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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName THRIVENT SERIES FUND INC
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Apr. 30, 2018
Thrivent Partner Healthcare Portfolio  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Thrivent Partner Healthcare Portfolio
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Thrivent Partner Healthcare Portfolio (the "Portfolio") seeks long-term capital growth.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading 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 Portfolio. If you own a variable annuity contract or variable life insurance contract, you will have additional expenses including mortality and expense risk charges. Please refer to the prospectus for your variable contract for additional information about charges for those contracts.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption SHAREHOLDER FEES
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of
the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination April 30, 2019
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, 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 annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 212% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 212.00%
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 Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Portfolio is an investment option for variable contracts, and the example does not include charges imposed by variable contracts. If variable contract charges were imposed, your expenses would be higher than those shown. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. In addition, the example for the 1 Year period reflects the effect of the contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on the foregoing assumptions, your cost would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowing for investment purposes) in the securities of companies that are engaged in the development, production or distribution of pharmaceutical, generic, biotechnology and medical technology products or services (“healthcare companies”). Healthcare companies are those that derive at least 50% of their annual revenues from the production of such products and provision of such services or have at least 50% of their assets in such products or services. The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities of both U.S. and non-U.S. companies (including American Depositary Receipts and issuers in emerging markets) and, as a non-diversified fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), focuses its investments in the securities of a relatively few number of issuers. In addition, the Portfolio concentrates its investments in the securities of companies in the healthcare industry, some of which may be small- and medium-sized companies. Should the Adviser determine that the Portfolio would benefit from reducing the percentage of its assets invested in the securities of healthcare companies from 80% to a lesser amount, it will notify you at least 60 days prior to the change.

BlackRock Investment Management, LLC, the Portfolio’s subadviser, considers a variety of factors when choosing investments for the Portfolio, including (i) identifying companies and industries that appear to have the potential for above-average returns; and (ii) identifying companies that are expected to show above-average growth over the long-term, as well as those that appear to be trading below their true worth. The Portfolio will generally sell a stock when, in the opinion of the subadviser, the stock reaches its price target or if there is deterioration in the company’s fundamentals, a change in macroeconomic outlook, technical deterioration, valuation issues, a need to rebalance the Portfolio or a better opportunity elsewhere.
Strategy Portfolio Concentration [Text] rr_StrategyPortfolioConcentration Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowing for investment purposes) in the securities of companies that are engaged in the development, production or distribution of pharmaceutical, generic, biotechnology and medical technology products or services (“healthcare companies”).
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock The Portfolio is subject to the following principal investment risks. Shares of the Portfolio will rise and fall in value and there is a risk that you could lose money by investing in the Portfolio. The Portfolio cannot be certain that it will achieve its investment objective.

Emerging Markets Risk. The economic and political structures of developing countries, in most cases, do not compare favorably with the U.S. or other developed countries in terms of wealth and stability, and their financial markets often lack liquidity. Portfolio performance will likely be negatively affected by portfolio exposure to countries in the midst of, among other things, hyperinflation, currency devaluation, trade disagreements, sudden political upheaval, or interventionist government policies. Significant buying or selling actions by a few major investors may also heighten the volatility of emerging markets. These factors make investing in emerging market countries significantly riskier than in other countries, and events in any one country could cause the Portfolio’s share price to decline.

Foreign Securities Risk. Foreign securities are generally more volatile than their domestic counterparts, in part because of higher political and economic risks, lack of reliable information and fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to resell than comparable U.S. securities because the markets for foreign securities are often less liquid. Even when a foreign security increases in price in its local currency, the appreciation may be diluted by adverse changes in exchange rates when the security’s value is converted to U.S. dollars. Foreign withholding taxes also may apply and errors and delays may occur in the settlement process for foreign securities. All of these risks may be heightened for securities of issuers located in, or with significant operations in, emerging market countries.

Growth Investing Risk. Growth style investing includes the risk of investing in securities whose prices historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term. Growth stock prices reflect projections of future earnings or revenues and, if a company’s earnings or revenues fall short of expectations, its stock price may fall dramatically.

Healthcare Industry Risk. As a sector fund that invests primarily in the healthcare industry, the Portfolio is subject to the risk that the companies in that industry are likely to react similarly to legislative or regulatory changes, adverse market conditions and/or increased competition affecting their market segment. Due to the rapid pace of technological development, there is the risk that the products and services developed by these companies may become rapidly obsolete or have relatively short product cycles. There is also the risk that the products and services offered by these companies will not meet expectations or even reach the marketplace.

Investment Adviser Risk. The Portfolio is actively managed and the success of its investment strategy depends significantly on the skills of the Adviser or subadviser in assessing the potential of the investments in which the Portfolio invests. This assessment of investments may prove incorrect, resulting in losses or poor performance, even in rising markets.

Issuer Risk. Issuer risk is the possibility that factors specific to a company to which the Portfolio is exposed will affect the market prices of the company’s securities and therefore the value of the Portfolio. Some factors affecting the performance of a company include demand for the company's products or services, the quality of management of the company and brand recognition and loyalty. Common stock of a company is subordinate to other securities issued by the company. If a company becomes insolvent, interests of investors owning common stock will be subordinated to the interests of other investors in, and general creditors of, the company.

Market Risk. Over time, securities markets generally tend to move in cycles with periods when security prices rise and periods when security prices decline. The value of the Portfolio’s investments may move with these cycles and, in some instances, increase or decrease more than the applicable market(s) as measured by the Portfolio’s benchmark index(es). The securities markets may also decline because of factors that affect a particular industry.

Non-Diversified Risk. The Portfolio is not “diversified” within the meaning of the 1940 Act. That means the Portfolio may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of any single issuer compared to other funds. A non-diversified portfolio is generally more susceptible than a diversified portfolio to the risk that events or developments affecting a particular issuer or industry will significantly affect the Portfolio’s performance.

Small and Mid Cap Risk. Small- and medium-sized companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volumes, and less liquidity than larger, more established companies. These companies tend to have smaller revenues, narrower product lines, less management depth and experience, smaller shares of their product or service markets, fewer financial resources, and less competitive strength than larger companies.

Value Investing Risk. Value style investing includes the risk that stocks of undervalued companies may not rise as quickly as anticipated if the market doesn’t recognize their intrinsic value or if value stocks are out of favor.

Volatility Risk. Volatility risk is the risk that certain types of securities shift in and out of favor depending on market and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. Stocks of growth companies historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term. Growth stock prices reflect projections of future earnings or revenues and if a company’s earnings or revenues fall short of expectations its stock price may fall dramatically.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney Shares of the Portfolio will rise and fall in value and there is a risk that you could lose money by investing in the Portfolio.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus Non-Diversified Risk. The Portfolio is not “diversified” within the meaning of the 1940 Act. That means the Portfolio may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of any single issuer compared to other funds. A non-diversified portfolio is generally more susceptible than a diversified portfolio to the risk that events or developments affecting a particular issuer or industry will significantly affect the Portfolio’s performance.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Portfolio’s average annual returns for one- and five-year periods and since inception compared to a broad-based securities market index. The index is the S&P Composite 1500® Index, which measures the performance of stocks in the S&P 1500® Index that are classified as members of the GICS® health care sector. The Portfolio no longer uses the MSCI World Healthcare Index, which is a capitalization-weighted index of selected health care stocks from around the world, because BlackRock Investment Management, LLC replaced Sectoral Asset Management Inc. (“Sectoral”) as the subadviser of the Portfolio on September 11, 2017. Performance information presented below with respect to periods prior to September 11, 2017 reflects the Portfolio’s performance when managed by Sectoral. Call 800-847-4836 or visit Thrivent.com for performance results current to the most recent month-end.

The bar chart includes the effects of Portfolio expenses, but not charges or deductions against your variable contract, and assumes that you sold your investment at the end of the period. Because shares of the Portfolio are offered through variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts, you should carefully review the variable contract prospectus for information on applicable charges and expenses. If the charges and deductions against your variable contract were included, returns would be lower than those shown.

How a Portfolio has performed in the past is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. Performance information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the Portfolio’s performance over time.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Portfolio’s average annual returns for one- and five-year periods and since inception compared to a broad-based securities market index.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 800-847-4836
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress Thrivent.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture How a Portfolio has performed in the past is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading YEAR-BY-YEAR TOTAL RETURN
Annual Return (%)
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The bar chart includes the effects of Portfolio expenses, but not charges or deductions against your variable contract, and assumes that you sold your investment at the end of the period. Because shares of the Portfolio are offered through variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts, you should carefully review the variable contract prospectus for information on applicable charges and expenses. If the charges and deductions against your variable contract were included, returns would be lower than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Best Quarter:
     Q1 '17         +11.60%
  
Worst Quarter:
      Q3 '11         (15.79)%   
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
(PERIODS ENDING DECEMBER 29, 2017)
Performance Table Market Index Changed rr_PerformanceTableMarketIndexChanged The Portfolio no longer uses the MSCI World Healthcare Index, which is a capitalization-weighted index of selected health care stocks from around the world, because BlackRock Investment Management, LLC replaced Sectoral Asset Management Inc. ("Sectoral") as the subadviser of the Portfolio on September 11, 2017.
Thrivent Partner Healthcare Portfolio | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed On Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the net asset value at time of purchase or redemption, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.83%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.93%
Less Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.05% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.88%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 90
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 291
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 510
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,138
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 23.83%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 11.13%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (3.79%)
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 20.68%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 31.09%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 24.23%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 4.61%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 (16.01%)
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 19.42%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2017
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 11.60%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (15.79%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.42%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 11.31%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.68%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 30, 2008
Thrivent Partner Healthcare Portfolio | S&P Composite 1500 Health Care Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 22.47%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 17.98%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 12.98%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 30, 2008
Thrivent Partner Healthcare Portfolio | MSCI World Healthcare Index - USD Net Returns (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.80%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 13.88%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 10.57%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 30, 2008
[1] The Adviser has contractually agreed, through at least April 30, 2019, to waive a portion of the management fees associated with the shares of the Thrivent Partner Healthcare Portfolio equal in the aggregate to 0.05% of the average daily net assets. This contractual provision, however, may be terminated before the indicated termination date upon the mutual agreement between the Independent Directors of the Portfolio and the Adviser.