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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
ProspectusDate rr_ProspectusDate Dec. 20, 2011
Corporate Bond Portfolio (Prospectus Summary) | Corporate Bond Portfolio
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return, Heading rr_RiskReturnHeading Corporate Bond Portfolio (formerly Investment Grade Fixed Income Portfolio)
Investment Objective, Heading rr_ObjectiveHeading Objective
investment Objective, Primary rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock 
The Corporate Bond Portfolio seeks above-average total return over a market
cycle of three to five years.
Expense, Heading rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
Expense, Narrative rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock 
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Portfolio. For shareholders of Class H shares, you may
qualify for sales charge discounts if the cumulative net asset value ("NAV") of
Class H shares of the Portfolio purchased in a single transaction, together with
the NAV of all Class H shares of a portfolio of Morgan Stanley Institutional
Fund Trust (the "Fund") or of a portfolio of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund,
Inc. held in related accounts, amounts to $50,000 or more. More information
about these and other discounts is available from your financial adviser and in
the "Purchasing Class H Shares" section on page 11 of this Prospectus.
Shareholder Fees, Caption rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses, Caption rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Portfolio 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 Portfolio pays transaction costs when it buys and sells securities (or
"turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate
higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares
are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio's
performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio's portfolio
turnover rate was 224% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 224.00%
Expense Breakpoint, Discounts rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts For shareholders of Class H shares, you may qualify for sales charge discounts if the cumulative net asset value ("NAV") of Class H shares of the Portfolio purchased in a single transaction, together with the NAV of all Class H shares of a portfolio of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund Trust (the "Fund") or of a portfolio of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. held in related accounts, amounts to $50,000 or more.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required Amount rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount 50,000
Expense Example, Heading rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example, Narrative rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock 
The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio, your investment
has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the
same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower based on these
assumptions, your costs would be:
Investment Strategy, Heading rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Investment Strategy, Narrative rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock 
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Portfolio's assets will be
invested in corporate bonds. The Portfolio invests primarily in a diversified
mix of U.S. dollar-denominated corporate bonds and will ordinarily seek to
maintain an average weighted maturity between five and ten years. The Portfolio
invests primarily in U.S. corporate bonds that carry an investment grade rating
(i.e., generally rated Baa or higher by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
("Moody's") or BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P")) or, if unrated, are determined to be of
a comparable quality by the Portfolio's "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment
Management Inc., at the time of purchase.

The Adviser employs a value approach toward fixed income investing and evaluates
the relative attractiveness of corporate bonds. The Adviser relies upon value
measures to guide its decisions regarding sector and security selection, such as
the relative attractiveness of the extra yield offered by securities other than
those issued by the U.S. Treasury. The Adviser also measures various types of
risk by monitoring interest rates, inflation, the shape of the yield curve,
credit risk and prepayment risk.

The Portfolio may also invest in restricted and illiquid securities. The
Portfolio may, but it is not required to, use derivative instruments for a
variety of purposes, including hedging, risk management, portfolio management or
to earn income. The Portfolio's use of derivatives may involve the purchase and
sale of derivative instruments such as futures, options, swaps and other related
instruments and techniques.

Derivative instruments used by the Portfolio will be counted towards the 80%
policy discussed above to the extent they have economic characteristics similar
to the securities included within that policy.
Risk, Heading rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk, Narrative rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock 
An investment in the Portfolio is subject to risks, and you could lose money on
your investment in the Portfolio. There can be no assurance that the Portfolio
will achieve its investment objective. An investment in the Portfolio is not a
deposit of any bank or other insured depository institution and is not insured
or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
government agency.

The Portfolio's principal investment strategies are subject to the following
principal risks:

• Fixed Income Securities. The prices of fixed income securities respond to
economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, changes in the
general level of spreads between U.S. Treasury and non-Treasury securities, and
changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of the issuer of the fixed
income security. Securities with longer durations are likely to be more
sensitive to changes in interest rates, generally making them more volatile than
securities with shorter durations.

• Liquidity Risk. The Portfolio's investments in restricted and illiquid
securities may entail greater risk than investments in publicly traded
securities. These securities may be more difficult to sell, particularly in
times of market turmoil. Illiquid securities may be more difficult to value. If
the Portfolio is forced to sell an illiquid security to fund redemptions or for
other cash needs, it may be forced to sell the security at a loss.

• Derivatives. A derivative instrument often has risks similar to its underlying
instrument and may have additional risks, including imperfect correlation
between the value of the derivative and the underlying instrument, risks of
default by the counterparty to certain transactions, magnification of losses
incurred due to changes in the market value of the securities, instruments,
indices or interest rates to which they relate, and risks that the transactions
may not be liquid. Certain derivative transactions may give rise to a form of
leverage. Leverage magnifies the potential for gain and the risk of loss.
Risk, Lose Money rr_RiskLoseMoney An investment in the Portfolio is subject to risks, and you could lose money on your investment in the Portfolio.
Risk, Not Insured Depository Institution rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the Portfolio is not a deposit of any bank or other insured depository institution 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 rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock 
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing
in the Portfolio by showing changes in the Portfolio's Class I shares'
performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Portfolio's average annual
returns for the past one, five and 10 year periods and since inception compare
with those of broad measures of market performance, as well as an index that
represents a group of similar mutual funds, over time. The performance of the
other Classes will differ because the Classes have different ongoing fees. The
Portfolio's returns include the maximum applicable sales charge for Class H and
assume you sold your shares at the end of each period (unless otherwise noted).
The Portfolio's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an
indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Updated performance
information is available online at www.morganstanley.com/im.
Performance, Information Illustrates Variability of Returns rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the Portfolio's Class I shares' performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Portfolio's average annual returns for the past one, five and 10 year periods and since inception compare with those of broad measures of market performance, as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds, over time.
Performance, Availability Website Address rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.morganstanley.com/im
Performance, Past Does Not Indicate Future rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Portfolio's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
Bar Chart, Heading rr_BarChartHeading Annual Total Returns-Calendar Years
Bar Chart, Closing rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock 
High Quarter     9/30/09         3.94 %

Low Quarter      9/30/08        -4.37 %
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes reflects no deduction for taxes
Performance Table, Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate The after-tax returns shown in the table above are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table, Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred After-tax returns for the Portfolio's other Classes will vary from Class I shares' returns. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table, Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to foreign tax credits and/or an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.
Performance Table, Closing rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock 
The after-tax returns shown in the table above are calculated using the
historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the
period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
After-tax returns for the Portfolio's other Classes will vary from Class
I shares' returns. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax
situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns are not
relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred
arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax
returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to foreign tax credits and/or
an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had
Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.
Average Annual Returns, Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2010
Corporate Bond Portfolio (Prospectus Summary) | Corporate Bond Portfolio | Class I
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel High Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 3.94%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Low Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (4.37%)
Corporate Bond Portfolio | Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 9.00%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.05%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.57%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.59% [2]
Corporate Bond Portfolio | Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [3]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.54%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.80%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.84%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.08% [2]
Corporate Bond Portfolio | Lipper Intermediate Investment Grade Debt Funds Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Lipper Intermediate Investment Grade Debt Funds Index (reflects no deduction for taxes) [4]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.62%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.44%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.55%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.60% [2]
Corporate Bond Portfolio | Class I
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none [5]
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.375%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.42%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.80%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets none
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.80%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 82
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 255
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 444
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 990
Annual Return 2001 rr_AnnualReturn2001 11.04%
Annual Return 2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 7.68%
Annual Return 2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 4.50%
Annual Return 2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 4.54%
Annual Return 2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 4.40%
Annual Return 2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 3.40%
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 5.93%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (11.31%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 8.83%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 6.24%
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class I Return before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.24%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.35%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.36%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.55%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Aug. 31, 1990
Corporate Bond Portfolio | Class I | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class I Return after Taxes on Distributions
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.10%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.66%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.49%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 4.12%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Aug. 31, 1990
Corporate Bond Portfolio | Class I | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class I Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.04%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.01%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.62%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 4.16%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Aug. 31, 1990
Corporate Bond Portfolio | Class P
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none [5]
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.375%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.42%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.05% [6]
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.10%) [6]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.95% [6]
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 97
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 303
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 525
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,166
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class P Return before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.19%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.20%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.46%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 20, 2002
Corporate Bond Portfolio | Class H
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 3.50% [5]
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.375%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.42%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.05%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets none
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.05%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 453
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 672
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 909
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,588
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class H Return before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.35%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05   
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (1.29%)
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jan. 02, 2008
Corporate Bond Portfolio | Class L
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none [5]
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.375%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.50%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.42%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.30%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets none
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.30%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 132
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 412
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 713
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,568
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class L Return before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.81%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05   
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.39%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jun. 16, 2008
[1] The Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable, corporate bond market. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. The Portfolio's primary benchmark was changed in December 2011 from the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index because the Adviser believes the Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate Index is a more appropriate benchmark for the Portfolio.
[2] Since Inception reflects the inception date of Class I.
[3] The Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Index tracks the performance of all U.S. government agency and Treasury securities, investment-grade corporate debt securities, agency mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
[4] The Lipper Intermediate Investment Grade Debt Funds Index is an equally weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Intermediate Investment Grade Debt Funds classification. There are currently 30 funds represented in this index.
[5] The sales charge is calculated as a percentage of the offering price. The sales charge is reduced for purchases of $50,000 and over. See "Purchasing Class H Shares."
[6] The Portfolio's "Distributor," Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., is currently waiving the 12b-1 fee on Class P shares of the Portfolio to the extent it exceeds 0.15% of the average daily net assets of such shares on an annualized basis. This waiver will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waiver when it deems such action is appropriate.