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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
ProspectusDate rr_ProspectusDate Oct. 01, 2011
Dreyfus Equity Income Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Dreyfus Equity Income Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return, Heading rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund Summary
Investment Objective, Heading rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
investment Objective, Primary rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock 
The fund seeks total return (consisting of capital appreciation and income).
Expense, Heading rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
Expense, Narrative rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock 
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your
family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain
funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. More information about these and other
discounts is available from your financial professional and in the Shareholder
Guide section on page 8 of the Prospectus and in the How to Buy Shares section
on page B-40 of the fund's Statement of Additional Information. Class A shares
bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or
more may be charged a deferred sales charge of 1% if redeemed within one year.
Shareholder Fees, Caption rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses, Caption 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 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 may
indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund
shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in
annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance.
During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was
121.84% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 121.84%
Expense Breakpoint, Discounts rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required Amount rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 50,000
Expense Example, Heading rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example, Narrative rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock 
The Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of
your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your
investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses
remain the same. The one-year example and the first year of the three-, five-
and ten-years examples are based on net operating expenses, which reflect the
expense waiver/reimbursement by The Dreyfus Corporation. Although your actual
costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Investment Strategy, Heading rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategy
Investment Strategy, Narrative rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock 
To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets,
plus any borrowing for investment purposes, in equity securities. The fund seeks
to focus on dividend-paying stocks and other investments and investment
techniques that provide income. The investment adviser chooses stocks through a
disciplined investment process that combines computer modeling techniques,
fundamental analysis and risk management. In selecting securities, the fund's
portfolio managers use a proprietary computer model to identify and rank stocks
within an industry or sector, based on several characteristics, including:

o value, or how a stock is priced relative to its perceived intrinsic worth

o growth, in this case the sustainability or growth of earnings

o financial profile, which measures the financial health of the company

Based on fundamental analysis, the portfolio managers generally select the most
attractive of the higher ranked securities and manage risk by diversifying
across companies and industries. The fund may invest in stocks with either value
or growth characteristics.
Risk, Heading rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk, Narrative rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock 
An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government
agency. It is not a complete investment program. The fund's share price
fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.

o Risks of stock investing. Stocks generally fluctuate more in value than bonds
and may decline significantly over short time periods. There is the chance that
stock prices overall will decline because stock markets tend to move in cycles,
with periods of rising prices and falling prices. The market value of a stock
may decline due to general weakness in the stock market or because of factors
that affect the company or its particular industry.

o Growth and value stock risk. By investing in a mix of growth and value
companies, the fund assumes the risks of both. Investors often expect growth
companies to increase their earnings at a certain rate. If these expectations
are not met, investors can punish the stocks inordinately, even if earnings do
increase. In addition, growth stocks typically lack the dividend yield that can
cushion stock prices in market downturns. Value stocks involve the risk that
they may never reach their expected full market value, either because the market
fails to recognize the stock's intrinsic worth, or the expected value was
misgauged. They also may decline in price even though in theory they are already
undervalued.
Risk, Lose Money rr_RiskLoseMoney The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.
Risk, Not Insured Depository Institution rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table, Heading rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance, Narrative rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock 
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of
investing in the fund. The table compares the average annual total returns
of the fund's shares to those of a broad measure of market performance. The
fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of future
results. More recent performance information may be available a
www.dreyfus.com.
Performance, Information Illustrates Variability of Returns rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund.
Performance, Availability Website Address rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.dreyfus.com
Performance, Past Does Not Indicate Future rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of future results.
Bar Chart, Heading rr_BarChartHeading Year-by-Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year (%) Class A
Bar Chart, Narrative rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock 
The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the fund's Class A shares
from year to year. Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart,
and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those
shown.
Bar Chart, Does Not Reflect Sales Loads rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown.
Bar Chart, Closing rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock 
Best Quarter
Q2, 2009: 12.89%
Worst Quarter
Q4, 2008: -19.17%

The year-to-date total return of the fund's Class A shares as of 6/30/11 was
8.32%.
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes
Performance Table, Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table, Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table, One Class of after Tax Shown rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax performance is shown only for Class A shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary.
Performance Table, Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock 
After-tax performance is shown only for Class A shares. After-tax performance of
the fund's other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using
the historical highest individual federal marginal tax rates, and do not reflect
the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the
investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax
returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through
tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement
accounts.
Average Annual Returns, Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/10)
Dreyfus Equity Income Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Dreyfus Equity Income Fund | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination 2012-10-01
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel The year-to-date total return of the fund's Class A shares
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Jun. 30, 2011
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 8.32%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 12.89%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (19.17%)
Dreyfus Equity Income Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Dreyfus Equity Income Fund | Class C
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination 2012-10-01
Dreyfus Equity Income Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Dreyfus Equity Income Fund | Class I
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination 2012-10-01
Dreyfus Equity Income Fund | S&P 500 Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel S&P 500 Index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes [1]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 15.08%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 1.95%
Dreyfus Equity Income Fund | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.75%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 4.65%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 5.40%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (3.90%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.50%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 719
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,768
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 2,809
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 5,375
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 719
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 1,768
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 2,809
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 5,375
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 0.64%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (31.91%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 20.92%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 12.53%
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class A returns before taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.09%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (0.17%)
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jul. 05, 2006
Dreyfus Equity Income Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class A returns after taxes on distributions
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.85%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (0.46%)
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jul. 05, 2006
Dreyfus Equity Income Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class A returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.24%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (0.15%)
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jul. 05, 2006
Dreyfus Equity Income Fund | Class C
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 1.00%
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.75%
Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 4.69%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 6.19%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (3.94%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 2.25%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 328
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,485
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 2,712
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 5,655
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 228
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 1,485
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 2,712
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 5,655
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class C returns before taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 10.67%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.39%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jul. 05, 2006
Dreyfus Equity Income Fund | Class I
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 4.50%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 5.25%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (4.00%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.25%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 127
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,214
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 2,295
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 4,975
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 127
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 1,214
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 2,295
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 4,975
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class I returns before taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.91%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 1.43%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jul. 05, 2006
[1] For comparative purposes, the value of the S&P 500 Index on 6/30/06 is used as the beginning value on 7/5/06.
[2] The Dreyfus Corporation has contractually agreed, until October 1, 2012, to waive receipt of its fees and/or assume the expenses of the fund so that the expenses of none of the classes (excluding Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder services fees, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, commitment fees on borrowings and extraordinary expenses) exceed 1.25%. After October 1, 2012, The Dreyfus Corporation may terminate the expense limitation at any time.