485BPOS

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT (NO. 2-17620) UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Post-Effective Amendment No. 166

and

REGISTRATION STATEMENT (NO. 811-01027) UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY

ACT OF 1940

Amendment No. 166

VANGUARD WORLD FUND

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Declaration of Trust)

P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

Registrant's Telephone Number (610) 669-1000

Anne E. Robinson, Esquire

P.O. Box 876

Valley Forge, PA 19482

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

[X]immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

[ ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

[ ] on , (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

[ ] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485

If appropriate, check the following box:

[ ] This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a

previously filed post-effective amendment.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant hereby certifies that it meets all requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Valley Forge and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 13th day of January, 2020.

VANGUARD WORLD FUND

BY:________/s/ Mortimer J. Buckley*____________

Mortimer J. Buckley

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements Registration Statement has been the date indicated:

of the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment to the signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on

Signature	Title	Date
/s/ Mortimer J. Buckley*	Chairman and Chief Executive	January 13, 2020
	Officer
Mortimer J. Buckley
/s/ Emerson U. Fullwood*	Trustee	January 13, 2020
Emerson U. Fullwood
/s/ Amy Gutmann*	Trustee	January 13, 2020
Amy Gutmann
/s/ F. Joseph Loughrey*	Trustee	January 13, 2020
F. Joseph Loughrey
/s/ Mark Loughridge*	Trustee	January 13, 2020
Mark Loughridge
/s/ Scott C. Malpass*	Trustee	January 13, 2020
Scott C. Malpass
/s/ Deanna Mulligan*	Trustee	January 13, 2020
Deanna Mulligan
/s/ André F. Perold*	Trustee	January 13, 2020
André F. Perold
/s/ Sarah Bloom Raskin*	Trustee	January 13, 2020
Sarah Bloom Raskin
/s/ Peter F. Volanakis*	Trustee	January 13, 2020
Peter F. Volanakis
/s/ John Bendl*	Chief Financial Officer	January 13, 2020
John Bendl

*By: /s/ Anne E. Robinson

Anne E. Robinson, pursuant to a Power of Attorney filed on January 18, 2018 (see File Number 33-32216) and a Power of Attorney filed on October 30, 2019 (see File Number 811-02554). Incorporated by Reference.

INDEX TO EXHIBITS
XBRL Instance Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Ex-101.INS
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Ex-101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Ex-101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Ex-101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Ex-101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Ex-101.PRE

January 13, 2020

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20549

Re: Vanguard World Fund

File No. 2-17620

Commissioners:

Enclosed is Post-Effective Amendment No. 166 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A for Vanguard World Fund, which we are filing pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933. The sole purpose of the Amendment is to file the risk/return summary section of the Post-Effective Amendment in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) for Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral Share Class, a series and class of the the above mentioned Trust. This Amendment does not contain disclosures that would render it ineligible to become effective under 485(b). Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 485(b), this Amendment designates an immediate effective date of January 13, 2020.

If you have any questions or comments concerning the enclosed Amendment, please contact me at

(610)669-7310.

Sincerely,

Alexander F. Smith

Associate Counsel

The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Enclosures

cc: Lisa N. Larkin

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Materials Index Fund

Vanguard Materials ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of materials stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Materials Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Materials Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.08%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Materials 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the materials sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS materials sector is made up of companies that manufacture chemicals, construction materials, glass, paper, forest products, and related packaging products, as well as metals, minerals, and mining companies, including producers of steel.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the materials sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the materials sector could be affected by, among other things, commodity prices, government regulation, inflation expectations, resource availability, and economic cycles. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/ Materials 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Materials through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Materials 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Materials Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 22.46% (quarter ended September 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –25.09% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Materials Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		(17.37%)	3.38%	11.44%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		(17.71%)	2.92%	11.01%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(9.97%)	2.60%	9.53%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		(17.47%)	3.37%	11.43%
MSCI US IMI/Materials	[1]	(17.32%)	3.44%	11.55%
MSCI US IMI/Materials 25/50	[1]	(17.32%)	3.44%
Spliced US IMI/Materials 25/50	[1]	(17.32%)	3.44%	11.55%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 15.71%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Utilities ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of utilities stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	4.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Utilities 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the utilities sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS utilities sector is made up of electric, gas, and water utility companies. It also includes independent power producers and energy traders and companies that engage in generation and distribution of electricity using renewable sources. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the utilities sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the utilities sector could be affected by government regulation, overall economic conditions, and fuel prices. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/ Utilities 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Utilities through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Utilities 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.24% (quarter ended March 31, 2016), and the lowest return for a quarter was –11.50% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	11.45%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	6.95%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	18.91%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	1.95%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	14.93%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	26.92%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(4.83%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	17.52%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	12.51%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	4.43%	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	24.54%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2016
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	15.24%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(11.50%)
ETF | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.43%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.78%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.73%
ETF | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.34%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.77%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.72%
ETF | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.64%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.91%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.94%
ETF | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.18%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.46%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.76%
ETF | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Utilities
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.54%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.86%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.87%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Utilities 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.54%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.86%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
ETF | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Utilities 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.54%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.86%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.87%	[3]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 24.54%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of consumer discretionary stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	9.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Consumer Discretionary 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the consumer discretionary sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS consumer discretionary sector is made up of those companies that tend to be the most sensitive to economic cycles. Its manufacturing segment includes automotive, household durable goods, textiles and apparel, and leisure equipment. The services segment includes hotels, restaurants and other leisure facilities, media production and services, and consumer retailing and services. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the consumer discretionary sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, interest rates, consumer confidence, and disposable income. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Consumer Discretionary Spliced Index reflects performance of the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/Consumer Discretionary 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund Admiral Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.06% (quarter ended September 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.31% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Market Index Changed	rr_PerformanceTableMarketIndexChanged	The Consumer Discretionary Spliced Index reflects performance of the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/Consumer Discretionary 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50 thereafter.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	46.45%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	30.60%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	3.69%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	24.71%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	43.58%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	9.42%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	6.35%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	6.64%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	22.83%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(2.26%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	20.67%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	21.06%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2018
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(16.31%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.26%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.30%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.13%
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.54%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.95%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	17.83%
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.09%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.51%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.56%
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.69%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.70%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.44%	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.70%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.70%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | Consumer Discretionary Spliced Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.18%)	[3],[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.38%	[3],[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.26%	[3],[4]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 20.67%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

[4] Previously the Spliced US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Industrials Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of industrial stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	4.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Industrials 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the industrials sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS industrials sector is made up of companies that manufacture and distribute capital goods such as aerospace and defense, building products, electrical equipment and machinery and companies that offer construction and engineering services. It also includes providers of commercial and professional services including printing, environmental and facilities services, office services and supplies, security and alarm services, human resource and employment services, and research and consulting services. It also includes companies that provide transportation services. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the industrials sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the industrials sector could be affected by, among other things, government regulation, world events and economic conditions, insurance costs, and labor relations issues. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Industrials 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Industrials through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Industrials 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Industrials Index Fund Admiral Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.45% (quarter ended September 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –22.15% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	22.34%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	27.12%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(2.21%)	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	17.13%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	41.92%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	8.55%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(3.58%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	20.36%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	21.51%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(13.93%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	22.99%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	21.45%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(22.15%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.93%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.67%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.78%
Retail | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(14.27%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.22%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.40%
Retail | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.95%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.40%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.71%
Retail | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Industrials
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.85%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.75%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.91%	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Industrials 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.85%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.75%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
Retail | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Industrials 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.85%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.75%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.91%	[3]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 22.99%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

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Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Institutional | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of an index of extended-duration zero- coupon U.S. Treasury securities.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares or Institutional Plus Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense examples, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	20.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Examples
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Institutional Shares or Institutional Plus Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. They illustrate the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. These examples assume that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury STRIPS 20–30 Year Equal Par Bond Index. This Index includes zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities (Treasury STRIPS), which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, with maturities ranging from 20 to 30 years. A Treasury STRIP represents a single coupon payment, or a single principal payment, from a U.S. Treasury security that has been "stripped" into separately tradable components. The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds a range of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key risk factors, including duration, cash flow, and other characteristics. All of the Fund's investments will be selected through the sampling process, and under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund's assets will be invested in U.S. Treasury securities held in the Index. The Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity consistent with that of the Index, which generally ranges between 20 and 30 years. As of August 31, 2019, the dollar-weighted average maturity of the Index was 24.6 years.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. The prices of long-term bonds, such as those held by the Fund, are much more sensitive to interest rate changes than are the prices of short-term bonds. Interest rate risk is expected to be very high for the Fund because it invests primarily in zero-coupon long-term bonds, which have prices that are even more sensitive to interest rate changes than are coupon-bearing bonds of similar maturity. Because the Fund invests primarily in Treasury STRIPS with maturities ranging from 20 to 30 years, rising interest rates may cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline significantly. • Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund's target index. Index sampling risk for the Fund is expected to be low. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares (including annual fund operating expenses but excluding shareholder fees) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. If applicable shareholder fees were reflected, returns would be less than those shown in the bar chart. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented (including annual fund operating expenses and any applicable shareholder fees) compare with those of the Fund's target index, which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares (including annual fund operating expenses but excluding shareholder fees) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. If applicable shareholder fees were reflected, returns would be less than those shown in the bar chart. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented (including annual fund operating expenses and any applicable shareholder fees) compare with those of the Fund's target index, which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund Institutional Shares
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	If applicable shareholder fees were reflected, returns would be less than those shown in the bar chart.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 52.05% (quarter ended September 30, 2011), and the lowest return for a quarter was –20.01% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Does Reflect Sales Loads	rr_PerformanceTableDoesReflectSalesLoads	The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented (including annual fund operating expenses and any applicable shareholder fees) compare with those of the Fund's target index, which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax- deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Institutional Shares and may differ for each share class.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Institutional Shares and may differ for each share class. After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax- deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Institutional | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	0.50%
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.06%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	none	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 6
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	19
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	34
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	77
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	6
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	19
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	34
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 77
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	(36.65%)	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	10.28%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	55.79%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	3.25%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	(20.89%)	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	45.66%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(4.43%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	1.53%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	13.52%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(3.49%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	27.38%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	52.05%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(20.01%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.98%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.03%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.20%
Institutional | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | Institutional Plus Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	0.50%
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.04%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	none	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.04%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 4
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	13
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	23
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	51
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	4
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	13
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	23
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 51
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.97%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.05%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	7.61%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Aug. 28, 2013
Institutional | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(5.14%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.45%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.13%
Institutional | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.38%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.44%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.56%
Institutional | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury STRIPS 20-30 Year Equal Par Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.16%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.91%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.41%
Institutional | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury STRIPS 20-30 Year Equal Par Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | Institutional Plus Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.16%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.91%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	7.69%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Aug. 28, 2013

[1] 0.00%

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 27.38%.

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Total

Retail | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund

Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of consumer discretionary stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Retail Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund Admiral Shares USD ($)
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	$ 20	[1]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Retail Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | Admiral Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Consumer Discretionary 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the consumer discretionary sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS consumer discretionary sector is made up of those companies that tend to be the most sensitive to economic cycles. Its manufacturing segment includes automotive, household durable goods, textiles and apparel, and leisure equipment. The services segment includes hotels, restaurants and other leisure facilities, media production and services, and consumer retailing and services.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the consumer discretionary sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, interest rates, consumer confidence, and disposable income. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Consumer Discretionary Spliced Index reflects performance of the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/Consumer Discretionary 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund Admiral Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.06% (quarter ended September 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.31% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Admiral Shares		(2.26%)	8.30%	18.13%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(2.54%)	7.95%	17.83%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(1.09%)	6.51%	15.56%
MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary	[1]	(0.69%)	8.70%	18.44%
MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50	[1]	(0.70%)	8.70%
Consumer Discretionary Spliced Index	[1],[2]	(2.18%)	8.38%	18.26%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 20.67%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

[2] Previously the Spliced US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50.

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Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund

Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization growth stocks in the United States.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Institutional Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund Institutional Shares
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Institutional Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund Institutional Shares
Management Fees	0.06%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	none	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.06%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Institutional Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | Institutional Shares | USD ($)	6	19	34	77

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 14% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index, which represents the growth companies as determined by the index sponsor, of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. The Index is a float-adjusted, market-capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of mega-capitalization growth stocks in the United States. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index. The Fund may become nondiversified, as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, solely as a result of a change in relative market capitalization or index weighting of one or more constituents of the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization growth stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large-cap growth stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years.

• Nondiversification risk. Due to a recent index rebalance and in order to closely track the composition of the Fund's target index, more than 25% of the Fund's total assets are invested in issuers representing more than 5% of the Fund's total assets. As a result, the Fund is nondiversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, although it continues to hold more than 100 stocks across a number of sectors. The Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks, or even a single stock, and the Fund's shares may experience significant fluctuations in value.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because a significant portion of the Fund's assets are invested in the information technology sector, the Fund's performance is impacted by the general condition of that sector. Companies in the information technology sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, short product cycles, rapid obsolescence of products, competition, and government regulation. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Mega Cap Growth Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US Large Cap Growth Index through April 16, 2013, and the CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund Institutional Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.27% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.46% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Institutional - Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Institutional Shares		(2.85%)	9.56%	14.62%
Institutional Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(3.09%)	9.21%	14.31%
Institutional Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(1.49%)	7.53%	12.34%
MSCI US Large Cap Growth Index	[1]	(1.39%)	10.37%	15.10%
Spliced Mega Cap Growth Index	[1]	(2.85%)	9.61%	14.71%
CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index	[1]	(2.85%)	9.61%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] 0.00%

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 24.53%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

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Total

ETF | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund

Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of consumer staples stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 6% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Consumer Staples 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the consumer staples sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS consumer staples sector is made up of companies whose businesses are less sensitive to economic cycles. It includes manufacturers and distributors of food, beverages, and tobacco, as well as producers of nondurable household goods and personal products. It also includes food and drug retailing companies as well as hypermarkets and consumer supercenters.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the consumer staples sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the consumer staples sector could be affected by, among other things, consumer tastes, government regulation, marketing, and consumer confidence. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 14.55% (quarter ended March 31, 2013), and the lowest return for a quarter was –10.23% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		(7.72%)	6.13%	11.27%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		(8.29%)	5.52%	10.73%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(4.13%)	4.78%	9.36%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		(7.82%)	6.11%	11.26%
MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples	[1]	(8.24%)	6.10%	11.11%
MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50	[1]	(7.65%)	6.22%
Spliced US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50	[1]	(7.65%)	6.22%	11.25%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 21.58%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

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Total

Retail | Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Shares or Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees - Retail - Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund - USD ($)		Investor Shares	Admiral Shares
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases		none	none
Purchase Fee		none	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none
Redemption Fee		none	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	[1]	$ 20	$ 20

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Retail - Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund	Investor Shares	Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.38%	0.28%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none	none
Other Expenses	0.01%	none	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.39%	0.28%

Examples

The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Investor Shares or Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. They illustrate the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. These examples assume that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example - Retail - Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Investor Shares	40	125	219	493
Admiral Shares	29	90	157	356

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense examples, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 41% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests mainly in large-capitalization stocks of U.S. companies considered to have above-average earnings growth potential and reasonable stock prices in comparison with expected earnings. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund's assets will be invested in securities issued by U.S. companies. The Fund uses multiple investment advisors. Each advisor independently selects and maintains a portfolio of common stocks for the Fund.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization growth stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large-cap growth stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years.

• Asset concentration risk, which is the chance that, because the Fund tends to invest a high percentage of assets in its ten largest holdings, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks.

• Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. In addition, significant investment in the information technology sector subjects the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of this sector.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Investor Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented compare with those of relevant market indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Investor Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 18.23% (quarter ended March 31, 2012), and the lowest return for a quarter was –15.40% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Investor Shares		0.62%	10.02%	14.48%
Investor Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(1.59%)	8.37%	13.57%
Investor Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		1.76%	7.72%	12.13%
Admiral Shares		0.75%	10.16%	14.64%
Russell 1000 Growth Index	[1]	(1.51%)	10.40%	15.29%
Standard & Poor's 500 Index	[1]	(4.38%)	8.49%	13.12%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Shares and may differ for each share class. After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax- deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] 0.00%

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 22.23%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization growth stocks in the United States.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 14% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	14.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index, which represents the growth companies as determined by the index sponsor, of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. The Index is a float-adjusted, market-capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of mega-capitalization growth stocks in the United States. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index. The Fund may become nondiversified, as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, solely as a result of a change in relative market capitalization or index weighting of one or more constituents of the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization growth stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large-cap growth stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. • Nondiversification risk. Due to a recent index rebalance and in order to closely track the composition of the Fund's target index, more than 25% of the Fund's total assets are invested in issuers representing more than 5% of the Fund's total assets. As a result, the Fund is nondiversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, although it continues to hold more than 100 stocks across a number of sectors. The Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks, or even a single stock, and the Fund's shares may experience significant fluctuations in value. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because a significant portion of the Fund's assets are invested in the information technology sector, the Fund's performance is impacted by the general condition of that sector. Companies in the information technology sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, short product cycles, rapid obsolescence of products, competition, and government regulation. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk. Due to a recent index rebalance and in order to closely track the composition of the Fund's target index, more than 25% of the Fund's total assets are invested in issuers representing more than 5% of the Fund's total assets. As a result, the Fund is nondiversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, although it continues to hold more than 100 stocks across a number of sectors. The Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks, or even a single stock, and the Fund's shares may experience significant fluctuations in value.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Mega Cap Growth Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US Large Cap Growth Index through April 16, 2013, and the CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.24% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.46% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.06%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.07%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 7
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	23
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	40
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	90
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	7
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	23
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	40
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 90
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	35.09%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	14.67%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	3.05%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	17.23%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	32.48%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	13.66%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	3.72%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	6.40%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	29.47%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(2.86%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	24.53%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	15.24%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2018
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(16.46%)
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.86%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.54%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.61%
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.95%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.53%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.60%
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.09%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.20%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.29%
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.50%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.52%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.33%
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | MSCI US Large Cap Growth Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.39%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.37%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.10%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | Spliced Mega Cap Growth Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.85%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.61%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.71%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.85%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.61%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 24.53%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund

Vanguard Health Care ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of health care stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Health Care 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the health care sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS health care sector includes health care provider and services companies, companies that manufacture and distribute health care equipment and supplies, and health care technology companies. It also includes companies involved in the research, development, production, and marketing of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the health care sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the health care sector could be affected by, among other things, patent protection, government regulation, research and development costs, litigation, and competitive forces. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/ Health Care 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Health Care through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Health Care 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.61% (quarter ended March 31, 2013), and the lowest return for a quarter was –11.60% (quarter ended September 30, 2015).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Health Care Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		5.55%	11.09%	15.16%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		5.22%	10.76%	14.82%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		3.54%	8.80%	12.81%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		5.49%	11.08%	15.14%
MSCI US IMI/Health Care	[1]	5.62%	11.15%	15.28%
MSCI US IMI/Health Care 25/50	[1]	5.62%	11.15%
Spliced US IMI/Health Care 25/50	[1]	5.62%	11.15%	15.28%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 6.19%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellington Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation and moderate current income.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Shares or Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense examples, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 54% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	54.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Examples
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Investor Shares or Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. They illustrate the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. These examples assume that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund invests 60% to 70% of its assets in dividend-paying and, to a lesser extent, non-dividend-paying equity securities of established large and mid-size U.S. and foreign companies. In choosing these companies, the advisor seeks those that appear to be undervalued but have prospects for improvement. These stocks are commonly referred to as value stocks. The remaining 30% to 40% of the Fund's assets are invested mainly in U.S. and foreign fixed income securities that the advisor believes will generate a moderate level of current income. These securities include investment-grade corporate bonds, with some exposure to government and government agency bonds, and mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may also invest in local currency bonds.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund is subject to the risks associated with the U.S. and foreign stock and bond markets, any of which could cause an investor to lose money. However, because stock and bond prices can move in different directions or to different degrees, the Fund's bond holdings may counteract some of the volatility experienced by the Fund's stock holdings. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from mid- and large- capitalization value stocks will trail returns from global stock markets. Mid- and large- cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the global stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. • Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value and/ or liquidity of securities issued by governments, government agencies, or companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of governments, government agencies, or companies located in any one country or region, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. • Income risk, which is the chance that the Fund's income will decline because of falling interest rates. • Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices will decline because of rising interest rates. • Currency risk, which is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. • Currency hedging risk, which is the chance that the currency hedging transactions entered into by the Fund may not perfectly offset the Fund's foreign currency exposure. • Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest or principal in a timely manner or that negative perceptions of the issuer's ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline. • Call risk, which is the chance that during periods of falling interest rates, issuers of callable bonds may call (redeem) securities with higher coupon rates or interest rates before their maturity dates. The Fund would then lose any price appreciation above the bond's call price and would be forced to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund's income. Such redemptions and subsequent reinvestments would also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. For mortgage-backed securities, this risk is known as prepayment risk. • Liquidity risk, which is the chance that the Fund may not be able to sell a security in a timely manner at a desired price. • Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank 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 is subject to the risks associated with the U.S. and foreign stock and bond markets, any of which could cause an investor to lose money.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the performance of the Fund's Investor Shares in its first full calendar year. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented compare with those of a relevant market index and a composite stock/bond index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the performance of the Fund's Investor Shares in its first full calendar year. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented compare with those of a relevant market index and a composite stock/bond index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Investor Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 4.01% (quarter ended September 30, 2018), and the lowest return for a quarter was –7.30% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Shares and may differ for each share class.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Shares and may differ for each share class. After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellington Fund | Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.43%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.03%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.46%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 47
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	148
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	258
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	579
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	47
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	148
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	258
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 579
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(4.85%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	16.28%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2018
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	4.01%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2018
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(7.30%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.85%)
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	(2.60%)
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellington Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.35%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.36%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 37
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	116
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	202
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	456
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	37
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	116
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	202
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 456
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.71%)
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	(2.49%)
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellington Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(5.49%)
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	(3.22%)
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellington Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.56%)
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	(2.06%)
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellington Fund | Global Wellington Composite Index in USD
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(5.55%)	[3]
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	(2.95%)	[3]
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellington Fund | FTSE Developed Net Tax (US RIC) Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(8.74%)	[3]
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	(4.95%)	[3]
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellington Fund | Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.20%)	[3]
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	0.13%	[3]
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017	[3]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 16.28%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund

Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of consumer discretionary stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Consumer Discretionary 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the consumer discretionary sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS consumer discretionary sector is made up of those companies that tend to be the most sensitive to economic cycles. Its manufacturing segment includes automotive, household durable goods, textiles and apparel, and leisure equipment. The services segment includes hotels, restaurants and other leisure facilities, media production and services, and consumer retailing and services.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the consumer discretionary sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, interest rates, consumer confidence, and disposable income. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Consumer Discretionary Spliced Index reflects performance of the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/ Consumer Discretionary 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/ Consumer Discretionary 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.04% (quarter ended September 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.31% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		(2.26%)	8.30%	18.13%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		(2.54%)	7.95%	17.83%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(1.09%)	6.50%	15.56%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		(2.33%)	8.28%	18.12%
MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary	[1]	(0.69%)	8.70%	18.44%
MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50	[1]	(0.70%)	8.70%
Consumer Discretionary Spliced Index	[1],[2]	(2.18%)	8.38%	18.26%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 20.67%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

[2] Previously the Spliced US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50.

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Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF

ETF Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-, mid-, and small-capitalization stocks of companies located in developed and emerging markets outside of the United States and is screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.11%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.17%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF | ETF Shares | USD ($)	17	55	96	217

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the fiscal period from September 18, 2018, to August 31, 2019, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 22% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Choice Index. The Index, which is market-capitalization weighted, is composed of large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks of companies in developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States, and is screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria by the Index sponsor, which is independent of Vanguard. The FTSE Global All Cap ex US Choice Index excludes stocks of companies that FTSE Group (FTSE) determines engage in the following activities: (i) companies that produce adult entertainment; (ii) companies that produce alcoholic beverages; (iii) companies that produce tobacco products; (iv) companies that produce (or produce specific and critical parts or services for) nuclear weapon systems, chemical or biological weapons, cluster munitions, and anti-personnel mines; (v) companies that produce other weapons for military use; (vi) companies that produce firearms or ammunition for non-military use; (vii) companies that own proved or probable reserves in coal, oil, or gas; (viii) companies that provide gambling services; and (ix) companies that generate revenues from nuclear power production. The index methodology also excludes the stocks of companies that, as FTSE determines, do not meet the labor, human rights, environmental, and anticorruption standards as defined by the United Nations Global Compact Principles, as well as companies that do not meet certain diversity criteria. The components of the Index are likely to change over time.

The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds a broadly diversified collection of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key characteristics. These key characteristics include industry weightings and market capitalization, as well as certain financial measures, such as price/earnings ratio and dividend yield.

For additional details regarding the Index Methodology, please see the Index Resources available on FTSE's website.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's investments in foreign stocks can be riskier than U.S. stock investments. Foreign stocks may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. stocks. The prices of foreign stocks and the prices of U.S. stocks may move in opposite directions. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector..

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from small- and mid- capitalization stocks may be more volatile in price than the large-cap stocks that dominate the overall market, and they often perform quite differently. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

• ESG investing risk, which is the chance that the stocks screened by the index sponsor for ESG criteria generally will underperform the stock market as a whole or that the particular stocks selected for the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Choice Index will, in the aggregate, trail returns of other funds screened for ESG criteria.There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to meet ESG criteria. The index provider's assessment of a company, based on the company's level of involvement in a particular industry or the index provider's own ESG criteria, may differ from that of other funds or of the advisor's or an investor's assessment of such company. As a result, the companies deemed eligible by the index provider may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor and may not exhibit positive or favorable ESG characteristics.

• Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of companies located in any one country or region, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets.

• Emerging markets risk, which is the chance that the stocks of companies located in emerging markets will be substantially more volatile, and substantially less liquid, than the stocks of companies located in more developed foreign markets because, among other factors, emerging markets can have greater custodial and operational risks; less developed legal, tax, regulatory, and accounting systems; and greater political, social, and economic instability than developed markets.

• Currency risk, which is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. Currency risk is especially high in emerging markets.

• Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund's target index.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., without first being listed on another exchange or (2) Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The Fund has not been in operation long enough to report a full calendar-year return. Performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

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Retail | Vanguard Global Wellington Fund

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation and moderate current income.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Shares or Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees - Retail - Vanguard Global Wellington Fund - USD ($)		Investor Shares	Admiral Shares
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases		none	none
Purchase Fee		none	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none
Redemption Fee		none	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	[1]	$ 20	$ 20

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Retail - Vanguard Global Wellington Fund	Investor Shares	Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.43%	0.35%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none	none
Other Expenses	0.03%	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.46%	0.36%

Examples

The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Investor Shares or Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. They illustrate the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. These examples assume that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example - Retail - Vanguard Global Wellington Fund - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Investor Shares	47	148	258	579
Admiral Shares	37	116	202	456

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense examples, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 54% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests 60% to 70% of its assets in dividend-paying and, to a lesser extent, non-dividend-paying equity securities of established large and mid-size U.S. and foreign companies. In choosing these companies, the advisor seeks those that appear to be undervalued but have prospects for improvement. These stocks are commonly referred to as value stocks. The remaining 30% to 40% of the Fund's assets are invested mainly in U.S. and foreign fixed income securities that the advisor believes will generate a moderate level of current income. These securities include investment-grade corporate bonds, with some exposure to government and government agency bonds, and mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may also invest in local currency bonds.

Principal Risks

The Fund is subject to the risks associated with the U.S. and foreign stock and bond markets, any of which could cause an investor to lose money. However, because stock and bond prices can move in different directions or to different degrees, the Fund's bond holdings may counteract some of the volatility experienced by the Fund's stock holdings.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from mid- and large- capitalization value stocks will trail returns from global stock markets. Mid- and large- cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the global stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years.

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline.

• Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value and/ or liquidity of securities issued by governments, government agencies, or companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of governments, government agencies, or companies located in any one country or region, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area.

• Income risk, which is the chance that the Fund's income will decline because of falling interest rates.

• Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices will decline because of rising interest rates.

• Currency risk, which is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates.

• Currency hedging risk, which is the chance that the currency hedging transactions entered into by the Fund may not perfectly offset the Fund's foreign currency exposure.

• Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest or principal in a timely manner or that negative perceptions of the issuer's ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline.

• Call risk, which is the chance that during periods of falling interest rates, issuers of callable bonds may call (redeem) securities with higher coupon rates or interest rates before their maturity dates. The Fund would then lose any price appreciation above the bond's call price and would be forced to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund's income. Such redemptions and subsequent reinvestments would also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. For mortgage-backed securities, this risk is known as prepayment risk.

• Liquidity risk, which is the chance that the Fund may not be able to sell a security in a timely manner at a desired price.

• Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the performance of the Fund's Investor Shares in its first full calendar year. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented compare with those of a relevant market index and a composite stock/bond index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Investor Shares

During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 4.01% (quarter ended September 30, 2018), and the lowest return for a quarter was –7.30% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard Global Wellington Fund		1 Year	Since Inception	Inception Date
Investor Shares		(4.85%)	(2.60%)	Nov. 02, 2017
Investor Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(5.49%)	(3.22%)	Nov. 02, 2017
Investor Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(2.56%)	(2.06%)	Nov. 02, 2017
Admiral Shares		(4.71%)	(2.49%)	Nov. 02, 2017
Global Wellington Composite Index in USD	[1]	(5.55%)	(2.95%)	Nov. 02, 2017
FTSE Developed Net Tax (US RIC) Index	[1]	(8.74%)	(4.95%)	Nov. 02, 2017
Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index	[1]	(1.20%)	0.13%	Nov. 02, 2017

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Shares and may differ for each share class. After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 16.28%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

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Retail | Vanguard Materials Index Fund

Vanguard Materials Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of materials stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Retail Vanguard Materials Index Fund Admiral Shares USD ($)
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	$ 20	[1]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Retail Vanguard Materials Index Fund Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Retail | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | Admiral Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Materials 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the materials sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS materials sector is made up of companies that manufacture chemicals, construction materials, glass, paper, forest products, and related packaging products, as well as metals, minerals, and mining companies, including producers of steel.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the materials sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the materials sector could be affected by, among other things, commodity prices, government regulation, inflation expectations, resource availability, and economic cycles. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Materials 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Materials through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Materials 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Materials Index Fund Admiral Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 22.44% (quarter ended September 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –25.11% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard Materials Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Admiral Shares		(17.37%)	3.38%	11.44%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(17.72%)	2.92%	11.02%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(9.98%)	2.60%	9.53%
MSCI US IMI/Materials	[1]	(17.32%)	3.44%	11.55%
MSCI US IMI/Materials 25/50	[1]	(17.32%)	3.44%
Spliced US IMI/Materials 25/50	[1]	(17.32%)	3.44%	11.55%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 15.71%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Health Care ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of health care stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	5.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Health Care 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the health care sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS health care sector includes health care provider and services companies, companies that manufacture and distribute health care equipment and supplies, and health care technology companies. It also includes companies involved in the research, development, production, and marketing of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the health care sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the health care sector could be affected by, among other things, patent protection, government regulation, research and development costs, litigation, and competitive forces. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/ Health Care 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Health Care through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Health Care 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.61% (quarter ended March 31, 2013), and the lowest return for a quarter was –11.60% (quarter ended September 30, 2015).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	22.01%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	5.75%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	10.57%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	19.10%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	42.67%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	25.38%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	7.22%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	(3.33%)	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	23.34%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	5.55%	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	6.19%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2013
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	15.61%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2015
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(11.60%)
ETF | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.55%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.09%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.16%
ETF | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.49%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.08%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.14%
ETF | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.22%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.76%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.82%
ETF | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.54%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.80%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.81%
ETF | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Health Care
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.62%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.15%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.28%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Health Care 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.62%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.15%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
ETF | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Health Care 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.62%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.15%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.28%	[3]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 6.19%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Total

Retail | Vanguard Financials Index Fund

Vanguard Financials Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of financial stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Retail Vanguard Financials Index Fund Admiral Shares USD ($)
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	$ 20	[1]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Retail Vanguard Financials Index Fund Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Retail | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | Admiral Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Financials 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the financials sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS financials sector is made up of companies involved in banking, thrifts and mortgage finance, consumer finance, specialized finance, asset managment and custody banks, investment banking and brokerage, and insurance. It also includes Financial Exchanges and Data and Mortgage REITS.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the financials sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the financials sector could be affected by, among other things, government regulation, interest rates, cost of capital funds, credit losses, and financial markets. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Financials 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Financials through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Financials 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Financials Index Fund Admiral Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 28.92% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –26.94% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard Financials Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Admiral Shares		(13.46%)	8.00%	10.78%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(13.88%)	7.44%	10.25%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(7.61%)	6.19%	8.79%
MSCI US IMI/Financials	[1]	(13.39%)	8.10%	10.84%
MSCI US IMI/Financials 25/50	[1]	(13.39%)	8.10%
Spliced US IMI/Financials 25/50	[1]	(13.39%)	8.10%	10.84%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 19.96%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 11% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	11.00%
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text]	rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates	The expense information shown in the table reflects estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the FTSE4Good US Select Index. The Index is composed of the stocks of companies that have been screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria by the Index sponsor, which is independent of Vanguard. The Index is market-capitalization-weighted and includes primarily large- and mid-cap U.S. stocks that have been screened for certain criteria related to the environment, human rights, health and safety, labor standards, and diversity. The Index excludes companies that FTSE determines are involved with weapons, tobacco, gambling, alcohol, adult entertainment, and nuclear power. The components of the Index are likely to change over time. The Fund attempts to replicate the Index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, large- and mid-cap stocks, such as those held by the Fund, each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. • ESG investing risk, which is the chance that stocks screened by the index sponsor for ESG criteria generally will underperform the stock market as a whole or that the particular stocks selected for the FTSE4Good US Select Index will, in the aggregate, trail returns of other mutual funds screened for ESG criteria. There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to meet ESG criteria. The index provider's assessment of a company, based on the company's level of involvement in a particular industry or the index provider's own ESG criteria, may differ from that of other funds or of the advisor's or an investor's assessment of such company. As a result, the companies deemed eligible by the index provider may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor and may not exhibit positive or favorable ESG characteristics. Additionally, the FTSE4Good US Select Index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The Fund's Admiral Shares have not been in operation long enough to report a full calendar-year returns. The information presented in the bar chart and table reflects the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares, which are offered through a separate prospectus. Performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares would be substantially similar to that of the Institutional Shares because both share classes constitute an investment in the same portfolio of securities; therefore, their returns generally should differ only to the extent that the expenses of the two share classes differ. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and a comparative index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and a comparative index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance One Year or Less [Text]	rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess	The Fund's Admiral Shares have not been in operation long enough to report a full calendar-year returns.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 20.09% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –13.16% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Bar Chart, Returns for Class Not Offered in Prospectus [Text]	rr_BarChartReturnsForClassNotOfferedInProspectus	The Fund's Admiral Shares have not been in operation long enough to report a full calendar-year returns. The information presented in the bar chart and table reflects the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares, which are offered through a separate prospectus. Performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares would be substantially similar to that of the Institutional Shares because both share classes constitute an investment in the same portfolio of securities; therefore, their returns generally should differ only to the extent that the expenses of the two share classes differ.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.13%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.14%	[2]
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 14
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	45
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	79
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	179
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	14
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	45
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	79
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 179
Retail | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	35.27%	[3]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	14.58%	[3]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(0.52%)	[3]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	17.84%	[3]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	37.09%	[3]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	15.85%	[3]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	1.27%	[3]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	10.34%	[3]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	24.19%	[3]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(3.38%)	[3]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	19.03%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	20.09%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(13.16%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.38%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.20%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.49%
Retail | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.78%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.78%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.14%
Retail | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.70%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.24%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.22%
Retail | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | FTSE4Good US Select Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.32%)	[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.33%	[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.61%	[4]
Retail | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Float Adjusted Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(5.30%)	[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.86%	[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.22%	[4]

[1] /year

[2] The expense information shown in the table reflects estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

[3] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 19.03%.

[4] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of consumer staples stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 6% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	6.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Consumer Staples 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the consumer staples sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS consumer staples sector is made up of companies whose businesses are less sensitive to economic cycles. It includes manufacturers and distributors of food, beverages, and tobacco, as well as producers of nondurable household goods and personal products. It also includes food and drug retailing companies as well as hypermarkets and consumer supercenters. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the consumer staples sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the consumer staples sector could be affected by, among other things, consumer tastes, government regulation, marketing, and consumer confidence. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 14.54% (quarter ended March 31, 2013), and the lowest return for a quarter was –10.22% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.06%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.04%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	16.95%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	14.43%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	13.65%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	11.09%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	27.98%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	15.85%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	6.01%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	6.30%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	11.80%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(7.71%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	21.58%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2013
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	14.54%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(10.22%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.71%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.14%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.28%
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(8.29%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.53%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.73%
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.12%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.78%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.36%
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(8.24%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.10%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.11%	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.65%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.22%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.65%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.22%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.25%	[3]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 21.58%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund

Vanguard Communication Services ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of communication services stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.08%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 33% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Communication Services 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the communication services sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS communication services sector is made up of companies that facilitate communication and offer related content and information through various mediums. It includes telecommunication companies and media and entertainment companies, including producers of interactive gaming products and companies engaged in content and information creation or distribution through proprietary platforms.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the communication services sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the communication services sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, competition, and government regulation. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Effective December 3, 2018, the Fund began tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/ Communication Services 25/50 as its target index. The Fund's board of trustees approved this change in response to MSCI's decision to restructure the communication services sector (previously named the telecommunication services sector) under GICS. The Communication Services Spliced Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Telecommunication Services through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Telecommunication Services 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/Communication Services 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/Communication Services 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 18.16% (quarter ended September 30, 2010), and the lowest return for a quarter was –15.04% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		(16.52%)	0.64%	8.53%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		(16.99%)	(0.10%)	7.84%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(9.35%)	0.53%	7.05%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		(16.79%)	0.62%	8.50%
MSCI US IMI/Communication Services	[1],[2]	(5.80%)	4.08%	8.69%
MSCI US IMI/Communication Services 25/50	[1],[2]	5.10%	3.23%
Communication Services Spliced Index	[1],[3]	(16.55%)	0.61%	6.82%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 17.69%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

[2] Effective December 3, 2018, the Index changed its name and updated its constituents in response to MSCI's decision to broaden the telecommunication services sector and rename it as the communication services sector under GICS.

[3] Previously the Spliced US IMI/Telecommunication Services 25/50.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Mega Cap ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization stocks in the United States.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	4.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. The Index is a float-adjusted, market- capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of mega-capitalization stocks in the United States. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund’s share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund’s performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund’s target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large- cap stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund’s ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund’s ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund’s ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund’s ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Mega Cap Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US Large Cap 300 Index through January 30, 2013, and the CRSP US Mega Cap Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.54% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –13.36% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.05%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.07%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 7
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	23
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	40
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	90
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	7
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	23
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	40
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 90
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	25.43%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	13.81%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	2.32%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	16.11%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	32.11%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	13.27%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	1.53%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	11.78%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	22.56%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(3.44%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	20.03%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	15.54%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(13.36%)
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.44%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.75%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.05%
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.49%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.75%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.03%
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.90%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.23%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.57%
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.68%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.86%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.89%
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | MSCI US Large Cap 300 Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.89%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.65%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.03%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | Spliced Mega Cap Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.43%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.81%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.13%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | CRSP US Mega Cap Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.43%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.81%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 20.03%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Energy Index Fund

Vanguard Energy ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of energy stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Energy Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Energy Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.08%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 7% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Energy 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the energy sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS energy sector is made up of companies engaged in exploration and production, refining and marketing, and storage and transportation of oil and gas and coal and consumable fuels. It also includes companies that offer oil and gas equipment and services.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the energy sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the energy sector could be affected by, among other things, geopolitical events, government regulation, economic cycles, and fuel prices. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Energy 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Energy through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Energy 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll- free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Energy Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.97% (quarter ended December 31, 2010), and the lowest return for a quarter was –26.02% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Energy Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		(19.91%)	(6.96%)	3.50%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		(20.42%)	(7.55%)	3.03%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(11.27%)	(5.03%)	2.88%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		(20.01%)	(6.97%)	3.50%
MSCI US IMI/Energy	[1]	(19.89%)	(7.11%)	3.03%
MSCI US IMI/Energy 25/50	[1]	(19.80%)	(6.80%)
Spliced US IMI/Energy 25/50	[1]	(19.80%)	(6.80%)	3.17%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 3.56%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund

Vanguard Industrials ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of industrial stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Industrials Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Industrials Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Industrials 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the industrials sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS industrials sector is made up of companies that manufacture and distribute capital goods such as aerospace and defense, building products, electrical equipment and machinery and companies that offer construction and engineering services. It also includes providers of commercial and professional services including printing, environmental and facilities services, office services and supplies, security and alarm services, human resource and employment services, and research and consulting services. It also includes companies that provide transportation services.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the industrials sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the industrials sector could be affected by, among other things, government regulation, world events and economic conditions, insurance costs, and labor relations issues. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/ Industrials 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Industrials through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Industrials 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Industrials Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.47% (quarter ended September 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –22.13% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Industrials Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		(13.92%)	5.66%	12.78%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		(14.26%)	5.22%	12.40%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(7.94%)	4.40%	10.71%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		(14.03%)	5.64%	12.76%
MSCI US IMI/Industrials	[1]	(13.85%)	5.75%	12.91%
MSCI US IMI/Industrials 25/50	[1]	(13.85%)	5.75%
Spliced US IMI/Industrials 25/50	[1]	(13.85%)	5.75%	12.91%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 22.98%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of information technology stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	5.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Information Technology 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the information technology sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS information technology sector is made up of companies that offer software and information technology services as well as manufacturers and distributors of technology hardware and equipment such as communications equipment, cellular phones, computers and peripherals, electronic equipment and related instruments, and semiconductors. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the information technology sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the information technology sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, short product cycles, rapid obsolescence of products, competition, and government regulation. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Information Technology Spliced Index reflects performance of the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/Information Technology 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 20.85% (quarter ended March 31, 2012), and the lowest return for a quarter was –17.32% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Market Index Changed	rr_PerformanceTableMarketIndexChanged	The Information Technology Spliced Index reflects performance of the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/Information Technology 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/50 thereafter.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	61.72%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	12.72%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	0.53%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	14.04%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	30.93%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	18.05%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	5.03%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	13.75%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	37.07%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	2.52%	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	30.44%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2012
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	20.85%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2018
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(17.32%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.52%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.66%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.42%
Retail | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.23%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.33%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.16%
Retail | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.73%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.75%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.82%
Retail | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Information Technology
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.14%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.14%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.24%	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.14%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.14%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
Retail | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | Information Technology Spliced Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.61%	[3],[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.76%	[3],[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.58%	[3],[4]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 30.44%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

[4] Previously the Spliced US IMI/Information Technology 25/50.

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund

Vanguard Utilities ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of utilities stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Utilities 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the utilities sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS utilities sector is made up of electric, gas, and water utility companies. It also includes independent power producers and energy traders and companies that engage in generation and distribution of electricity using renewable sources.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the utilities sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the utilities sector could be affected by government regulation, overall economic conditions, and fuel prices. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/ Utilities 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Utilities through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Utilities 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.24% (quarter ended March 31, 2016), and the lowest return for a quarter was –11.50% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Utilities Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		4.43%	10.78%	10.73%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		3.64%	9.91%	9.94%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		3.18%	8.46%	8.76%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		4.34%	10.77%	10.72%
MSCI US IMI/Utilities	[1]	4.54%	10.86%	10.87%
MSCI US IMI/Utilities 25/50	[1]	4.54%	10.86%
Spliced US IMI/Utilities 25/50	[1]	4.54%	10.86%	10.87%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 24.54%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard Energy Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Energy Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of energy stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 7% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	7.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Energy 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the energy sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS energy sector is made up of companies engaged in exploration and production, refining and marketing, and storage and transportation of oil and gas and coal and consumable fuels. It also includes companies that offer oil and gas equipment and services. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the energy sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the energy sector could be affected by, among other things, geopolitical events, government regulation, economic cycles, and fuel prices. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Energy 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Energy through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Energy 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/ performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/ performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Energy Index Fund Admiral Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.95% (quarter ended December 31, 2010), and the lowest return for a quarter was –26.02% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	24.85%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	21.10%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	2.79%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	3.49%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	25.78%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	(9.88%)	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(23.22%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	28.94%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	(2.39%)	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(19.91%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	3.56%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2010
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	21.95%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2018
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(26.02%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(19.91%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(6.95%)
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.50%
Retail | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(20.42%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(7.54%)
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.04%
Retail | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(11.27%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(5.03%)
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.88%
Retail | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Energy
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(19.89%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(7.11%)	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.03%	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Energy 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(19.80%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(6.80%)	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
Retail | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Energy 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(19.80%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(6.80%)	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.17%	[3]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 3.56%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Total

Institutional | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large- and mid-capitalization stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Institutional Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Institutional Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares
Management Fees	0.11%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.12%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Institutional Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Institutional | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | Institutional Shares | USD ($)	12	39	68	154

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 11% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the FTSE4Good US Select Index. The Index is composed of the stocks of companies that have been screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria by the Index sponsor, which is independent of Vanguard. The Index is market-capitalization-weighted and includes primarily large- and mid-cap U.S. stocks that have been screened for certain criteria related to the environment, human rights, health and safety, labor standards, and diversity. The Index excludes companies that FTSE determines are involved with weapons, tobacco, gambling, alcohol, adult entertainment, and nuclear power. The components of the Index are likely to change over time. The Fund attempts to replicate the Index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, large- and mid-cap stocks, such as those held by the Fund, each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

• ESG investing risk, which is the chance that stocks screened by the index sponsor for ESG criteria generally will underperform the stock market as a whole or that the particular stocks selected for the FTSE4Good US Select Index will, in the aggregate, trail returns of other mutual funds screened for ESG criteria. There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to meet ESG criteria. The index provider's assessment of a company, based on the company's level of involvement in a particular industry or the index provider's own ESG criteria, may differ from that of other funds or of the advisor's or an investor's assessment of such company. As a result, the companies deemed eligible by the index provider may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor and may not exhibit positive or favorable ESG characteristics. Additionally, the FTSE4Good US Select Index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and a comparative index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 20.09% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –13.16% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Institutional - Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Institutional Shares		(3.38%)	9.20%	14.49%
Institutional Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(3.78%)	8.78%	14.14%
Institutional Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(1.70%)	7.24%	12.22%
FTSE4Good US Select Index	[1]	(3.32%)	9.33%	14.61%
Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Float Adjusted Index	[1]	(5.30%)	7.86%	13.22%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 19.03%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard Financials Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Financials Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of financial stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	5.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Financials 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the financials sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS financials sector is made up of companies involved in banking, thrifts and mortgage finance, consumer finance, specialized finance, asset managment and custody banks, investment banking and brokerage, and insurance. It also includes Financial Exchanges and Data and Mortgage REITS. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the financials sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the financials sector could be affected by, among other things, government regulation, interest rates, cost of capital funds, credit losses, and financial markets. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Financials 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Financials through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Financials 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Financials Index Fund Admiral Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 28.92% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –26.94% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	14.76%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	14.79%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(14.39%)	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	26.34%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	32.96%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	13.95%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(0.44%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	24.68%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	20.06%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(13.46%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	19.96%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	28.92%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(26.94%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.46%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.00%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.78%
Retail | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.88%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.44%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.25%
Retail | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.61%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.19%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.79%
Retail | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Financials
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.39%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.10%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.84%	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Financials 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.39%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.10%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
Retail | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Financials 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.39%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.10%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.84%	[3]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 19.96%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard Materials Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Materials Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of materials stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	4.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Materials 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the materials sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS materials sector is made up of companies that manufacture chemicals, construction materials, glass, paper, forest products, and related packaging products, as well as metals, minerals, and mining companies, including producers of steel. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the materials sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the materials sector could be affected by, among other things, commodity prices, government regulation, inflation expectations, resource availability, and economic cycles. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Materials 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Materials through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Materials 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Materials Index Fund Admiral Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 22.44% (quarter ended September 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –25.11% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	51.59%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	24.37%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(9.47%)	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	17.29%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	24.94%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	5.93%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(10.15%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	21.41%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	23.68%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(17.37%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	15.71%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	22.44%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(25.11%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(17.37%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.38%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.44%
Retail | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(17.72%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.92%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.02%
Retail | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(9.98%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.60%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.53%
Retail | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Materials
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(17.32%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.44%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.55%	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Materials 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(17.32%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.44%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
Retail | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Materials 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(17.32%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.44%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.55%	[3]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 15.71%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard International Growth Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Shares or Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense examples, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 13% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	13.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Examples
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Investor Shares or Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. They illustrate the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. These examples assume that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund invests predominantly in the stocks of companies located outside the United States and is expected to diversify its assets in countries across developed and emerging markets. In selecting stocks, the Fund's advisors evaluate foreign markets around the world and choose large-, mid-, and small-capitalization companies considered to have above-average growth potential. The Fund uses multiple investment advisors. Each advisor independently selects and maintains a portfolio of common stocks for the Fund.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from non-U.S. growth stocks and, to the extent that the Fund is invested in them, small- and mid-cap stocks, will trail returns from global stock markets. Historically, non-U.S. small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than the large-cap stocks that dominate the global markets, and they often perform quite differently. • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's investments in foreign stocks can be riskier than U.S. stock investments. Foreign stocks may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. stocks. The prices of foreign stocks and the prices of U.S. stocks may move in opposite directions. • Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of companies located in any one country or region, including emerging markets, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets. • Currency risk, which is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. Currency risk is especially high in emerging markets. • Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. In addition, significant investment in the consumer discretionary and information technology sectors subjects the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of these sectors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Investor Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented compare with those of relevant market indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced International Index reflects performance of the MSCI EAFE Index through May 31, 2010, and the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index thereafter. Returns for the indexes shown are adjusted for withholding taxes. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Investor Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented compare with those of relevant market indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard International Growth Fund Investor Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 27.03% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –22.34% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax- deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Shares and may differ for each share class.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Shares and may differ for each share class. After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax- deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard International Growth Fund | Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.41%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.43%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 44
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	138
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	241
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	542
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	44
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	138
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	241
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 542
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	41.63%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	15.66%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(13.68%)	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	20.01%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	22.95%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	(5.63%)	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(0.67%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	1.71%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	42.96%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(12.69%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	14.97%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	27.03%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(22.34%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(12.69%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.54%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.52%
Retail | Vanguard International Growth Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.31%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.32%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 33
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	103
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	180
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	406
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	33
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	103
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	180
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 406
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(12.58%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.68%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.67%
Retail | Vanguard International Growth Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.70%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.03%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.09%
Retail | Vanguard International Growth Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(6.72%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.72%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.85%
Retail | Vanguard International Growth Fund | MSCI ACWI ex USA Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(14.20%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.68%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.57%	[3]
Retail | Vanguard International Growth Fund | Spliced International Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(14.20%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.68%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.53%	[3]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 14.97%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees or expenses)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Information Technology ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of information technology stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	5.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Information Technology 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the information technology sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS information technology sector is made up of companies that offer software and information technology services as well as manufacturers and distributors of technology hardware and equipment such as communications equipment, cellular phones, computers and peripherals, electronic equipment and related instruments, and semiconductors. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the information technology sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the information technology sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, short product cycles, rapid obsolescence of products, competition, and government regulation. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Information Technology Spliced Index reflects performance of the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/ 50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/ Information Technology 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/ Information Technology 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 20.85% (quarter ended March 31, 2012), and the lowest return for a quarter was –17.31% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Market Index Changed	rr_PerformanceTableMarketIndexChanged	The Information Technology Spliced Index reflects performance of the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/ 50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/ Information Technology 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/ Information Technology 25/50 thereafter.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	61.74%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	12.74%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	0.52%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	14.05%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	30.91%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	18.01%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	5.02%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	13.73%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	37.07%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	2.52%	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	30.42%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2012
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	20.85%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2018
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(17.31%)
ETF | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.52%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.65%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.42%
ETF | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.43%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.63%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.42%
ETF | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.24%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.32%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.16%
ETF | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.73%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.74%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.82%
ETF | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Information Technology
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.14%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.14%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.24%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.14%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.14%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
ETF | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | Information Technology Spliced Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.61%	[3],[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.76%	[3],[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.58%	[3],[4]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 30.42%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

[4] Previously the Spliced US IMI/Information Technology 25/50.

XML

Total

Retail | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund

Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of communication services stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Retail Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares USD ($)
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	$ 20	[1]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Retail Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Retail | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | Admiral Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 33% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Communication Services 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the communication services sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS communication services sector is made up of companies that facilitate communication and offer related content and information through various mediums. It includes telecommunication companies and media and entertainment companies, including producers of interactive gaming products and companies engaged in content and information creation or distribution through proprietary platforms.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the communication services sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the communication services sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, competition, and government regulation. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Effective December 3, 2018, the Fund began tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Communication Services 25/50 as its target index. The Fund's board of trustees approved this change in response to MSCI's decision to restructure the communication services sector (previously named the telecommunication services sector) under GICS. The Communication Services Spliced Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/ Telecommunication Services through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/ Telecommunication Services 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/Communication Services 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/Communication Services 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 18.20% (quarter ended September 30, 2010), and the lowest return for a quarter was –15.05% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Admiral Shares		(16.50%)	0.65%	8.54%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(16.97%)	(0.09%)	7.85%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(9.34%)	0.54%	7.05%
MSCI US IMI/Communication Services	[1],[2]	(5.80%)	4.08%	8.69%
MSCI US IMI/Communication Services 25/50	[1],[2]	(5.10%)	3.23%
Communication Services Spliced Index	[1],[3]	(16.55%)	0.61%	6.82%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 17.69%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

[2] Effective December 3, 2018, the Index changed its name and updated its constituents in response to MSCI's decision to broaden the telecommunication services sector and rename it as the communication services sector under GICS.

[3] Previously the Spliced US IMI/Telecommunication Services 25/50.

XML

Total

Retail | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund

Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of consumer staples stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Retail Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares USD ($)
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	$ 20	[1]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Retail Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.06%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.04%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Retail | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | Admiral Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 6% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Consumer Staples 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the consumer staples sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS consumer staples sector is made up of companies whose businesses are less sensitive to economic cycles. It includes manufacturers and distributors of food, beverages, and tobacco, as well as producers of nondurable household goods and personal products. It also includes food and drug retailing companies as well as hypermarkets and consumer supercenters.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the consumer staples sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the consumer staples sector could be affected by, among other things, consumer tastes, government regulation, marketing, and consumer confidence. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 14.54% (quarter ended March 31, 2013), and the lowest return for a quarter was –10.22% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Admiral Shares		(7.71%)	6.14%	11.28%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(8.29%)	5.53%	10.73%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(4.12%)	4.78%	9.36%
MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples	[1]	(8.24%)	6.10%	11.11%
MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50	[1]	(7.65%)	6.22%
Spliced US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50	[1]	(7.65%)	6.22%	11.25%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 21.58%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of consumer discretionary stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	9.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Consumer Discretionary 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the consumer discretionary sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS consumer discretionary sector is made up of those companies that tend to be the most sensitive to economic cycles. Its manufacturing segment includes automotive, household durable goods, textiles and apparel, and leisure equipment. The services segment includes hotels, restaurants and other leisure facilities, media production and services, and consumer retailing and services. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the consumer discretionary sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, interest rates, consumer confidence, and disposable income. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Consumer Discretionary Spliced Index reflects performance of the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/ Consumer Discretionary 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/ Consumer Discretionary 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.04% (quarter ended September 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.31% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Market Index Changed	rr_PerformanceTableMarketIndexChanged	The Consumer Discretionary Spliced Index reflects performance of the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/ Consumer Discretionary 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/ Consumer Discretionary 25/50 thereafter.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	46.52%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	30.57%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	3.71%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	24.72%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	43.57%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	9.39%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	6.35%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	6.64%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	22.83%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(2.26%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	20.67%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	21.04%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2018
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(16.31%)
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.26%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.30%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.13%
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.33%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.28%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.12%
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.54%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.95%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	17.83%
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.09%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.50%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.56%
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.69%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.70%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.44%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.70%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.70%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund | Consumer Discretionary Spliced Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.18%)	[3],[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.38%	[3],[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	18.26%	[3],[4]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 20.67%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

[4] Previously the Spliced US IMI/Consumer Discretionary 25/50.

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund

ETF Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of an index of extended-duration zero- coupon U.S. Treasury securities.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.06%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.07%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	7	23	40	90

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury STRIPS 20–30 Year Equal Par Bond Index. This Index includes zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities (Treasury STRIPS), which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, with maturities ranging from 20 to 30 years. A Treasury STRIP represents a single coupon payment, or a single principal payment, from a U.S. Treasury security that has been "stripped" into separately tradable components.

The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds a range of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key risk factors, including duration, cash flow, and other characteristics. All of the Fund's investments will be selected through the sampling process, and under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund's assets will be invested in U.S. Treasury securities held in the Index. The Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity consistent with that of the Index, which generally ranges between 20 and 30 years. As of August 31, 2019, the dollar-weighted average maturity of the Index was 24.6 years.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. The prices of long-term bonds, such as those held by the Fund, are much more sensitive to interest rate changes than are the prices of short-term bonds. Interest rate risk is expected to be very high for the Fund because it invests primarily in zero-coupon long-term bonds, which have prices that are even more sensitive to interest rate changes than are coupon-bearing bonds of similar maturity. Because the Fund invests primarily in Treasury STRIPS with maturities ranging from 20 to 30 years, rising interest rates may cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline significantly.

• Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund's target index. Index sampling risk for the Fund is expected to be low.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index, which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 52.06% (quarter ended September 30, 2011), and the lowest return for a quarter was –20.01% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV	(3.51%)	9.12%	3.23%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions	(4.68%)	7.54%	1.16%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	(2.11%)	6.51%	1.58%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price	(3.54%)	9.01%	3.26%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury STRIPS 20-30 Year Equal Par Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)	(4.16%)	8.91%	3.41%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 27.38%.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of income and a high and sustainable level of current income, along with moderate long-term capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Shares or Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense examples, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 90% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	90.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Examples
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Investor Shares or Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. They illustrate the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. These examples assume that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund invests approximately 60% to 70% of its assets in U.S. and foreign investment-grade fixed income securities that the advisor believes will generate a moderate level of current income, including corporate, government, and government agency bonds, as well as mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may also invest in local currency bonds. The remaining 30% to 40% of Fund assets are invested in equity securities of large and mid-size U.S. and foreign companies that have a history of above-average dividends or expectations of increasing dividends.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund is subject to the risks associated with the U.S. and foreign stock and bond markets, any of which could cause an investor to lose money. However, because fixed income securities such as bonds usually are less volatile than stocks and because the Fund invests more than half of its assets in fixed income securities, the Fund's overall level of risk should be low to moderate. • Income risk, which is the chance that the Fund's income will decline because of falling interest rates. • Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices will decline because of rising interest rates. • Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value and/ or liquidity of securities issued by governments, government agencies, or companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of governments, government agencies, or companies located in any one country or region, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from mid- and large- capitalization dividend-paying value stocks will trail returns from the global stock markets. Mid- and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the global stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. • Currency risk, which is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. • Currency hedging risk, which is the chance that the currency hedging transactions entered into by the Fund may not perfectly offset the Fund's foreign currency exposure. • Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest or principal in a timely manner or that negative perceptions of the issuer's ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline. • Call risk, which is the chance that during periods of falling interest rates, issuers of callable bonds may call (redeem) securities with higher coupon rates or interest rates before their maturity dates. The Fund would then lose any price appreciation above the bond's call price and would be forced to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund's income. Such redemptions and subsequent reinvestments would also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. For mortgage-backed securities, this risk is known as prepayment risk. • Liquidity risk, which is the chance that the Fund may not be able to sell a security in a timely manner at a desired price. • Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank 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 is subject to the risks associated with the U.S. and foreign stock and bond markets, any of which could cause an investor to lose money.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the performance of the Fund's Investor Shares in its first full calendar year. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented compare with those of a relevant market index and a composite bond/stock index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the performance of the Fund's Investor Shares in its first full calendar year. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented compare with those of a relevant market index and a composite bond/stock index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund Investor Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 1.47% (quarter ended September 30, 2018), and the lowest return for a quarter was –4.13% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Shares and may differ for each share class.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Shares and may differ for each share class. After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund | Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.38%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.04%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.42%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 43
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	135
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	235
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	530
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	43
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	135
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	235
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 530
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(4.38%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	10.94%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2018
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	1.47%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2018
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(4.13%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.38%)
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	(3.01%)
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.30%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.32%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 33
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	103
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	180
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	406
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	33
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	103
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	180
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 406
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.31%)
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	(2.91%)
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(5.66%)
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	(4.21%)
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.28%)
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	(2.61%)
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund | Global Wellesley Income Composite Index in USD
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.87%)	[3]
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	(2.25%)	[3]
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund | FTSE Developed Net Tax (US RIC) Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(8.74%)	[3]
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	(4.95%)	[3]
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund | Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.20%)	[3]
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	0.13%	[3]
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 02, 2017	[3]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 10.94%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Energy Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Energy ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of energy stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 7% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	7.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Energy 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the energy sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS energy sector is made up of companies engaged in exploration and production, refining and marketing, and storage and transportation of oil and gas and coal and consumable fuels. It also includes companies that offer oil and gas equipment and services. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the energy sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the energy sector could be affected by, among other things, geopolitical events, government regulation, economic cycles, and fuel prices. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Energy 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Energy through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Energy 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll- free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Energy Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.97% (quarter ended December 31, 2010), and the lowest return for a quarter was –26.02% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.08%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	24.90%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	21.09%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	2.80%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	3.46%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	25.78%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	(9.92%)	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(23.22%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	28.96%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	(2.40%)	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(19.91%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	3.56%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2010
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	21.97%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2018
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(26.02%)
ETF | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(19.91%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(6.96%)
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.50%
ETF | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(20.01%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(6.97%)
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.50%
ETF | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(20.42%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(7.55%)
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.03%
ETF | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(11.27%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(5.03%)
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.88%
ETF | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Energy
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(19.89%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(7.11%)	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.03%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Energy 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(19.80%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(6.80%)	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
ETF | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Energy 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(19.80%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(6.80%)	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.17%	[3]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 3.56%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	ETF Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-, mid-, and small-capitalization stocks of U.S. companies and is screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the fiscal period September 18, 2018, to August 31, 2019, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 6% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	6.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the FTSE US All Cap Choice Index. The Index, which is market- capitalization weighted, is composed of large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks of companies located in the United States and is screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria by the Index sponsor, which is independent of Vanguard.The FTSE US All Cap Choice Index excludes stocks of companies that FTSE Group (FTSE) determines engage in the following activities: (i) companies that produce adult entertainment; (ii) companies that produce alcoholic beverages; (iii) companies that produce tobacco products; (iv) companies that produce (or produce specific and critical parts or services for) nuclear weapon systems, chemical or biological weapons, cluster munitions, and anti-personnel mines; (v) companies that produce other weapons for military use; (vi) companies that produce firearms or ammunition for non-military use; (vii) companies that own proved or probable reserves in coal, oil, or gas; (viii) companies that provide gambling services; and (ix) companies that generate revenues from nuclear power production. The index methodology also excludes the stocks of companies that, as FTSE Group determines, do not meet the labor, human rights, environmental, and anticorruption standards as defined by the United Nations Global Compact Principles, as well as companies that do not meet certain diversity criteria. The components of the Index are likely to change over time. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index. For additional details regarding the Index Methodology, please see the Index Resources available on FTSE's website.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. Stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from small- and mid- capitalization stocks may be more volatile in price than the large-cap stocks that dominate the overall market, and they often perform quite differently. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. • ESG investing risk, which is the chance that the stocks screened by the index sponsor for ESG criteria generally will underperform the stock market as a whole or that the particular stocks selected for the FTSE US All Cap Choice Index will, in the aggregate, trail returns of other funds screened for ESG criteria.There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to meet ESG criteria. The index provider's assessment of a company, based on the company's level of involvement in a particular industry or the index provider's own ESG criteria, may differ from that of other funds or of the advisor's or an investor's assessment of such company. As a result, the companies deemed eligible by the index provider may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor and may not exhibit positive or favorable ESG characteristics. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., without first being listed on another exchange or (2) Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund has not been in operation long enough to report a full calendar-year return. Performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance One Year or Less [Text]	rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess	The Fund has not been in operation long enough to report a full calendar-year return.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.10%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.12%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 12
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	39
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	68
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	154
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	12
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	39
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	68
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 154

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

XML

Total

Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF

ETF Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-, mid-, and small-capitalization stocks of U.S. companies and is screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.10%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.12%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF | ETF Shares | USD ($)	12	39	68	154

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the fiscal period September 18, 2018, to August 31, 2019, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 6% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the FTSE US All Cap Choice Index. The Index, which is market- capitalization weighted, is composed of large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks of companies located in the United States and is screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria by the Index sponsor, which is independent of Vanguard.The FTSE US All Cap Choice Index excludes stocks of companies that FTSE Group (FTSE) determines engage in the following activities: (i) companies that produce adult entertainment; (ii) companies that produce alcoholic beverages; (iii) companies that produce tobacco products; (iv) companies that produce (or produce specific and critical parts or services for) nuclear weapon systems, chemical or biological weapons, cluster munitions, and anti-personnel mines; (v) companies that produce other weapons for military use; (vi) companies that produce firearms or ammunition for non-military use; (vii) companies that own proved or probable reserves in coal, oil, or gas; (viii) companies that provide gambling services; and (ix) companies that generate revenues from nuclear power production. The index methodology also excludes the stocks of companies that, as FTSE Group determines, do not meet the labor, human rights, environmental, and anticorruption standards as defined by the United Nations Global Compact Principles, as well as companies that do not meet certain diversity criteria. The components of the Index are likely to change over time. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

For additional details regarding the Index Methodology, please see the Index Resources available on FTSE's website.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. Stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from small- and mid- capitalization stocks may be more volatile in price than the large-cap stocks that dominate the overall market, and they often perform quite differently. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

• ESG investing risk, which is the chance that the stocks screened by the index sponsor for ESG criteria generally will underperform the stock market as a whole or that the particular stocks selected for the FTSE US All Cap Choice Index will, in the aggregate, trail returns of other funds screened for ESG criteria.There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to meet ESG criteria. The index provider's assessment of a company, based on the company's level of involvement in a particular industry or the index provider's own ESG criteria, may differ from that of other funds or of the advisor's or an investor's assessment of such company. As a result, the companies deemed eligible by the index provider may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor and may not exhibit positive or favorable ESG characteristics.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., without first being listed on another exchange or (2) Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The Fund has not been in operation long enough to report a full calendar-year return. Performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization stocks in the United States.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	4.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Institutional Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. The Index is a float-adjusted, market- capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of mega-capitalization stocks in the United States. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large- cap stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Mega Cap Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US Large Cap 300 Index through January 30, 2013, and the CRSP US Mega Cap Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.55% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –13.36% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.05%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 6
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	19
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	34
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	77
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	6
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	19
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	34
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 77
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	25.46%	[1]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	13.84%	[1]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	2.34%	[1]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	16.13%	[1]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	32.14%	[1]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	13.32%	[1]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	1.56%	[1]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	11.79%	[1]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	22.57%	[1]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(3.45%)	[1]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	20.05%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	15.55%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(13.36%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.45%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.77%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.07%
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.91%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.24%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.59%
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.69%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.87%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.91%
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | MSCI US Large Cap 300 Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.89%)	[2]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.65%	[2]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.03%	[2]
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | Spliced Mega Cap Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.43%)	[2]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.81%	[2]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.13%	[2]
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | CRSP US Mega Cap Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.43%)	[2]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.81%	[2]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[2]

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 20.05%.

[2] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Communication Services ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of communication services stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the 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%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Communication Services 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the communication services sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS communication services sector is made up of companies that facilitate communication and offer related content and information through various mediums. It includes telecommunication companies and media and entertainment companies, including producers of interactive gaming products and companies engaged in content and information creation or distribution through proprietary platforms. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the communication services sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the communication services sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, competition, and government regulation. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Effective December 3, 2018, the Fund began tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/ Communication Services 25/50 as its target index. The Fund's board of trustees approved this change in response to MSCI's decision to restructure the communication services sector (previously named the telecommunication services sector) under GICS. The Communication Services Spliced Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Telecommunication Services through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Telecommunication Services 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/Communication Services 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/Communication Services 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 18.16% (quarter ended September 30, 2010), and the lowest return for a quarter was –15.04% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Market Index Changed	rr_PerformanceTableMarketIndexChanged	Effective December 3, 2018, the Fund began tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/ Communication Services 25/50 as its target index. The Fund's board of trustees approved this change in response to MSCI's decision to restructure the communication services sector (previously named the telecommunication services sector) under GICS. The Communication Services Spliced Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Telecommunication Services through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Telecommunication Services 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/Communication Services 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/Communication Services 25/50 thereafter.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.08%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	29.65%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	19.65%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(2.25%)	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	16.54%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	24.32%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	3.98%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	2.72%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	22.56%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	(5.55%)	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(16.52%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	17.69%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2010
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	18.16%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(15.04%)
ETF | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(16.52%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.64%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.53%
ETF | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(16.79%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.62%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.50%
ETF | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(16.99%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(0.10%)
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.84%
ETF | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(9.35%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.53%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.05%
ETF | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Communication Services
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(5.80%)	[3],[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.08%	[3],[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.69%	[3],[4]
ETF | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Communication Services 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.10%	[3],[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.23%	[3],[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3],[4]
ETF | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | Communication Services Spliced Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(16.55%)	[3],[5]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.61%	[3],[5]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.82%	[3],[5]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 17.69%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

[4] Effective December 3, 2018, the Index changed its name and updated its constituents in response to MSCI's decision to broaden the telecommunication services sector and rename it as the communication services sector under GICS.

[5] Previously the Spliced US IMI/Telecommunication Services 25/50.

XML

Total

Retail | Vanguard Energy Index Fund

Vanguard Energy Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of energy stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Retail Vanguard Energy Index Fund Admiral Shares USD ($)
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	$ 20	[1]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Retail Vanguard Energy Index Fund Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Retail | Vanguard Energy Index Fund | Admiral Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 7% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Energy 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the energy sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS energy sector is made up of companies engaged in exploration and production, refining and marketing, and storage and transportation of oil and gas and coal and consumable fuels. It also includes companies that offer oil and gas equipment and services.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the energy sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the energy sector could be affected by, among other things, geopolitical events, government regulation, economic cycles, and fuel prices. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Energy 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Energy through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Energy 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/ performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Energy Index Fund Admiral Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.95% (quarter ended December 31, 2010), and the lowest return for a quarter was –26.02% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard Energy Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Admiral Shares		(19.91%)	(6.95%)	3.50%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(20.42%)	(7.54%)	3.04%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(11.27%)	(5.03%)	2.88%
MSCI US IMI/Energy	[1]	(19.89%)	(7.11%)	3.03%
MSCI US IMI/Energy 25/50	[1]	(19.80%)	(6.80%)
Spliced US IMI/Energy 25/50	[1]	(19.80%)	(6.80%)	3.17%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 3.56%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Institutional | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large- and mid-capitalization stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 11% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	11.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Institutional Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the FTSE4Good US Select Index. The Index is composed of the stocks of companies that have been screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria by the Index sponsor, which is independent of Vanguard. The Index is market-capitalization-weighted and includes primarily large- and mid-cap U.S. stocks that have been screened for certain criteria related to the environment, human rights, health and safety, labor standards, and diversity. The Index excludes companies that FTSE determines are involved with weapons, tobacco, gambling, alcohol, adult entertainment, and nuclear power. The components of the Index are likely to change over time. The Fund attempts to replicate the Index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, large- and mid-cap stocks, such as those held by the Fund, each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. • ESG investing risk, which is the chance that stocks screened by the index sponsor for ESG criteria generally will underperform the stock market as a whole or that the particular stocks selected for the FTSE4Good US Select Index will, in the aggregate, trail returns of other mutual funds screened for ESG criteria. There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to meet ESG criteria. The index provider's assessment of a company, based on the company's level of involvement in a particular industry or the index provider's own ESG criteria, may differ from that of other funds or of the advisor's or an investor's assessment of such company. As a result, the companies deemed eligible by the index provider may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor and may not exhibit positive or favorable ESG characteristics. Additionally, the FTSE4Good US Select Index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and a comparative index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and a comparative index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 20.09% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –13.16% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Institutional | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.11%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.12%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 12
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	39
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	68
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	154
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	12
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	39
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	68
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 154
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	35.27%	[1]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	14.58%	[1]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(0.52%)	[1]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	17.84%	[1]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	37.09%	[1]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	15.85%	[1]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	1.27%	[1]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	10.34%	[1]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	24.19%	[1]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(3.38%)	[1]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	19.03%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	20.09%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(13.16%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.38%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.20%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.49%
Institutional | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.78%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.78%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.14%
Institutional | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.70%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.24%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.22%
Institutional | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | FTSE4Good US Select Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.32%)	[2]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.33%	[2]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.61%	[2]
Institutional | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Float Adjusted Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(5.30%)	[2]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.86%	[2]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.22%	[2]

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 19.03%.

[2] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Total

Retail | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund

Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of information technology stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Retail Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares USD ($)
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	$ 20	[1]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Retail Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Retail | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | Admiral Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Information Technology 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the information technology sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS information technology sector is made up of companies that offer software and information technology services as well as manufacturers and distributors of technology hardware and equipment such as communications equipment, cellular phones, computers and peripherals, electronic equipment and related instruments, and semiconductors.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the information technology sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the information technology sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, short product cycles, rapid obsolescence of products, competition, and government regulation. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Information Technology Spliced Index reflects performance of the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/Information Technology 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 20.85% (quarter ended March 31, 2012), and the lowest return for a quarter was –17.32% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Admiral Shares		2.52%	14.66%	18.42%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		2.23%	14.33%	18.16%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		1.73%	11.75%	15.82%
MSCI US IMI/Information Technology	[1]	(0.14%)	14.14%	18.24%
MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/50	[1]	(0.14%)	14.14%
Information Technology Spliced Index	[1],[2]	2.61%	14.76%	18.58%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 30.44%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

[2] Previously the Spliced US IMI/Information Technology 25/50.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Industrials ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of industrial stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	4.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Industrials 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the industrials sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS industrials sector is made up of companies that manufacture and distribute capital goods such as aerospace and defense, building products, electrical equipment and machinery and companies that offer construction and engineering services. It also includes providers of commercial and professional services including printing, environmental and facilities services, office services and supplies, security and alarm services, human resource and employment services, and research and consulting services. It also includes companies that provide transportation services. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the industrials sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the industrials sector could be affected by, among other things, government regulation, world events and economic conditions, insurance costs, and labor relations issues. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/ Industrials 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Industrials through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Industrials 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Industrials Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.47% (quarter ended September 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –22.13% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	22.39%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	27.09%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(2.20%)	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	17.09%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	41.93%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	8.51%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(3.58%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	20.37%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	21.50%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(13.92%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	22.98%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	21.47%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(22.13%)
ETF | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.92%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.66%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.78%
ETF | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(14.03%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.64%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.76%
ETF | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(14.26%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.22%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.40%
ETF | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.94%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.40%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.71%
ETF | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Industrials
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.85%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.75%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.91%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Industrials 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.85%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.75%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
ETF | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Industrials 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.85%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.75%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.91%	[3]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 22.98%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Health Care Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of health care stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	5.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Health Care 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the health care sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS health care sector includes health care provider and services companies, companies that manufacture and distribute health care equipment and supplies, and health care technology companies. It also includes companies involved in the research, development, production, and marketing of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the health care sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the health care sector could be affected by, among other things, patent protection, government regulation, research and development costs, litigation, and competitive forces. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Health Care 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Health Care through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Health Care 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Health Care Index Fund Admiral Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.62% (quarter ended March 31, 2013), and the lowest return for a quarter was –11.60% (quarter ended September 30, 2015).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	21.99%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	5.75%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	10.57%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	19.10%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	42.68%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	25.42%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	7.21%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	(3.33%)	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	23.36%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	5.55%	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	6.19%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2013
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	15.62%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2015
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(11.60%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.55%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.10%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.16%
Retail | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.22%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.76%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.82%
Retail | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.54%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.80%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.82%
Retail | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Health Care
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.62%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.15%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.28%	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Health Care 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.62%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.15%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
Retail | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Health Care 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.62%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.15%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.28%	[3]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 6.19%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

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Institutional | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of an index of extended-duration zero- coupon U.S. Treasury securities.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares or Institutional Plus Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees - Institutional - Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund	Institutional Shares	Institutional Plus Shares
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none	none
Purchase Fee	0.50%	0.50%
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none	none
Redemption Fee	none	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Institutional - Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund		Institutional Shares	Institutional Plus Shares
Management Fees		0.06%	0.04%
12b-1 Distribution Fee		none	none
Other Expenses	[1]	none	none
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		0.06%	0.04%

Examples

The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Institutional Shares or Institutional Plus Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. They illustrate the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. These examples assume that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example - Institutional - Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Institutional Shares	6	19	34	77
Institutional Plus Shares	4	13	23	51

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense examples, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury STRIPS 20–30 Year Equal Par Bond Index. This Index includes zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities (Treasury STRIPS), which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, with maturities ranging from 20 to 30 years. A Treasury STRIP represents a single coupon payment, or a single principal payment, from a U.S. Treasury security that has been "stripped" into separately tradable components.

The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds a range of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key risk factors, including duration, cash flow, and other characteristics. All of the Fund's investments will be selected through the sampling process, and under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund's assets will be invested in U.S. Treasury securities held in the Index. The Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity consistent with that of the Index, which generally ranges between 20 and 30 years. As of August 31, 2019, the dollar-weighted average maturity of the Index was 24.6 years.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. The prices of long-term bonds, such as those held by the Fund, are much more sensitive to interest rate changes than are the prices of short-term bonds. Interest rate risk is expected to be very high for the Fund because it invests primarily in zero-coupon long-term bonds, which have prices that are even more sensitive to interest rate changes than are coupon-bearing bonds of similar maturity. Because the Fund invests primarily in Treasury STRIPS with maturities ranging from 20 to 30 years, rising interest rates may cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline significantly.

• Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund's target index. Index sampling risk for the Fund is expected to be low.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares (including annual fund operating expenses but excluding shareholder fees) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. If applicable shareholder fees were reflected, returns would be less than those shown in the bar chart. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented (including annual fund operating expenses and any applicable shareholder fees) compare with those of the Fund's target index, which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund Institutional Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 52.05% (quarter ended September 30, 2011), and the lowest return for a quarter was –20.01% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Institutional - Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund - Institutional Shares	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Before Taxes	(3.98%)	9.03%	3.20%
Return After Taxes on Distributions	(5.14%)	7.45%	1.13%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	(2.38%)	6.44%	1.56%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury STRIPS 20-30 Year Equal Par Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)	(4.16%)	8.91%	3.41%

Average Annual Total Returns - Institutional - Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund - Institutional Plus Shares	1 Year	5 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Before Taxes	(3.97%)	9.05%	7.61%	Aug. 28, 2013
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury STRIPS 20-30 Year Equal Par Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)	(4.16%)	8.91%	7.69%	Aug. 28, 2013

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Institutional Shares and may differ for each share class. After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax- deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] 0.00%

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 27.38%.

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Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund

Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization stocks in the United States.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Institutional Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Institutional Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares
Management Fees	0.05%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.06%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Institutional Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | Institutional Shares | USD ($)	6	19	34	77

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. The Index is a float-adjusted, market- capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of mega-capitalization stocks in the United States. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large- cap stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Mega Cap Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US Large Cap 300 Index through January 30, 2013, and the CRSP US Mega Cap Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.55% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –13.36% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Institutional - Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Institutional Shares		(3.45%)	8.77%	13.07%
Institutional Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(3.91%)	8.24%	12.59%
Institutional Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(1.69%)	6.87%	10.91%
MSCI US Large Cap 300 Index	[1]	(3.89%)	8.65%	13.03%
Spliced Mega Cap Index	[1]	(3.43%)	8.81%	13.13%
CRSP US Mega Cap Index	[1]	(3.43%)	8.81%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 20.05%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of communication services stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the 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%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Communication Services 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the communication services sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS communication services sector is made up of companies that facilitate communication and offer related content and information through various mediums. It includes telecommunication companies and media and entertainment companies, including producers of interactive gaming products and companies engaged in content and information creation or distribution through proprietary platforms. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the communication services sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the communication services sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, competition, and government regulation. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Effective December 3, 2018, the Fund began tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Communication Services 25/50 as its target index. The Fund's board of trustees approved this change in response to MSCI's decision to restructure the communication services sector (previously named the telecommunication services sector) under GICS. The Communication Services Spliced Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/ Telecommunication Services through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/ Telecommunication Services 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/Communication Services 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/Communication Services 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 18.20% (quarter ended September 30, 2010), and the lowest return for a quarter was –15.05% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Market Index Changed	rr_PerformanceTableMarketIndexChanged	Effective December 3, 2018, the Fund began tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Communication Services 25/50 as its target index. The Fund's board of trustees approved this change in response to MSCI's decision to restructure the communication services sector (previously named the telecommunication services sector) under GICS. The Communication Services Spliced Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/ Telecommunication Services through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/ Telecommunication Services 25/50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/Communication Services 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/Communication Services 25/50 thereafter.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	29.60%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	19.67%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(2.23%)	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	16.57%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	24.33%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	4.04%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	2.73%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	22.54%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	(5.56%)	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(16.50%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	17.69%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2010
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	18.20%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(15.05%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(16.50%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.65%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.54%
Retail | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(16.97%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(0.09%)
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.85%
Retail | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(9.34%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.54%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.05%
Retail | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Communication Services
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(5.80%)	[3],[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.08%	[3],[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.69%	[3],[4]
Retail | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Communication Services 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(5.10%)	[3],[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.23%	[3],[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3],[4]
Retail | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | Communication Services Spliced Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(16.55%)	[3],[5]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.61%	[3],[5]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.82%	[3],[5]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 17.69%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

[4] Effective December 3, 2018, the Index changed its name and updated its constituents in response to MSCI's decision to broaden the telecommunication services sector and rename it as the communication services sector under GICS.

[5] Previously the Spliced US IMI/Telecommunication Services 25/50.

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund

Vanguard Information Technology ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of information technology stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Information Technology 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the information technology sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS information technology sector is made up of companies that offer software and information technology services as well as manufacturers and distributors of technology hardware and equipment such as communications equipment, cellular phones, computers and peripherals, electronic equipment and related instruments, and semiconductors.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the information technology sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the information technology sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, short product cycles, rapid obsolescence of products, competition, and government regulation. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Information Technology Spliced Index reflects performance of the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology through February 26, 2010; the MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/ 50 through May 2, 2018; the MSCI US Investable Market (IM) Transition Index/ Information Technology 25/50 through November 30, 2018; and the MSCI US IMI/ Information Technology 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 20.85% (quarter ended March 31, 2012), and the lowest return for a quarter was –17.31% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		2.52%	14.65%	18.42%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		2.24%	14.32%	18.16%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		1.73%	11.74%	15.82%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		2.43%	14.63%	18.42%
MSCI US IMI/Information Technology	[1]	(0.14%)	14.14%	18.24%
MSCI US IMI/Information Technology 25/50	[1]	(0.14%)	14.14%
Information Technology Spliced Index	[1],[2]	2.61%	14.76%	18.58%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 30.42%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

[2] Previously the Spliced US IMI/Information Technology 25/50.

XML

Total

Retail | Vanguard International Growth Fund

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Shares or Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees - Retail - Vanguard International Growth Fund - USD ($)		Investor Shares	Admiral Shares
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases		none	none
Purchase Fee		none	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none
Redemption Fee		none	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	[1]	$ 20	$ 20

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Retail - Vanguard International Growth Fund	Investor Shares	Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.41%	0.31%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none	none
Other Expenses	0.02%	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.43%	0.32%

Examples

The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Investor Shares or Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. They illustrate the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. These examples assume that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example - Retail - Vanguard International Growth Fund - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Investor Shares	44	138	241	542
Admiral Shares	33	103	180	406

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense examples, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 13% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests predominantly in the stocks of companies located outside the United States and is expected to diversify its assets in countries across developed and emerging markets. In selecting stocks, the Fund's advisors evaluate foreign markets around the world and choose large-, mid-, and small-capitalization companies considered to have above-average growth potential. The Fund uses multiple investment advisors. Each advisor independently selects and maintains a portfolio of common stocks for the Fund.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from non-U.S. growth stocks and, to the extent that the Fund is invested in them, small- and mid-cap stocks, will trail returns from global stock markets. Historically, non-U.S. small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than the large-cap stocks that dominate the global markets, and they often perform quite differently.

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's investments in foreign stocks can be riskier than U.S. stock investments. Foreign stocks may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. stocks. The prices of foreign stocks and the prices of U.S. stocks may move in opposite directions.

• Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of companies located in any one country or region, including emerging markets, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets.

• Currency risk, which is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. Currency risk is especially high in emerging markets.

• Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. In addition, significant investment in the consumer discretionary and information technology sectors subjects the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of these sectors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Investor Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented compare with those of relevant market indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced International Index reflects performance of the MSCI EAFE Index through May 31, 2010, and the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index thereafter. Returns for the indexes shown are adjusted for withholding taxes. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard International Growth Fund Investor Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 27.03% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –22.34% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard International Growth Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Investor Shares		(12.69%)	3.54%	9.52%
Investor Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(13.70%)	3.03%	9.09%
Investor Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(6.72%)	2.72%	7.85%
Admiral Shares		(12.58%)	3.68%	9.67%
MSCI ACWI ex USA Index	[1]	(14.20%)	0.68%	6.57%
Spliced International Index	[1]	(14.20%)	0.68%	5.53%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Shares and may differ for each share class. After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax- deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 14.97%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees or expenses)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Financials Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Financials ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of financial stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	5.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Financials 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the financials sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS financials sector is made up of companies involved in banking, thrifts and mortgage finance, consumer finance, specialized finance, asset management and custody banks, investment banking and brokerage, and insurance. It also includes Financial Exchanges and Data and Mortgage REITS. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the financials sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the financials sector could be affected by, among other things, government regulation, interest rates, cost of capital funds, credit losses, and financial markets. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/ Financials 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Financials through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Financials 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Financials Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 28.84% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –26.93% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	14.81%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	14.74%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(14.35%)	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	26.26%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	33.00%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	13.95%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(0.46%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	24.69%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	20.07%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(13.46%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	19.94%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	28.84%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(26.93%)
ETF | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.46%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.00%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.78%
ETF | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.54%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.99%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.75%
ETF | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.88%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.44%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.25%
ETF | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.61%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.19%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.79%
ETF | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Financials
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.39%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.10%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.84%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Financials 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.39%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.10%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
ETF | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Financials 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(13.39%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.10%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.84%	[3]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 19.94%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	ETF Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of an index of extended-duration zero- coupon U.S. Treasury securities.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	20.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury STRIPS 20–30 Year Equal Par Bond Index. This Index includes zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities (Treasury STRIPS), which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, with maturities ranging from 20 to 30 years. A Treasury STRIP represents a single coupon payment, or a single principal payment, from a U.S. Treasury security that has been "stripped" into separately tradable components. The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds a range of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key risk factors, including duration, cash flow, and other characteristics. All of the Fund's investments will be selected through the sampling process, and under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund's assets will be invested in U.S. Treasury securities held in the Index. The Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity consistent with that of the Index, which generally ranges between 20 and 30 years. As of August 31, 2019, the dollar-weighted average maturity of the Index was 24.6 years.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. The prices of long-term bonds, such as those held by the Fund, are much more sensitive to interest rate changes than are the prices of short-term bonds. Interest rate risk is expected to be very high for the Fund because it invests primarily in zero-coupon long-term bonds, which have prices that are even more sensitive to interest rate changes than are coupon-bearing bonds of similar maturity. Because the Fund invests primarily in Treasury STRIPS with maturities ranging from 20 to 30 years, rising interest rates may cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline significantly. • Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund's target index. Index sampling risk for the Fund is expected to be low. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index, which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index, which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 52.06% (quarter ended September 30, 2011), and the lowest return for a quarter was –20.01% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.06%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.07%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 7
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	23
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	40
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	90
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	7
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	23
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	40
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 90
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	(36.66%)	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	10.27%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	55.81%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	3.18%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	(20.94%)	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	45.64%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(4.45%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	1.52%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	13.52%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(3.51%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	27.38%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	52.06%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(20.01%)
ETF | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.51%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.12%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.23%
ETF | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.54%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.01%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.26%
ETF | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.68%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.54%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.16%
ETF | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.11%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.51%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.58%
ETF | Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund | Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury STRIPS 20-30 Year Equal Par Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.16%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.91%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.41%

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 27.38%.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	ETF Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-, mid-, and small-capitalization stocks of companies located in developed and emerging markets outside of the United States and is screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the fiscal period from September 18, 2018, to August 31, 2019, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 22% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	22.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Choice Index. The Index, which is market-capitalization weighted, is composed of large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks of companies in developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States, and is screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria by the Index sponsor, which is independent of Vanguard. The FTSE Global All Cap ex US Choice Index excludes stocks of companies that FTSE Group (FTSE) determines engage in the following activities: (i) companies that produce adult entertainment; (ii) companies that produce alcoholic beverages; (iii) companies that produce tobacco products; (iv) companies that produce (or produce specific and critical parts or services for) nuclear weapon systems, chemical or biological weapons, cluster munitions, and anti-personnel mines; (v) companies that produce other weapons for military use; (vi) companies that produce firearms or ammunition for non-military use; (vii) companies that own proved or probable reserves in coal, oil, or gas; (viii) companies that provide gambling services; and (ix) companies that generate revenues from nuclear power production. The index methodology also excludes the stocks of companies that, as FTSE determines, do not meet the labor, human rights, environmental, and anticorruption standards as defined by the United Nations Global Compact Principles, as well as companies that do not meet certain diversity criteria. The components of the Index are likely to change over time. The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds a broadly diversified collection of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key characteristics. These key characteristics include industry weightings and market capitalization, as well as certain financial measures, such as price/earnings ratio and dividend yield. For additional details regarding the Index Methodology, please see the Index Resources available on FTSE's website.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's investments in foreign stocks can be riskier than U.S. stock investments. Foreign stocks may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. stocks. The prices of foreign stocks and the prices of U.S. stocks may move in opposite directions. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from small- and mid- capitalization stocks may be more volatile in price than the large-cap stocks that dominate the overall market, and they often perform quite differently. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. • ESG investing risk, which is the chance that the stocks screened by the index sponsor for ESG criteria generally will underperform the stock market as a whole or that the particular stocks selected for the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Choice Index will, in the aggregate, trail returns of other funds screened for ESG criteria.There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to meet ESG criteria. The index provider's assessment of a company, based on the company's level of involvement in a particular industry or the index provider's own ESG criteria, may differ from that of other funds or of the advisor's or an investor's assessment of such company. As a result, the companies deemed eligible by the index provider may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor and may not exhibit positive or favorable ESG characteristics. • Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of companies located in any one country or region, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets. • Emerging markets risk, which is the chance that the stocks of companies located in emerging markets will be substantially more volatile, and substantially less liquid, than the stocks of companies located in more developed foreign markets because, among other factors, emerging markets can have greater custodial and operational risks; less developed legal, tax, regulatory, and accounting systems; and greater political, social, and economic instability than developed markets. • Currency risk, which is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. Currency risk is especially high in emerging markets. • Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund's target index. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., without first being listed on another exchange or (2) Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund has not been in operation long enough to report a full calendar-year return. Performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance One Year or Less [Text]	rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess	The Fund has not been in operation long enough to report a full calendar-year return.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.11%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.17%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 17
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	55
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	96
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	217
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	17
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	55
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	96
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 217

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Document Type	dei_DocumentType	485BPOS
Document Period End Date	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate	Aug. 31, 2019
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Central Index Key	dei_EntityCentralIndexKey	0000052848
Amendment Flag	dei_AmendmentFlag	false
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Document Effective Date	dei_DocumentEffectiveDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Entity Inv Company Type	dei_EntityInvCompanyType	N-1A

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization value stocks in the United States.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 10% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	10.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index, which represents the value companies as determined by the index sponsor, of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. The Index is a float-adjusted, market-capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of mega-capitalization value stocks in the United States. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization value stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large-cap value stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Mega Cap Value Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US Large Cap Value Index through April 16, 2013, and the CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 16.12% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.98% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.06%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.07%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 7
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	23
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	40
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	90
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	7
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	23
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	40
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 90
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	16.47%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	12.98%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	1.47%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	14.95%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	32.12%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	12.97%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(0.18%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	16.62%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	16.79%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(4.05%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	15.80%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	16.12%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(16.98%)
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.05%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.06%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.57%
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.17%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.06%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.55%
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.64%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.42%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.98%
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.97%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.28%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.55%
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | MSCI US Large Cap Value Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(6.59%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.81%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.88%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | Spliced Mega Cap Value Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.04%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.12%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.63%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.04%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.12%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 15.80%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund

Vanguard Mega Cap ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization stocks in the United States.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.05%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.07%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	7	23	40	90

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. The Index is a float-adjusted, market- capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of mega-capitalization stocks in the United States. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund’s share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund’s performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund’s target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large- cap stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund’s ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund’s ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund’s ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund’s ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Mega Cap Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US Large Cap 300 Index through January 30, 2013, and the CRSP US Mega Cap Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.54% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –13.36% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		(3.44%)	8.75%	13.05%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		(3.90%)	8.23%	12.57%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(1.68%)	6.86%	10.89%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		(3.49%)	8.75%	13.03%
MSCI US Large Cap 300 Index	[1]	(3.89%)	8.65%	13.03%
Spliced Mega Cap Index	[1]	(3.43%)	8.81%	13.13%
CRSP US Mega Cap Index	[1]	(3.43%)	8.81%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 20.03%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization value stocks in the United States.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 10% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	10.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Institutional Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index, which represents the value companies as determined by the index sponsor, of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. The Index is a float-adjusted, market-capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of mega-capitalization value stocks in the United States. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization value stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large-cap value stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Mega Cap Value Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US Large Cap Value Index through April 16, 2013, and the CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund Institutional Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 16.08% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.97% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.05%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 6
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	19
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	34
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	77
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	6
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	19
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	34
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 77
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	16.47%	[1]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	13.00%	[1]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	1.49%	[1]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	14.99%	[1]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	32.17%	[1]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	13.02%	[1]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(0.16%)	[1]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	16.64%	[1]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	16.80%	[1]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(4.08%)	[1]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	15.80%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	16.08%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(16.97%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.08%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.08%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.59%
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.65%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.43%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.99%
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.98%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.30%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.57%
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | MSCI US Large Cap Value Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(6.59%)	[2]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.81%	[2]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.88%	[2]
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | Spliced Mega Cap Value Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.04%)	[2]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.12%	[2]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.63%	[2]
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.04%)	[2]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.12%	[2]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[2]

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 15.80%.

[2] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

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Retail | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund

Vanguard Industrials Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of industrial stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Retail Vanguard Industrials Index Fund Admiral Shares USD ($)
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	$ 20	[1]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Retail Vanguard Industrials Index Fund Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Retail | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund | Admiral Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Industrials 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the industrials sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS industrials sector is made up of companies that manufacture and distribute capital goods such as aerospace and defense, building products, electrical equipment and machinery and companies that offer construction and engineering services. It also includes providers of commercial and professional services including printing, environmental and facilities services, office services and supplies, security and alarm services, human resource and employment services, and research and consulting services. It also includes companies that provide transportation services.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the industrials sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the industrials sector could be affected by, among other things, government regulation, world events and economic conditions, insurance costs, and labor relations issues. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Industrials 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Industrials through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Industrials 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Industrials Index Fund Admiral Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.45% (quarter ended September 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –22.15% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard Industrials Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Admiral Shares		(13.93%)	5.67%	12.78%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(14.27%)	5.22%	12.40%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(7.95%)	4.40%	10.71%
MSCI US IMI/Industrials	[1]	(13.85%)	5.75%	12.91%
MSCI US IMI/Industrials 25/50	[1]	(13.85%)	5.75%
Spliced US IMI/Industrials 25/50	[1]	(13.85%)	5.75%	12.91%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 22.99%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

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Retail | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund

Vanguard Utilities Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of utilities stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Retail Vanguard Utilities Index Fund Admiral Shares USD ($)
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	$ 20	[1]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Retail Vanguard Utilities Index Fund Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Retail | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | Admiral Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Utilities 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the utilities sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS utilities sector is made up of electric, gas, and water utility companies. It also includes independent power producers and energy traders and companies that engage in generation and distribution of electricity using renewable sources.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the utilities sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the utilities sector could be affected by government regulation, overall economic conditions, and fuel prices. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Utilities 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Utilities through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Utilities 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Utilities Index Fund Admiral Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.25% (quarter ended March 31, 2016), and the lowest return for a quarter was –11.50% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard Utilities Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Admiral Shares		4.45%	10.77%	10.73%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		3.65%	9.91%	9.94%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		3.19%	8.46%	8.77%
MSCI US IMI/Utilities	[1]	4.54%	10.86%	10.87%
MSCI US IMI/Utilities 25/50	[1]	4.54%	10.86%
Spliced US IMI/Utilities 25/50	[1]	4.54%	10.86%	10.87%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 24.56%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

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Retail | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large- and mid-capitalization stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Retail Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral Shares USD ($)
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	$ 20	[1]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Retail Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.13%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.14%	[1]

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Retail | Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund | Admiral Shares | USD ($)	14	45	79	179

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 11% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the FTSE4Good US Select Index. The Index is composed of the stocks of companies that have been screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria by the Index sponsor, which is independent of Vanguard. The Index is market-capitalization-weighted and includes primarily large- and mid-cap U.S. stocks that have been screened for certain criteria related to the environment, human rights, health and safety, labor standards, and diversity. The Index excludes companies that FTSE determines are involved with weapons, tobacco, gambling, alcohol, adult entertainment, and nuclear power. The components of the Index are likely to change over time. The Fund attempts to replicate the Index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, large- and mid-cap stocks, such as those held by the Fund, each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

• ESG investing risk, which is the chance that stocks screened by the index sponsor for ESG criteria generally will underperform the stock market as a whole or that the particular stocks selected for the FTSE4Good US Select Index will, in the aggregate, trail returns of other mutual funds screened for ESG criteria. There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to meet ESG criteria. The index provider's assessment of a company, based on the company's level of involvement in a particular industry or the index provider's own ESG criteria, may differ from that of other funds or of the advisor's or an investor's assessment of such company. As a result, the companies deemed eligible by the index provider may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor and may not exhibit positive or favorable ESG characteristics. Additionally, the FTSE4Good US Select Index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The Fund's Admiral Shares have not been in operation long enough to report a full calendar-year returns. The information presented in the bar chart and table reflects the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares, which are offered through a separate prospectus. Performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares would be substantially similar to that of the Institutional Shares because both share classes constitute an investment in the same portfolio of securities; therefore, their returns generally should differ only to the extent that the expenses of the two share classes differ. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and a comparative index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 20.09% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –13.16% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Institutional Shares		(3.38%)	9.20%	14.49%
Institutional Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(3.78%)	8.78%	14.14%
Institutional Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(1.70%)	7.24%	12.22%
FTSE4Good US Select Index	[1]	(3.32%)	9.33%	14.61%
Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Float Adjusted Index	[1]	(5.30%)	7.86%	13.22%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The expense information shown in the table reflects estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 19.03%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

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Retail | Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of income and a high and sustainable level of current income, along with moderate long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Shares or Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees - Retail - Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund - USD ($)		Investor Shares	Admiral Shares
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases		none	none
Purchase Fee		none	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none
Redemption Fee		none	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	[1]	$ 20	$ 20

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Retail - Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund	Investor Shares	Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.38%	0.30%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none	none
Other Expenses	0.04%	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.42%	0.32%

Examples

The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Investor Shares or Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. They illustrate the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. These examples assume that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example - Retail - Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Investor Shares	43	135	235	530
Admiral Shares	33	103	180	406

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense examples, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 90% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests approximately 60% to 70% of its assets in U.S. and foreign investment-grade fixed income securities that the advisor believes will generate a moderate level of current income, including corporate, government, and government agency bonds, as well as mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may also invest in local currency bonds. The remaining 30% to 40% of Fund assets are invested in equity securities of large and mid-size U.S. and foreign companies that have a history of above-average dividends or expectations of increasing dividends.

Principal Risks

The Fund is subject to the risks associated with the U.S. and foreign stock and bond markets, any of which could cause an investor to lose money. However, because fixed income securities such as bonds usually are less volatile than stocks and because the Fund invests more than half of its assets in fixed income securities, the Fund's overall level of risk should be low to moderate.

• Income risk, which is the chance that the Fund's income will decline because of falling interest rates.

• Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices will decline because of rising interest rates.

• Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value and/ or liquidity of securities issued by governments, government agencies, or companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of governments, government agencies, or companies located in any one country or region, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from mid- and large- capitalization dividend-paying value stocks will trail returns from the global stock markets. Mid- and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the global stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline.

• Currency risk, which is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates.

• Currency hedging risk, which is the chance that the currency hedging transactions entered into by the Fund may not perfectly offset the Fund's foreign currency exposure.

• Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest or principal in a timely manner or that negative perceptions of the issuer's ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline.

• Call risk, which is the chance that during periods of falling interest rates, issuers of callable bonds may call (redeem) securities with higher coupon rates or interest rates before their maturity dates. The Fund would then lose any price appreciation above the bond's call price and would be forced to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund's income. Such redemptions and subsequent reinvestments would also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. For mortgage-backed securities, this risk is known as prepayment risk.

• Liquidity risk, which is the chance that the Fund may not be able to sell a security in a timely manner at a desired price.

• Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the performance of the Fund's Investor Shares in its first full calendar year. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented compare with those of a relevant market index and a composite bond/stock index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund Investor Shares

During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 1.47% (quarter ended September 30, 2018), and the lowest return for a quarter was –4.13% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund		1 Year	Since Inception	Inception Date
Investor Shares		(4.38%)	(3.01%)	Nov. 02, 2017
Investor Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(5.66%)	(4.21%)	Nov. 02, 2017
Investor Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(2.28%)	(2.61%)	Nov. 02, 2017
Admiral Shares		(4.31%)	(2.91%)	Nov. 02, 2017
Global Wellesley Income Composite Index in USD	[1]	(3.87%)	(2.25%)	Nov. 02, 2017
FTSE Developed Net Tax (US RIC) Index	[1]	(8.74%)	(4.95%)	Nov. 02, 2017
Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index	[1]	(1.20%)	0.13%	Nov. 02, 2017

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Shares and may differ for each share class. After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 10.94%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Dec. 20, 2019

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund

Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization growth stocks in the United States.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.06%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.07%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	7	23	40	90

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 14% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index, which represents the growth companies as determined by the index sponsor, of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. The Index is a float-adjusted, market-capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of mega-capitalization growth stocks in the United States. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index. The Fund may become nondiversified, as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, solely as a result of a change in relative market capitalization or index weighting of one or more constituents of the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization growth stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large-cap growth stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years.

• Nondiversification risk. Due to a recent index rebalance and in order to closely track the composition of the Fund's target index, more than 25% of the Fund's total assets are invested in issuers representing more than 5% of the Fund's total assets. As a result, the Fund is nondiversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, although it continues to hold more than 100 stocks across a number of sectors. The Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks, or even a single stock, and the Fund's shares may experience significant fluctuations in value.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because a significant portion of the Fund's assets are invested in the information technology sector, the Fund's performance is impacted by the general condition of that sector. Companies in the information technology sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, short product cycles, rapid obsolescence of products, competition, and government regulation. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Mega Cap Growth Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US Large Cap Growth Index through April 16, 2013, and the CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.24% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.46% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		(2.86%)	9.54%	14.61%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		(3.09%)	9.20%	14.29%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(1.50%)	7.52%	12.33%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		(2.95%)	9.53%	14.60%
MSCI US Large Cap Growth Index	[1]	(1.39%)	10.37%	15.10%
Spliced Mega Cap Growth Index	[1]	(2.85%)	9.61%	14.71%
CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index	[1]	(2.85%)	9.61%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 24.53%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Shares or Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense examples, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 41% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	41.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Examples
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Investor Shares or Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. They illustrate the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. These examples assume that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund invests mainly in large-capitalization stocks of U.S. companies considered to have above-average earnings growth potential and reasonable stock prices in comparison with expected earnings. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund's assets will be invested in securities issued by U.S. companies. The Fund uses multiple investment advisors. Each advisor independently selects and maintains a portfolio of common stocks for the Fund.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization growth stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large-cap growth stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. • Asset concentration risk, which is the chance that, because the Fund tends to invest a high percentage of assets in its ten largest holdings, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks. • Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. In addition, significant investment in the information technology sector subjects the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of this sector. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Investor Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented compare with those of relevant market indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Investor Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the share classes presented compare with those of relevant market indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Investor Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 18.23% (quarter ended March 31, 2012), and the lowest return for a quarter was –15.40% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax- deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Shares and may differ for each share class.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Shares and may differ for each share class. After-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax- deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund | Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.38%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.39%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 40
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	125
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	219
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	493
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	40
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	125
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	219
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 493
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	34.95%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	11.53%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(0.68%)	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	18.43%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	35.49%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	13.06%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	8.47%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	(0.75%)	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	31.60%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	0.62%	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	22.23%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2012
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	18.23%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(15.40%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.62%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.02%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.48%
Retail | Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.28%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	none	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.28%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 29
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	90
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	157
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	356
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	29
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	90
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	157
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 356
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.75%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.16%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.64%
Retail | Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.59%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.37%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.57%
Retail | Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.76%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.72%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.13%
Retail | Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund | Russell 1000 Growth Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.51%)	[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.40%	[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.29%	[4]
Retail | Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund | Standard & Poor's 500 Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.38%)	[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.49%	[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.12%	[4]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 22.23%.

[3] 0.00%

[4] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization growth stocks in the United States.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 14% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	14.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Institutional Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index, which represents the growth companies as determined by the index sponsor, of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. The Index is a float-adjusted, market-capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of mega-capitalization growth stocks in the United States. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index. The Fund may become nondiversified, as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, solely as a result of a change in relative market capitalization or index weighting of one or more constituents of the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization growth stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large-cap growth stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. • Nondiversification risk. Due to a recent index rebalance and in order to closely track the composition of the Fund's target index, more than 25% of the Fund's total assets are invested in issuers representing more than 5% of the Fund's total assets. As a result, the Fund is nondiversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, although it continues to hold more than 100 stocks across a number of sectors. The Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks, or even a single stock, and the Fund's shares may experience significant fluctuations in value. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because a significant portion of the Fund's assets are invested in the information technology sector, the Fund's performance is impacted by the general condition of that sector. Companies in the information technology sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, short product cycles, rapid obsolescence of products, competition, and government regulation. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk. Due to a recent index rebalance and in order to closely track the composition of the Fund's target index, more than 25% of the Fund's total assets are invested in issuers representing more than 5% of the Fund's total assets. As a result, the Fund is nondiversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, although it continues to hold more than 100 stocks across a number of sectors. The Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks, or even a single stock, and the Fund's shares may experience significant fluctuations in value.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Mega Cap Growth Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US Large Cap Growth Index through April 16, 2013, and the CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund Institutional Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.27% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.46% (quarter ended December 31, 2018).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.06%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	none	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 6
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	19
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	34
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	77
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	6
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	19
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	34
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 77
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	35.10%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	14.69%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	3.07%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	17.25%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	32.48%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	13.67%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	3.72%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	6.42%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	29.49%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(2.85%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	24.53%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	15.27%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2018
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(16.46%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.85%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.56%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.62%
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.09%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.21%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.31%
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.49%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.53%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.34%
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | MSCI US Large Cap Growth Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.39%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.37%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.10%	[3]
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | Spliced Mega Cap Growth Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.85%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.61%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.71%	[3]
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund | CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.85%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.61%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]

[1] 0.00%

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 24.53%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of consumer staples stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 6% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	6.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Consumer Staples 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the consumer staples sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS consumer staples sector is made up of companies whose businesses are less sensitive to economic cycles. It includes manufacturers and distributors of food, beverages, and tobacco, as well as producers of nondurable household goods and personal products. It also includes food and drug retailing companies as well as hypermarkets and consumer supercenters. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the consumer staples sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the consumer staples sector could be affected by, among other things, consumer tastes, government regulation, marketing, and consumer confidence. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 14.55% (quarter ended March 31, 2013), and the lowest return for a quarter was –10.23% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	16.95%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	14.44%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	13.64%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	11.07%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	27.99%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	15.79%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	6.00%	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	6.31%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	11.81%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(7.72%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	21.58%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2013
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	14.55%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(10.23%)
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.72%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.13%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.27%
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.82%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.11%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.26%
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(8.29%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.52%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.73%
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.13%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.78%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.36%
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(8.24%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.10%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.11%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.65%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.22%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
ETF | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Consumer Staples 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.65%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.22%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.25%	[3]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 21.58%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Financials Index Fund

Vanguard Financials ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of financial stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Financials Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Financials Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Financials Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Financials 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the financials sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS financials sector is made up of companies involved in banking, thrifts and mortgage finance, consumer finance, specialized finance, asset management and custody banks, investment banking and brokerage, and insurance. It also includes Financial Exchanges and Data and Mortgage REITS.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the financials sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the financials sector could be affected by, among other things, government regulation, interest rates, cost of capital funds, credit losses, and financial markets. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/ Financials 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Financials through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Financials 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Financials Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 28.84% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –26.93% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Financials Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		(13.46%)	8.00%	10.78%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		(13.88%)	7.44%	10.25%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(7.61%)	6.19%	8.79%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		(13.54%)	7.99%	10.75%
MSCI US IMI/Financials	[1]	(13.39%)	8.10%	10.84%
MSCI US IMI/Financials 25/50	[1]	(13.39%)	8.10%
Spliced US IMI/Financials 25/50	[1]	(13.39%)	8.10%	10.84%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 19.94%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Total

ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund

Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization value stocks in the United States.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	ETF Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund ETF Shares USD ($)	[1]
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	none
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	none
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	ETF Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund ETF Shares
Management Fees	0.06%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.07%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
ETF | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | ETF Shares | USD ($)	7	23	40	90

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 10% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index, which represents the value companies as determined by the index sponsor, of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. The Index is a float-adjusted, market-capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of mega-capitalization value stocks in the United States. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization value stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large-cap value stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained.

• Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Mega Cap Value Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US Large Cap Value Index through April 16, 2013, and the CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund ETF Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 16.12% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.98% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - ETF - Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ETF Shares | Based on NAV		(4.05%)	8.06%	11.57%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions		(4.64%)	7.42%	10.98%
ETF Shares | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(1.97%)	6.28%	9.55%
ETF Shares | Based on Market Price		(4.17%)	8.06%	11.55%
MSCI US Large Cap Value Index	[1]	(6.59%)	6.81%	10.88%
Spliced Mega Cap Value Index	[1]	(4.04%)	8.12%	11.63%
CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index	[1]	(4.04%)	8.12%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 15.80%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
Retail | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Utilities Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of utilities stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	4.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Utilities 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the utilities sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS utilities sector is made up of electric, gas, and water utility companies. It also includes independent power producers and energy traders and companies that engage in generation and distribution of electricity using renewable sources. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the utilities sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the utilities sector could be affected by government regulation, overall economic conditions, and fuel prices. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Utilities 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Utilities through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Utilities 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Utilities Index Fund Admiral Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.25% (quarter ended March 31, 2016), and the lowest return for a quarter was –11.50% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Retail | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	$ 20	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	11.43%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	6.95%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	18.92%	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	1.94%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	14.98%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	26.94%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(4.83%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	17.51%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	12.50%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	4.45%	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	24.56%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2016
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	15.25%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(11.50%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.45%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.77%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.73%
Retail | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.65%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.91%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.94%
Retail | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Admiral Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.19%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.46%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.77%
Retail | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Utilities
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.54%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.86%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.87%	[3]
Retail | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Utilities 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.54%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.86%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
Retail | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Utilities 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.54%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.86%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	10.87%	[3]

[1] /year

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 24.56%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

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Total

Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund

Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization value stocks in the United States.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Institutional Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund Institutional Shares
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Institutional Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund Institutional Shares
Management Fees	0.05%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.06%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Institutional Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Institutional | Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund | Institutional Shares | USD ($)	6	19	34	77

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 10% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index, which represents the value companies as determined by the index sponsor, of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. The Index is a float-adjusted, market-capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of mega-capitalization value stocks in the United States. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. In addition, the Fund's target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from large-capitalization value stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Large-cap value stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Mega Cap Value Index reflects the performance of the MSCI US Large Cap Value Index through April 16, 2013, and the CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund Institutional Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 16.08% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.97% (quarter ended March 31, 2009).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Institutional - Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Institutional Shares		(4.08%)	8.08%	11.59%
Institutional Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		(4.65%)	7.43%	10.99%
Institutional Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		(1.98%)	6.30%	9.57%
MSCI US Large Cap Value Index	[1]	(6.59%)	6.81%	10.88%
Spliced Mega Cap Value Index	[1]	(4.04%)	8.12%	11.63%
CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index	[1]	(4.04%)	8.12%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 15.80%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

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Total

Retail | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund

Vanguard Health Care Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of health care stocks.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees	Retail Vanguard Health Care Index Fund Admiral Shares USD ($)
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	none
Purchase Fee	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	none
Redemption Fee	none
Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)	$ 20	[1]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses	Retail Vanguard Health Care Index Fund Admiral Shares
Management Fees	0.09%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	none
Other Expenses	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.10%

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Retail | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund | Admiral Shares | USD ($)	10	32	56	128

Portfolio Turnover

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Health Care 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the health care sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS health care sector includes health care provider and services companies, companies that manufacture and distribute health care equipment and supplies, and health care technology companies. It also includes companies involved in the research, development, production, and marketing of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products.

The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market.

• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the health care sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the health care sector could be affected by, among other things, patent protection, government regulation, research and development costs, litigation, and competitive forces. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.

• Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Admiral Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Admiral Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/Health Care 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Health Care through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Health Care 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Health Care Index Fund Admiral Shares

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.62% (quarter ended March 31, 2013), and the lowest return for a quarter was –11.60% (quarter ended September 30, 2015).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018

Average Annual Total Returns - Retail - Vanguard Health Care Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Admiral Shares		5.55%	11.10%	15.16%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions		5.22%	10.76%	14.82%
Admiral Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares		3.54%	8.80%	12.82%
MSCI US IMI/Health Care	[1]	5.62%	11.15%	15.28%
MSCI US IMI/Health Care 25/50	[1]	5.62%	11.15%
Spliced US IMI/Health Care 25/50	[1]	5.62%	11.15%	15.28%

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

[1] /year

[1] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 6.19%.

[1] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD WORLD FUND
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 20, 2019
ETF | Vanguard Materials Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Vanguard Materials ETF
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of materials stocks.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.
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)
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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	4.00%
Expense Exchange Traded Fund Commissions [Text]	rr_ExpenseExchangeTradedFundCommissions	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's ETF Shares with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to sell your shares at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example Closing [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock	This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Materials 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the materials sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The GICS materials sector is made up of companies that manufacture chemicals, construction materials, glass, paper, forest products, and related packaging products, as well as metals, minerals, and mining companies, including producers of steel. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's target index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently from the overall stock market. • Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market sectors are often more extreme or volatile than fluctuations in the overall market. Because the Fund seeks to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the materials sector, the Fund's performance largely depends—for better or for worse—on the general condition of that sector. Companies in the materials sector could be affected by, among other things, commodity prices, government regulation, inflation expectations, resource availability, and economic cycles. Sector risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund. • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from the overall stock market. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions. Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks: • The Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca and are bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. • Although the Fund's ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it is possible that an active trading market may not be maintained. • Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of the Fund's ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NYSE Arca without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	• Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. Because the Fund tends to invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in its ten largest holdings, fluctuations in the market value of a single Fund holding could cause significant changes to the Fund's share price. Nondiversification risk is expected to be high for the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced US IMI/ Materials 25/50 reflects the performance of the MSCI US IMI/Materials through February 26, 2010, and the MSCI US IMI/Materials 25/50 thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund's ETF Shares (based on NAV) has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the ETF Shares compare with those of the Fund's target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Materials Index Fund ETF Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 22.46% (quarter ended September 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –25.09% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2018
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
ETF | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales	world_TransactionFeeOnPurchasesAndSales	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends	world_TransactionFeeOnReinvestedDividends	none	[1]
Transaction Fee on Conversion to ETF Shares	world_TransactionFeeOnConversionToETFShares	none	[1]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.08%
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.10%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	128
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	10
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	32
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	56
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 128
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	51.63%	[2]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	24.33%	[2]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(9.45%)	[2]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	17.26%	[2]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	24.92%	[2]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	5.90%	[2]
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(10.12%)	[2]
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	21.43%	[2]
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	23.66%	[2]
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(17.37%)	[2]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	15.71%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	22.46%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(25.09%)
ETF | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | Based on NAV | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(17.37%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.38%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.44%
ETF | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | Based on Market Price | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(17.47%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.37%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.43%
ETF | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(17.71%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.92%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.01%
ETF | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | Based on NAV Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ETF Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(9.97%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.60%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.53%
ETF | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Materials
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(17.32%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.44%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.55%	[3]
ETF | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | MSCI US IMI/Materials 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(17.32%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.44%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]
ETF | Vanguard Materials Index Fund | Spliced US IMI/Materials 25/50
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(17.32%)	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.44%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.55%	[3]

[1] None through Vanguard (Broker fees vary)

[2] The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on September 30, 2019, was 15.71%.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)