Annual Total Returns (Vanguard Utilities Index Fund - Admiral Shares Retail) (Vanguard Utilities Index Fund, Vanguard Utilities Index Fund - Admiral Shares)	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2014
Vanguard Utilities Index Fund \| Vanguard Utilities Index Fund - Admiral Shares
Annual Total Return
2013	14.98%
2012	1.94%
2011	18.92%
2010	6.95%
2009	11.43%
2008	(28.09%)
2007	17.08%
2006	21.54%
2005	14.72%

If the Fund has annual returns for at least one calendar year, provide a bar chart showing the Fund's annual total returns for each of the last 10 calendar years (or for the life of the Fund if less than 10 years), but only for periods subsequent to the effective date of the Fund's registration statement. Present the corresponding numerical return adjacent to each bar. If the Fund's fiscal year is other than a calendar year, include the year-to-date return information as of the end of the most recent quarter in a footnote to the bar chart. Following the bar chart, disclose the Fund's highest and lowest return for a quarter during the 10 years or other period of the bar chart. When a Multiple Class Fund offers more than one Class in the prospectus, provide annual total returns in the bar chart for only one of those Classes. The Fund can select which Class to include (e.g., the oldest Class, the Class with the greatest net assets).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Form

-Number N-1A

-Chapter A

-Section 4

-Subsection b

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph ii

+ Details

Name:	rr_AnnualReturn2005
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Form

-Number N-1A

-Chapter A

-Section 4

-Subsection b

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph ii

+ Details

Name:	rr_AnnualReturn2006
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Form

-Number N-1A

-Chapter A

-Section 4

-Subsection b

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph instructions

-Clause 3

-Exhibit a

+ Details

Name:	rr_AnnualReturn2007
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Form

-Number N-1A

-Chapter A

-Section 4

-Subsection b

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph ii

+ Details

Name:	rr_AnnualReturn2008
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

+ Details

Name:	rr_AnnualReturn2009
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Form

-Number N-1A

-Chapter A

-Section 4

-Subsection b

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph ii

+ Details

Name:	rr_AnnualReturn2010
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

+ Details

Name:	rr_AnnualReturn2011
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Form

-Number N-1A

-Chapter A

-Section 4

-Subsection b

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph ii

+ Details

Name:	rr_AnnualReturn2012
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Form

-Number N-1A

-Chapter A

-Section 4

-Subsection b

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph ii

+ Details

Name:	rr_AnnualReturn2013
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	rr_BarChartTableAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration