Document and Entity Information	0 Months Ended
Sep. 27, 2013
Risk/Return:
Document Type	497
Document Period End Date	Sep. 27, 2013
Registrant Name	MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST
Central Index Key	0000063091
Amendment Flag	false
Document Creation Date	Sep. 27, 2013
Document Effective Date	Sep. 27, 2013
Prospectus Date	Apr. 30, 2013
Massachusetts Investors Trust \| A
Risk/Return:
Trading Symbol	MITTX
Massachusetts Investors Trust \| R4
Risk/Return:
Trading Symbol	MITDX
Massachusetts Investors Trust \| 529A
Risk/Return:
Trading Symbol	EAMTX
Massachusetts Investors Trust \| 529B
Risk/Return:
Trading Symbol	EBMTX
Massachusetts Investors Trust \| 529C
Risk/Return:
Trading Symbol	ECITX
Massachusetts Investors Trust \| B
Risk/Return:
Trading Symbol	MITBX
Massachusetts Investors Trust \| C
Risk/Return:
Trading Symbol	MITCX
Massachusetts Investors Trust \| I
Risk/Return:
Trading Symbol	MITIX
Massachusetts Investors Trust \| R1
Risk/Return:
Trading Symbol	MITGX
Massachusetts Investors Trust \| R2
Risk/Return:
Trading Symbol	MIRTX
Massachusetts Investors Trust \| R3
Risk/Return:
Trading Symbol	MITHX
Massachusetts Investors Trust \| R5
Risk/Return:
Trading Symbol	MITJX

If the value is true, then the document is an amendment to previously-filed/accepted document.

No definition available.

Name:	dei_AmendmentFlag
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The date the document was made available and submitted, in CCYY-MM-DD format. The date of submission, date of acceptance by the recipient, and the document effective date are all potentially different.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_DocumentCreationDate
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The date when a document, upon receipt and acceptance, becomes officially effective, in CCYY-MM-DD format. Usually it is a system-assigned date time value, but it may be declared by the submitter in some cases.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_DocumentEffectiveDate
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The end date of the period reflected on the cover page if a periodic report. For all other reports and registration statements containing historical data, it is the date up through which that historical data is presented. If there is no historical data in the report, use the filing date. The format of the date is CCYY-MM-DD.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word "Other".

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_DocumentType
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:submissionTypeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation 12B

-Number 240

-Section 12b

-Subsection 1

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityCentralIndexKey
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:centralIndexKeyItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation 12B

-Number 240

-Section 12b

-Subsection 1

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityRegistrantName
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_TradingSymbol
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The date of the prospectus.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Form

-Number N-1A

-Chapter A

-Section 1

-Subsection a

-Paragraph 3

+ Details

Name:	rr_ProspectusDate
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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