The investment objective of the Aggressive Allocation Fund (the “Fund”) is to seek to achieve long-term capital growth consistent with its asset allocation strategy.

Expense [Heading]

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Fund Fees and Expenses

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

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This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. The information in this table and the Example that follows does not reflect charges and fees deducted under your insurance contract. These charges and fees will increase expenses.

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

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

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

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Portfolio Turnover

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

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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. These costs, which are not reflected in the 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 29% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

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29.00%

Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text]

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This agreement is limited to the Fund’s direct operating expenses and, therefore, does not apply to “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.”

Expense Example [Heading]

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Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

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This 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 costs would be the same whether you stayed in the Fund or sold your shares at the end of each period. Although your actual costs and returns might be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

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Principal Investment Strategy

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

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The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by using a "fund-of-funds" strategy. Accordingly, the Fund invests in a combination of other Penn Series Funds (each, an "underlying fund" and, together, the "underlying funds") in accordance with its target asset allocations. These underlying funds invest their assets directly in equity, fixed income, money market and other securities in accordance with their own investment objectives and policies. The underlying funds are managed using both indexed and active management strategies. The Fund intends to invest primarily in a combination of underlying funds; however, the Fund may invest directly in equity and fixed income securities and cash equivalents, including money market securities.

The Fund has its own distinct target portfolio allocation and is designed to accommodate specific investment goals and risk tolerances. Through its investments in the underlying funds, the Fund's target allocation is intended to allocate the Fund's assets among various asset classes, such as equity securities, fixed income securities and money market securities. The portfolio of the Fund is more heavily allocated to stocks, and reflects an aggressive approach.

In determining the asset allocation of the Fund, the Adviser will rely on the experience of its investment personnel and its evaluation of the overall financial markets, including, but not limited to, information about the economy, interest rates, and the long-term absolute and relative returns of various asset classes. Consideration will also be given to the investment styles of the managers of the underlying funds and their historic patterns of performance relative to their asset class and to other underlying funds. Periodic changes in allocations among the underlying funds will be based on information about the financial markets, changes within particular underlying funds, or the introduction of new Penn Series funds that would, in the Adviser's opinion, enhance the return potential of the Fund. These changes will be implemented as necessary, recognizing that these decisions tend to be long-term in nature, based on information about the financial markets and on the Fund's investment objective.

The following chart shows the Fund's target asset allocation among the various asset classes. The Adviser may permit modest deviations from the target asset allocations listed below. Accordingly, the Fund's actual allocations may differ from this illustration.


Asset Class		Target Asset Allocation
Equity Funds		85% - 100%
Fixed Income and Money Market Funds		0% - 15%

The Adviser reserves the right to modify the Fund's target asset allocations and to substitute other underlying funds and add additional underlying funds from time to time should circumstances warrant a change. The Adviser may periodically rebalance the Fund's investments in the underlying funds to bring the Fund back within its target range.

Risk [Heading]

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Principal Risks

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

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Asset Allocation Risk. The Fund's particular asset allocation can have a significant effect on performance. The Fund manages its allocation with long-term performance in mind, and does not seek any particular type of performance in the short-term. Because the risks and returns of different asset classes can vary widely over any given time period, the Fund's performance could suffer if a particular asset class does not perform as expected.

Market Risk. Equity and bond markets rise and fall daily. As with any investment whose performance is tied to these markets, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate, which means that you could lose money.

Underlying Fund Investment Risk. The Fund purchases shares of the underlying funds. When the Fund invests in an underlying fund, in addition to directly bearing the expenses associated with its own operations, it will bear a pro rata portion of the underlying fund's expenses. The value of your investment in the Fund is based primarily on the prices of the underlying funds that the Fund purchases. In turn, the price of each underlying fund is based on the value of its securities. Before investing in the Fund, investors should assess the risks associated with the underlying funds in which the Fund may invest and the types of investments made by those underlying funds. These risks include any combination of the risks described below, although the Fund's exposure to a particular risk will be proportionate to the Fund's overall asset allocation and underlying fund allocation.

Investment Risk. An investment in an underlying fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund may experience losses with respect to its investment in an underlying fund. Further, there is no guarantee that an underlying fund will be able to achieve its objective.

Equity Risk. The prices of equity securities rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, industries or the securities market as a whole. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.

Large-Cap Risk. Large-cap stocks tend to go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. During a period when large-cap stocks fall behind other types of investments — small-cap stocks, for instance — an underlying fund's performance could be reduced to the extent its portfolio is holding large-cap stocks.

Small- and Mid-Cap Risk. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been riskier than large-cap stocks. Stock prices of smaller companies may be based in substantial part on future expectations rather than current achievements and may move sharply, especially during market upturns and downturns. Small- and mid-cap companies themselves may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies.

"Growth" Investing Risk. Growth stocks can be volatile for several reasons. The prices of growth stocks are based largely on projections of the issuer's future earnings and revenues. If a company's earnings or revenues fall short of expectations, its stock price may fall dramatically. Growth stocks may be more expensive relative to their earnings or assets compared to value or other stocks.

"Value" Investing Risk. An underlying fund that employs a "value" style of investing could suffer losses or produce poor results relative to other funds, even in a rising market, if the adviser's or sub-adviser's assessment of a company's value or prospects for exceeding earnings expectations or market conditions is wrong.

Foreign Investment Risk. An underlying fund's investments in securities of foreign issuers may involve certain risks that are greater than those associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. These include risks of adverse changes in foreign economic, political, regulatory and other conditions; changes in currency exchange rates or exchange control regulations (including limitations on currency movements and exchanges); differing accounting, auditing, financial reporting and legal standards and practices; differing securities market structures; and higher transaction costs.

Corporate Debt Securities Risk. Corporate debt securities are subject to the risk of the issuer's inability to meet principal and interest payments on the obligation and may also be subject to price volatility due to such factors as interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity. When interest rates rise, the value of corporate debt securities can be expected to decline. Debt securities with longer maturities tend to be more sensitive to interest rate movements than those with shorter maturities.

Interest Rate Risk. The risk that the value of fixed income securities, including U.S. Government securities, will fall due to rising interest rates.

Credit Risk. The risk that the issuer of a security, or the counterparty to a contract, will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation.

High Yield Bond Risk. Investing in fixed income securities rated below investment grade (high yield or junk bonds) involves additional risks, including credit risk. High yield bonds are considered speculative with respect to their issuers' ability to make timely payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

Prepayment and Extension Risk. Fixed income securities may be paid off earlier or later than expected. Either situation could cause an underlying fund to hold securities paying lower-than-market rates of interest, which could hurt the fund's yield or share price.

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Some of the U.S. government securities that an underlying fund invests in are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government, which means they are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. Also, any government guarantees on securities an underlying fund owns do not extend to shares of the underlying fund.

Derivatives Risk. An underlying fund's use of futures, forwards, options and swaps is subject to market risk, leverage risk, correlation risk and liquidity risk. Liquidity risk is described below. Market risk is the risk that the market value of an investment may move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Correlation risk is the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Leverage risk is the risk that the use of leverage can amplify the effects of market volatility on the underlying fund's share price and may also cause the underlying fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations. An underlying fund's use of forwards and swap agreements is also subject to credit risk and valuation risk. Valuation risk is the risk that the derivative may be difficult to value and/or valued incorrectly. Credit risk is described above. An underlying fund's use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and could cause the underlying fund to lose more than the principal amount invested.

Portfolio Turnover Risk. Certain of the underlying funds may buy and sell portfolio securities actively. If they do, their portfolio turnover rate and transaction costs will rise, which may lower the underlying fund's performance.

Liquidity Risk. A particular investment may be difficult to purchase or sell. An underlying fund may be unable to sell illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price.

Direct Investment Risk. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets directly in equity and fixed income securities and cash equivalents, including money market securities. The Fund's direct investment in these securities is subject to the same or similar risks as those described for an underlying fund's investment in the same security, and such risks are summarized above.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

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As with any investment whose performance is tied to these markets, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate, which means that you could lose money.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

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

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

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Performance Information

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

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The bar chart and table below show the performance of the Fund both year-by-year and as an average over different periods of time. The bar chart and table demonstrate the variability of performance over time and provide an indication of the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for various periods compare with those of a broad-based securities market index and one additional index, the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. The Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, in conjunction with the broad-based index, are used to track the broad range of allocations the Fund makes to the underlying funds. The foregoing indices, when considered together, may provide investors with a useful comparison of the Fund’s overall performance. Past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. This performance information does not include the impact of any charges deducted under your insurance contract. If it did, returns would be lower.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

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Performance Additional Market Index [Text]

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The Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, in conjunction with the broad-based index, are used to track the broad range of allocations the Fund makes to the underlying funds. The foregoing indices, when considered together, may provide investors with a useful comparison of the Fund’s overall performance.

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

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Past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

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This performance information does not include the impact of any charges deducted under your insurance contract. If it did, returns would be lower.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

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Best Quarter                                  Worst Quarter
17.31%                                      -16.51%
06/30/09                                      09/30/11

Performance Table Heading

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Average Annual Total Return (for Periods Ended December 31, 2011)

PENN SERIES AGGRESSIVE ALLOCATION FUND | Aggressive Allocation Fund

Risk/Return:

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Investment Advisory Fees

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0.10%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

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none

Other Expenses

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0.28%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

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0.93%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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1.31%

Less Fee Waivers

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(0.05%)

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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1.26%

^[2]

1 Year

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128

3 Years

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400

5 Years

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692

10 Years

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1,523

2009

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28.94%

2010

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15.96%

2011

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(3.66%)

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

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Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

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Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

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17.31%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

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Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

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Sep. 30, 2011

Lowest Quarterly Return

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(16.51%)

1 Year

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(3.66%)

Since Inception

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0.51%

Inception Date

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Aug. 25, 2008

PENN SERIES AGGRESSIVE ALLOCATION FUND | Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deduction for expenses and taxes)

Risk/Return:

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1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.03%

Since Inception

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1.62%

Inception Date

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Aug. 25, 2008

PENN SERIES AGGRESSIVE ALLOCATION FUND | Barclays Capital US Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for expenses and taxes)

Risk/Return:

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1 Year

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7.84%

Since Inception

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7.19%

Inception Date

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Aug. 25, 2008

[1]

Penn Mutual and the Adviser have contractually agreed under an expense limitation agreement with the Company to waive a portion of their fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep total annual operating expenses of the Fund from exceeding 0.33% of average daily net assets. This agreement is limited to the Fund's direct operating expenses and, therefore, does not apply to "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses." Further, this agreement is expected to continue for the life of the Fund and it may only be terminated with the approval of the Company's Board of Directors.

[2]

After Fee Waivers