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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Apr. 30, 2011
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName JOHN HANCOCK CAPITAL SERIES
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000045291
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Aug. 30, 2011
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Aug. 30, 2011
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Aug. 30, 2011
John Hancock Classic Value Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading JOHN HANCOCK CLASSIC VALUE FUND
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock To seek long-term growth of capital.
Fees and expenses jhcs45291_FundFeesAndExpensesAbstract  
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Shareholder fees rr_ShareholderFeesAbstract  
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder fees (%) (fees paid directly from your investment)
Annual fund operating expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
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)
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates “Other expenses” have been estimated for the first year of operations of the fund’s Class R6 shares.
Expense example rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Expense 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. Please see below a hypothetical example showing the expenses of a $10,000 investment at the end of the various time frames indicated. The example assumes a 5% average annual return. The example assumes fund expenses will not change over the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
Expense Example by Year [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearHeading Expenses ($)
Portfolio turnover jhcs45291_PortfolioTurnoverAltAbstract  
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 its most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 55% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 55.00%
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in domestic equity securities.

In managing the fund, the subadviser seeks to identify companies that it believes are currently undervalued relative to the market, based on estimated future earnings and cash flow. These companies generally have market values at valuation ratios, such as price-to-book and below market average, as defined by the S&P 500 Index.

In choosing individual securities, the subadviser screens a dynamic universe of the 500 largest publicly traded U.S. companies. (As of December 31, 2010, this included companies with market values above approximately $5.7 billion.) Using fundamental research and a proprietary computer model, the subadviser ranks these companies from the cheapest to the most expensive on the basis of current share price to the subadviser’s estimate of normal long-term earnings power. As a result of the subadviser’s research and stock selection, the fund may focus on particular sectors of the economy. The subadviser’s management team intensively evaluates the cheapest companies to construct a portfolio of stocks that the subadviser believes generally have the following characteristics:

 
n cheap on the basis of current price to estimated normal level of earnings
n current earnings below normal levels
n a sound plan to restore earnings to normal
n a sustainable business advantage
 
 

Before investing, the subadviser considers the value of an entire business relative to its price. The subadviser views itself as a long-term business investor, rather than a stock buyer. This systematic process is intended to ensure that the fund’s portfolio avoids the emotional inputs that can lead to overvalued securities.

The subadviser approaches sell decisions from the same disciplined framework. The subadviser generally sells a security when it reaches fair value, there are more attractive opportunities or there is a change in company fundamentals.

Under normal market conditions, the fund is almost entirely invested in stocks. The fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in debt securities, including debt securities rated below investment grade (below Baa by Moody’s or below BBB by S&P), and in comparable quality unrated securities that, in the opinion of the subadviser, offer comparable yield and risks to those securities that are rated.

The fund may also invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities of foreign issuers that are not publicly traded in the United States, including depositary receipts.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund. Many factors influence a mutual fund’s performance.

Instability in the financial markets has led many governments, including the United States government, to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility and, in some cases, a lack of liquidity. Federal, state and other governments, and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations, may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the fund.

The fund’s main risk factors are listed below in alphabetical order. Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 5 of the prospectus.

Active management risk The subadviser’s investment strategy may fail to produce the intended result.

Equity securities risk The value of a company’s equity securities is subject to changes in the company’s financial condition, and overall market and economic conditions. The securities of value companies are subject to the risk that the companies may not overcome the adverse business developments or other factors causing their securities to be underpriced or that the market may never come to recognize their fundamental value.

Fixed-income securities risk Fixed-income securities are affected by changes in interest rates and credit quality. A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity of the bonds held by the fund, the more sensitive the fund is likely to be to interest rate changes. There is the possibility that the issuer of the security will not repay all or a portion of the principal borrowed and will not make all interest payments.

Foreign securities risk As compared to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information relating to foreign companies. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. The value of foreign securities is subject to currency fluctuations and adverse political and economic developments.

Large company risk Large-capitalization stocks as a group could fall out of favor with the market, causing the fund to underperform investments that focus on small- or medium-capitalization stocks. Larger, more established companies may be slow to respond to challenges and may grow more slowly than smaller companies. For purposes of the fund’s investment policies, the market capitalization of a company is based on its market capitalization at the time the fund purchases the company’s securities. Market capitalizations of companies change over time.

Lower-rated fixed-income securities risk and high-yield securities risk Lower-rated fixed-income securities and high-yield fixed-income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit-quality risk and risk of default than higher-rated fixed-income securities. These securities may be considered speculative and the value of these securities can be more volatile due to increased sensitivity to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market or economic developments and can be difficult to resell.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund.
Past performance jhcs45291_FundPastPerformanceAbstract  
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Past performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year. However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. Performance for the fund is updated daily, monthly and quarterly and may be obtained at our Web site: www.jhfunds.com/InstitutionalPerformance, or by calling Signature Services at 1-888-972-8696 between 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M., Eastern Time, on most business days.

Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

After-tax returns These reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

Because Class R6 shares of the fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this prospectus, the returns are those of Class A shares that have been recalculated to apply the estimated fees and expenses of Class R6 shares. Effective 11-8-02, shareholders of the former Pzena Focused Value Fund became owners of that number of full and fractional shares of John Hancock Classic Value Fund. Additionally, the accounting and performance history of the former Pzena Focused Value Fund was redesignated as that of Class A shares of John Hancock Classic Value Fund. The performance of the former Pzena Focused Value Fund reflects stocks selected from the largest 1,000 publicly traded U.S. companies, whereas the fund invests in stocks selected from the 500 largest such companies.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock Performance for the fund is updated daily, monthly and quarterly and may be obtained at our Web site: www.jhfunds.com/InstitutionalPerformance, or by calling Signature Services at 1-888-972-8696 between 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M., Eastern Time, on most business days.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.jhfunds.com/InstitutionalPerformance
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 1-888-972-8696
Performance Additional Market Index [Text] rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns These reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.
Bar Chart, Returns for Class Not Offered in Prospectus [Text] rr_BarChartReturnsForClassNotOfferedInProspectus Because Class R6 shares of the fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this prospectus, the returns are those of Class A shares that have been recalculated to apply the estimated fees and expenses of Class R6 shares. Effective 11-8-02, shareholders of the former Pzena Focused Value Fund became owners of that number of full and fractional shares of John Hancock Classic Value Fund. Additionally, the accounting and performance history of the former Pzena Focused Value Fund was redesignated as that of Class A shares of John Hancock Classic Value Fund. The performance of the former Pzena Focused Value Fund reflects stocks selected from the largest 1,000 publicly traded U.S. companies, whereas the fund invests in stocks selected from the 500 largest such companies.
Annual Total Returns rr_BarChartTableAbstract  
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Calendar year total returns — Class R6 (%)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Year-to-date total return The fund’s total return for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was 5.50%.

Best quarter: Q2 ’09, 27.38%

Worst quarter: Q4 ’08, -25.15%
Average annual total returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average annual total returns (%) as of 12-31-10
John Hancock Classic Value Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | Class R6
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol JCVWX
Shareholder fees rr_ShareholderFeesAbstract  
Shareholder Fees Column [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesColumnName Class R6
Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Annual fund operating expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Operating Expenses Column [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName Class R6
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.79%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.11% [1]
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.90%
Expense example rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
Expense Example, By Year, Column [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearColumnName Class R6
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 92
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 287
Annual Total Returns rr_BarChartTableAbstract  
2001 rr_AnnualReturn2001 14.02%
2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 (5.89%)
2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 36.75%
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 14.61%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 9.25%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 17.02%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 (13.86%)
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (46.34%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 36.37%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 16.56%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year-to-date total return The fund’s total return for the six months ended
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Jun. 30, 2011
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 5.50%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 27.38%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (25.15%)
John Hancock Classic Value Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | before tax | Class R6
  
Average annual total returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Column rr_AverageAnnualReturnColumnName Class R6
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel before tax
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 16.56%
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (2.97%)
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.68%
John Hancock Classic Value Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | After tax on distributions | Class R6
  
Average annual total returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Column rr_AverageAnnualReturnColumnName Class R6
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel After tax on distributions
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 16.53%
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (3.75%)
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.07%
John Hancock Classic Value Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | After tax on distributions, with sale | Class R6
  
Average annual total returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Column rr_AverageAnnualReturnColumnName Class R6
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel After tax on distributions, with sale
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 10.81%
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (2.64%)
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.93%
John Hancock Classic Value Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | Russell 1000 Value Index
  
Average annual total returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Russell 1000 Value Index
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 15.51%
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.28%
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.26%
John Hancock U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading JOHN HANCOCK U.S. GLOBAL LEADERS GROWTH FUND
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock To seek long-term growth of capital.
Fees and expenses jhcs45291_FundFeesAndExpensesAbstract  
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Shareholder fees rr_ShareholderFeesAbstract  
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder fees (%) (fees paid directly from your investment)
Annual fund operating expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
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)
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates “Other expenses” have been estimated for the first year of operations of the fund’s Class R6 shares.
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination February 28, 2013
Expense example rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Expense 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. Please see below a hypothetical example showing the expenses of a $10,000 investment at the end of the various time frames indicated. The example assumes a 5% average annual return. The example assumes fund expenses will not change over the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
Expense Example by Year [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearHeading Expenses ($)
Portfolio turnover jhcs45291_PortfolioTurnoverAltAbstract  
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 its most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 33% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 33.00%
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the fund’s net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in common stocks of companies the subadviser regards as “U.S. Global Leaders.”

The subadviser considers U.S. Global Leaders to be U.S. companies with multinational operations that typically exhibit the following key sustainable growth characteristics:

 
n Hold leading market shares of their relevant industries that result in higher profit margins and high investment returns.
n Supply consumable products or services so that their revenue streams are recurring.

The subadviser seeks to identify companies with superior long-term earnings prospects and to continue to own them as long as the subadviser believes they will continue to enjoy favorable prospects for capital growth and are not overvalued in the marketplace.

As a result of its investment strategy, the fund typically invests in large-capitalization companies (companies in the capitalization range of the S&P 500 Index, which was $1.6 billion to $368.7 billion as of December 31, 2010).

The fund is non-diversified, which allows it to make larger investments in individual companies.

The fund may invest in other types of equity securities. The fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in foreign companies and in large-capitalization, well-established foreign issuers, the securities of which are traded in the U.S.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund. Many factors influence a mutual fund’s performance.

Instability in the financial markets has led many governments, including the United States government, to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility and, in some cases, a lack of liquidity. Federal, state and other governments, and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations, may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the fund.

The fund’s main risk factors are listed below in alphabetical order. Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 5 of the prospectus.

Active management risk The subadviser’s investment strategy may fail to produce the intended result.

Equity securities risk The value of a company’s equity securities is subject to changes in the company’s financial condition, and overall market and economic conditions. The securities of growth companies are subject to greater price fluctuations than other types of stocks because their market prices tend to place greater emphasis on future earnings expectations. The securities of value companies are subject to the risk that the companies may not overcome the adverse business developments or other factors causing their securities to be underpriced or that the market may never come to recognize their fundamental value.

Foreign securities risk As compared to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information relating to foreign companies. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. The value of foreign securities is subject to currency fluctuations and adverse political and economic developments.

Large company risk Large-capitalization stocks as a group could fall out of favor with the market, causing the fund to underperform investments that focus on small- or medium-capitalization stocks. Larger, more established companies may be slow to respond to challenges and may grow more slowly than smaller companies. For purposes of the fund’s investment policies, the market capitalization of a company is based on its market capitalization at the time the fund purchases the company’s securities. Market capitalizations of companies change over time.

Non-diversified risk Overall risk can be reduced by investing in securities from a diversified pool of issuers and is increased by investing in securities of a small number of issuers. Investments in a non-diversified fund may magnify the fund’s losses from adverse events affecting a particular issuer.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus Non-diversified risk Overall risk can be reduced by investing in securities from a diversified pool of issuers and is increased by investing in securities of a small number of issuers. Investments in a non-diversified fund may magnify the fund’s losses from adverse events affecting a particular issuer.
Past performance jhcs45291_FundPastPerformanceAbstract  
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Past performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year. However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. Performance for the fund is updated daily, monthly and quarterly and may be obtained at our Web site: www.jhfunds.com/InstitutionalPerformance, or by calling Signature Services at 1-888-972-8696 between 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M., Eastern Time, on most business days.

Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison. The Russell 1000 Growth Index shows how the fund’s performance compares with the returns of index of stocks with a broad range of market capitalizations.

After-tax returns These reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

Russell 1000 Growth Index is an unmanaged index of companies in the Russell 1000 Index (the 1,000 largest U.S. publicly traded companies) with high price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

Because Class R6 shares of the fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this prospectus, the returns are those of Class A shares that have been recalculated to apply the estimated gross fees and expenses of Class R6 shares.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock Performance for the fund is updated daily, monthly and quarterly and may be obtained at our Web site: www.jhfunds.com/InstitutionalPerformance, or by calling Signature Services at 1-888-972-8696 between 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M., Eastern Time, on most business days.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.jhfunds.com/InstitutionalPerformance
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 1-888-972-8696
Performance Additional Market Index [Text] rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns These reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.
Bar Chart, Returns for Class Not Offered in Prospectus [Text] rr_BarChartReturnsForClassNotOfferedInProspectus Because Class R6 shares of the fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this prospectus, the returns are those of Class A shares that have been recalculated to apply the estimated gross fees and expenses of Class R6 shares.
Annual Total Returns rr_BarChartTableAbstract  
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Calendar year total returns — Class R6 (%)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Year-to-date total return The fund’s total return for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was 6.50%.

Best quarter: Q2 ’09, 15.44%

Worst quarter: Q4 ’08, -25.99%
Average annual total returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average annual total returns (%) as of 12-31-10
John Hancock U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | Class R6
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol UGLSX
Shareholder fees rr_ShareholderFeesAbstract  
Shareholder Fees Column [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesColumnName Class R6
Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Annual fund operating expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Operating Expenses Column [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName Class R6
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.15% [1]
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.90%
Contractual expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.05%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.85%
Expense example rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
Expense Example, By Year, Column [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearColumnName Class R6
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 87
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 282
Annual Total Returns rr_BarChartTableAbstract  
2001 rr_AnnualReturn2001 (6.42%)
2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 (14.10%)
2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 19.68%
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 8.99%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 2.59%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 1.84%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 4.06%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (34.52%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 44.90%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 12.63%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year-to-date total return The fund’s total return for the six months ended
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Jun. 30, 2011
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 6.50%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 15.44%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (25.99%)
John Hancock U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | before tax | Class R6
  
Average annual total returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Column rr_AverageAnnualReturnColumnName Class R6
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel before tax
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.63%
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.52%
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.99%
John Hancock U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | After tax on distributions | Class R6
  
Average annual total returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Column rr_AverageAnnualReturnColumnName Class R6
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel After tax on distributions
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.63%
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.35%
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.90%
John Hancock U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | After tax on distributions, with sale | Class R6
  
Average annual total returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Column rr_AverageAnnualReturnColumnName Class R6
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel After tax on distributions, with sale
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.21%
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.11%
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.69%
John Hancock U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | S&P 500 Index
  
Average annual total returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel S&P 500 Index
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 15.06%
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.29%
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.41%
John Hancock U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | Russell 1000 Growth Index
  
Average annual total returns rr_AverageAnnualReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Russell 1000 Growth Index
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 16.71%
5 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.75%
10 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 0.02%
[1] "Other expenses" have been estimated for the first year of operations of the fund's Class R6 shares.
[2] The adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund's total operating expenses at 0.85% for Class R6, excluding certain expenses such as taxes, brokerage commissions, interest, litigation and extraordinary expenses, underlying fund expenses and short dividend expense. The current expense limitation agreement expires on February 28, 2013, unless renewed by mutual agreement of the fund and the adviser based upon a determination that this is appropriate under the circumstances at the time.