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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName PENN SERIES FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate May 01, 2012
PENN SERIES MONEY MARKET FUND
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading FUND SUMMARY: MONEY MARKET FUND
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The investment objective of the Money Market Fund (the "Fund") is to preserve shareholder capital, maintain liquidity and achieve the highest possible level of current income consistent therewith.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fund Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock 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] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock 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 you 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] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategy
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock The Fund will invest in a diversified portfolio of high-quality money market instruments, which are rated within the two highest credit categories assigned by recognized rating organizations or, if not rated, are of comparable investment quality as determined by Independence Capital Management, Inc. ("ICMI" or the "Adviser"). Investments include commercial paper, U.S. Treasury securities, bank certificates of deposit and repurchase agreements. The Adviser looks for money market instruments that present minimal credit risks. Important factors in selecting investments include a company′s profitability, ability to generate funds, capital adequacy, and liquidity of the investment. The Fund will invest only in securities that mature in 397 days or less, as calculated in accordance with applicable law. The Fund′s policy is to seek to maintain a stable price of $1.00 per share.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks of Investing
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock Investment Risk.  Your investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the Fund's investment adviser or its affiliates will make capital infusions into the Fund, purchase distressed Fund assets, enter into support agreements with the Fund or take other actions intended to maintain the Fund's $1.00 share price.

Interest Rate Risk.  Interest rates rise and fall over time. As with any investment whose yield reflects current interest rates, the Fund′s yield will change over time. During periods when interest rates are low, the Fund′s yield (and total return) also will be low and the income generated by the Fund may not be sufficient to offset all or a significant portion of the Fund′s expenses, which could impair the Fund′s ability to provide a positive yield and maintain a stable $1.00 share price. In addition, to the extent the Fund makes any reimbursement payments to the Adviser or Penn Mutual, the Fund's yield would be lower.

Credit Risk.  The Fund could lose money or underperform as a result of default. The credit quality of the Fund′s portfolio holdings can change rapidly in certain markets and any default on the part of a portfolio investment could cause the Fund′s share price or yield to fall.

U.S. Government Securities Risk.  Some of the U.S. government securities that the 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 the Fund owns do not extend to shares of the Fund.

Repurchase Agreement Risk.  The Fund′s use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks. One risk is the seller′s ability to pay the agreed–upon repurchase price on the repurchase date. If the seller defaults, the Fund may incur costs in disposing of the collateral, which would reduce the amount realized thereon.

Redemption Risk.  The Fund may experience periods of heavy redemptions that could cause the Fund to liquidate its assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value, particularly during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Redemptions by a few large investors in the Fund may have a significant adverse effect on the Fund′s ability to maintain a stable $1.00 share price. In the event any money market fund fails to maintain a stable net asset value, other money market funds, including the Fund, could face a universal risk of increased redemption pressures, potentially jeopardizing the stability of their $1.00 share prices.

Liquidity Risk.  A particular investment may be difficult or expensive to purchase or sell. The Fund may be unable to sell illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price. The market for certain investments may become illiquid due to specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer or under adverse market or economic conditions independent of the issuer. If the Fund is forced to liquidate its assets under unfavorable conditions or at inopportune times, the Fund′s ability to maintain a stable $1.00 share price may be adversely affected.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Money Market Fund [Text] rr_RiskMoneyMarketFund Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution Your investment in the 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] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock 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. 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. The current yield of the Money Market Fund for the seven-day period ended December 31, 2011 was 0.01%.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns 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.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads 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] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

 

Best Quarter    Worst Quarter
1.25%    0.01%
12/31/06    12/31/11
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading
Average Annual Total Return (for Periods Ended December 31, 2011)
Money Market Seven Day Yield, Caption [Text] rr_MoneyMarketSevenDayYieldCaption The current yield of the Money Market Fund for the seven-day period ended December 31, 2011 was 0.01%.
PENN SERIES MONEY MARKET FUND | Money Market Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Investment Advisory Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.18%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.31%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.49%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 50
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 157
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 274
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 616
2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 1.65%
2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 0.86%
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 0.96%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 2.81%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 4.66%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 4.98%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 2.68%
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 0.44%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 0.01%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 0.01%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2006
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 1.25%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn 0.01%
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.01%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.60%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.89%
Money Market Seven Day Yield rr_MoneyMarketSevenDayYield 0.01%