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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 MID CAP GROWTH FUND
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading FUND SUMMARY: MID CAP GROWTH FUND
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The investment objective of the Mid Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”) is to maximize capital appreciation.
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)
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 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 110% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 110.00%
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 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 Under normal conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of mid-cap companies. This policy may be changed without the vote of shareholders but shareholders will be given 60 days’ advance notice of any change. For purposes of this policy, mid capitalization companies have market capitalizations that fall within the market capitalization range of companies in the Russell Midcap Index at the time of purchase (as of March 31, 2012, this range was between $124 million and $22.7 billion). Because the Fund’s definition of mid-cap companies is dynamic, the lower and upper limits on market capitalization will change with the markets. The Fund will invest in securities of U.S. companies that the Sub-Adviser believes have strong earnings growth potential and that are diversified across economic sectors. The Fund will attempt to maintain sector concentrations that approximate those of the Russell Midcap Growth Index. The Fund’s exposure is generally limited to 5% of assets in any single issuer, subject to exceptions for the most heavily-weighted securities in the Russell Midcap Growth Index. Due to its investment strategy, the Fund may buy and sell securities frequently, which may result in higher transaction costs and may lower fund performance.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks of Investing
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock Market Risk. Equity 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.

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.

“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.

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

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may buy and sell portfolio securities actively. If it does, its portfolio turnover rate and transaction costs will rise, which may lower the Fund’s performance.

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

An investment in the Fund may be appropriate for investors who are willing to accept the risks and uncertainties of investing in mid-cap stocks in the hope of achieving above-average capital appreciation.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney 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.
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 by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for various periods compare with those of a broad-based securities market index. 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] 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 by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for various periods compare with those of a broad-based securities market index.
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
22.84% -28.78%
09/30/09 12/31/08
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading
Average Annual Total Return (for Periods Ended December 31, 2011)
PENN SERIES MID CAP GROWTH FUND | Mid Cap Growth Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Investment Advisory Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.70%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.29%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.99%
Plus Recouped Fees psfi_PlusRecoupedFees 0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.00% [1]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 102
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 318
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 552
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,225
2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 (32.59%)
2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 49.29%
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 11.37%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 12.48%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 6.81%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 25.15%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (48.87%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 47.79%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 26.84%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (7.78%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 22.84%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (28.78%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (7.78%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.04%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.07%
PENN SERIES MID CAP GROWTH FUND | Russell Midcap Growth Index(reflects no deduction for expenses and taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.65%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.44%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.29%
[1] Plus Recouped Fees