarantee that its techniques will produce the intended results. Some of these techniques may incorporate, or rely upon, quantitative models, but there is no guarantee that these models will generate accurate forecasts, reduce risk or otherwise perform as expected.
As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading BAR CHART AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock
The bar chart and performance information provide an indication of the historical risk of an investment in the Fund by showing:
 
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how the Fund’s performance changed from year to year over the life of the Fund; and
 
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how the Fund’s average annual returns for one year, five years and since inception compare to those of a broad-based securities market index.
 
You may obtain updated performance information on the website at
www.abfunds.com
(click on “Investments—Mutual Funds”).
The Fund’s past performance before and after taxes, of course, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns how the Fund’s performance changed from year to year over the life of the Fund; andhow the Fund’s average annual returns for one year, five years and since inception compare to those of a broad-based securities market index.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.abfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund’s past performance before and after taxes, of course, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Bar Chart
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock The annual returns in the bar chart are for the Fund’s Class A shares and do not reflect sales loads. If sales loads were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The annual returns in the bar chart are for the Fund’s Class A shares and do not reflect sales loads. If sales loads were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
During the period shown in the bar chart, the Fund’s:
Best Quarter was up 12.24%, 2nd quarter, 2020; and Worst Quarter was down -14.91%, 1st quarter, 2020.
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Performance TableAverage Annual Total Returns(For the periods ended December 31, 2020)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns: -Are an estimate, which is based on the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes;
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred actual after-tax returns depend on an individual investor’s tax situation and are likely to differ from those shown; and     – Are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns:     – Are shown for Class A shares only and will vary for the other Classes of shares because these Classes have different expense ratios;
AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 4.25%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none [1]
Exchange Fee rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses: Transfer Agent rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.04%
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.20%
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.24%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.04%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.09%) [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.95%
After 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 518
After 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 733
After 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 966
After 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,634
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 none
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 11.87%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 5.23%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 0.64%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (0.54%)
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 9.05%
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 3.59%
2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (0.74%)
2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 10.28%
2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 3.97%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2020
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 12.24%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2020
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (14.91%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.43%) [3]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.23% [3]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 4.24% [3],[4]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Dec. 07, 2011
AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio | Class C  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [5]
Exchange Fee rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses: Transfer Agent rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.04%
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.20%
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.24%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.79%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.09%) [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.70%
After 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 273 [6]
After 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 555
After 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 961
After 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 2,098
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.29%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.37%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.98% [4]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Dec. 07, 2011
AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio | Advisor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Exchange Fee rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses: Transfer Agent rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.04%
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.20%
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.24%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.79%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.09%) [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.70%
After 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 72
After 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 243
After 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 430
After 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 970
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.23%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.42%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.02% [4]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Dec. 07, 2011
AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio | After Taxes on Distributions | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (2.19%) [3]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.55% [3]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.47% [3],[4]
AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.33%) [3]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.48% [3]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.46% [3],[4]
AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio | Bloomberg Barclays Global High Yield 1-5 Year Index (U.S. dollar hedged) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.11%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.74%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.64% [4]
[1] Purchases of Class A shares in amounts of $1,000,000 or more, or by certain group retirement plans, may be subject to a 1%, 1-year contingent deferred sales charge, or CDSC, which may be subject to waiver in certain circumstances.
[2] The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fees and/or to bear certain expenses of the Fund until January 31, 2022 to the extent necessary to prevent total Fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses other than the advisory fees of any AB Mutual Funds in which the Fund may invest, interest expense, taxes, extraordinary expenses, and brokerage commissions and other transaction costs), on an annualized basis, from exceeding .95%, 1.70% and .70% of average daily net assets, respectively, for Class A, Class C and Advisor Class shares (“expense limitations”). In connection with the Fund’s investments in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Money Market Portfolio”) (except for the investment of any cash collateral from securities lending), the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fee from the Fund and/or reimburse other expenses of the Fund in an amount equal to the Fund’s pro rata share of the Money Market Portfolio’s effective management fee, as included in “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses”. The expense limitations and waiver agreement will each remain in effect until January 31, 2022 and may only be terminated or changed with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Directors. In addition, the expense limitations and waiver agreement will each be automatically extended for one-year terms unless the Adviser provides notice of termination to the Fund at least 60 days prior to the end of the period.
[3] After-tax returns:– Are shown for Class A shares only and will vary for the other Classes of shares because these Classes have different expense ratios;– Are an estimate, which is based on the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes; actual after-tax returns depend on an individual investor’s tax situation and are likely to differ from those shown; and– Are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
[4] Inception date for all Classes is 12/07/11.
[5] For Class C shares, the CDSC is 0% after the first year. Class C shares automatically convert to Class A shares after ten years.
[6] If you did not redeem your shares at the end of the period, your expenses would be decreased by approximately $100.