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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate May 01, 2016
I Class | T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading T. Rowe Price

Capital Appreciation Fund—I Class

SUMMARY
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The fund seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in common stocks. It may also hold fixed income and other securities to help preserve principal value.
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 fund.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Fees and Expenses of the Fund’s I Class

Annual fund 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, 2018
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 rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During the period December 17, 2015 through December 31, 2015, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 67.1% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 67.10%
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, that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same, and the expense limitation currently in place is not renewed. The figures have been adjusted to reflect fee waivers or expense reimbursements only in the periods for which the expense limitation arrangement is expected to continue. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Investments, Risks, and Performance

Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock The fund normally invests at least 50% of its total assets in stocks and the remaining assets are generally invested in convertible securities, corporate and government debt (including mortgage- and asset-backed securities), and bank loans (which represent an interest in amounts owed by a borrower to a syndicate of lenders) in keeping with the fund’s objective. The fund may also invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities.

The fund’s investments in stocks generally fall into one of two categories: the larger category comprises long-term core holdings whose prices when we buy them are considered low in terms of company assets, earnings, or other factors; the smaller category comprises opportunistic investments whose prices we expect to rise in the short term but not necessarily over the long term. There are no limits on the market capitalization of the issuers of the stocks in which the fund invests. Since we attempt to prevent losses as well as achieve gains, we typically use a value approach in selecting investments. Our in-house research team seeks to identify companies that seem undervalued by various measures, such as price/book value, and may be temporarily out of favor but we believe have good prospects for capital appreciation. We may establish relatively large positions in companies we find particularly attractive.

We work as hard to reduce risk as to maximize gains and may seek to realize gains rather than lose them in market declines. In addition, we search for attractive risk/reward values among all types of securities. The portion of the fund invested in a particular type of security, such as common stocks, results largely from case-by-case investment decisions, and the size of the fund’s cash reserves may reflect the portfolio manager’s ability to find companies that meet valuation criteria rather than his market outlook.

The fund may purchase bonds, convertible securities and bank loans for their income or other features or to gain additional exposure to a company. Maturity and quality are not necessarily major considerations and there are no limits on the maturities or credit ratings of the debt instruments in which the fund invests. The fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in noninvestment-grade corporate bonds (also known as “junk bonds”) and other debt instruments that are rated noninvestment grade. If a security is split rated (i.e., rated investment grade by at least one rating agency and noninvestment grade by another rating agency), the higher rating will be used for purposes of this requirement. In addition, the fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in mortgage- and asset-backed securities. The fund also writes (i.e., sells) call options, primarily in an effort to protect against downside risk or to generate additional income.

The fund may sell securities for a variety of reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, or redeploy assets into more promising opportunities.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the fund will achieve its objective. The fund’s share price fluctuates, which means you could lose money by investing in the fund. The principal risks of investing in this fund are summarized as follows:

Active management risk The fund is subject to the risk that the investment adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of the fund’s investments may prove to be incorrect. If the investments selected and strategies employed by the fund fail to produce the intended results, the fund could underperform in comparison to other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.

Risks of U.S. stock investing Stocks generally fluctuate in value more than bonds and may decline significantly over short time periods. There is a chance that stock prices overall will decline because stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. The value of a stock in which the fund invests may decline due to general weakness in the U.S. stock market, such as when the U.S. financial markets decline, or because of factors that affect a particular company or industry.

Market capitalization risk Because the fund may invest in companies of any size, its share price could be more volatile than a fund that invests only in large companies. Small- and medium-sized companies often have less experienced management, narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, and less publicly available information than larger companies. Larger companies may not be able to attain the high growth rates of successful smaller companies, especially during strong economic periods, and they may be less capable of responding quickly to competitive challenges and industry changes.

Investment style risk Different investment styles tend to shift in and out of favor depending on market conditions and investor sentiment. The fund’s value approach to investing could cause it to underperform other stock funds that employ a different investment style. The intrinsic value of a stock with value characteristics may not be fully recognized by the market for a long time or a stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced at a low level.

Risks of bond investing Bonds have three main sources of risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that a rise in interest rates will cause the price of a debt security held by the fund to fall. Securities with longer maturities or durations typically suffer greater declines than those with shorter maturities or durations. Mortgage-backed securities can react somewhat differently to interest rate changes because falling rates can cause losses of principal due to increased mortgage prepayments and rising rates can lead to decreased prepayments and greater volatility. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security will default (fail to make scheduled interest or principal payments), potentially reducing the fund’s income level and share price. This risk is increased when a security is downgraded or the perceived creditworthiness of the issuer deteriorates. Liquidity risk is the risk that the fund may not be able to sell a holding in a timely manner or at a desired price.

Because a significant portion of the fund’s bond investments may be rated below investment grade, also known as high yield or “junk” bonds, the fund is exposed to greater volatility than if it invested mainly in investment-grade bonds. High yield bond issuers are more likely to suffer an adverse change in financial condition that would result in the inability to meet a financial obligation. Accordingly, the securities they issue carry a higher risk of default and should be considered speculative. The fund’s exposure to credit risk, in particular, is increased to the extent it invests in high yield bonds.

Convertible securities risk To the extent the fund invests in convertible securities, it is subject to market risk, credit and interest rate risk, and other risks associated with both equity and fixed income securities, depending on the price of the underlying security and the conversion price. A convertible security may be called back by the issuer prior to maturity at a price that is disadvantageous to the fund. In addition, convertible securities are typically issued by smaller capitalized companies whose stock prices are more volatile than companies that have access to more conventional means of raising capital.

Bank loan risk To the extent the fund invests in bank loans, it is exposed to additional risks beyond those normally associated with more traditional debt securities. The fund’s ability to receive payments in connection with the loan depends primarily on the financial condition of the borrower and whether or not a loan is secured by collateral, although there is no assurance that the collateral securing a loan will be sufficient to satisfy the loan obligation. In addition, bank loans often have contractual restrictions on resale, which can delay the sale and adversely impact the sale price.

Foreign investing risk This is the risk that the fund’s investments in foreign securities may be adversely affected by local, political, social, and economic conditions overseas, greater volatility, reduced liquidity, or decreases in foreign currency values relative to the U.S. dollar.

Options risk To the extent the fund uses options, it is exposed to additional volatility and potential losses. Writing call options exposes the fund to the risk that the underlying security may not move in the direction anticipated by the portfolio manager, requiring the fund to buy or sell the security at a price that is disadvantageous to the fund. Certain call options carry a potentially unlimited risk of loss.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney The fund’s share price fluctuates, which means you could lose money by investing in the fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The Capital Appreciation Fund—I Class incepted on December 17, 2015, and does not have a full calendar year of performance history. Performance for the class will be presented after the class has been in operation for one full calendar year. As a point of comparison, however, the following bar chart and table show calendar year returns and average annual total returns for the existing Investor Class of the Capital Appreciation Fund (“Investor Class”). Because the Capital Appreciation Fund—I Class is expected to have lower expenses than the Investor Class, its performance, had it existed over the periods shown, would have been higher. The Investor Class and the Capital Appreciation Fund—I Class share the same portfolio. The bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing how much returns can differ from year to year and how the Investor Class’ average annual returns for certain periods compare with the returns of a relevant broad-based market index, as well as with the returns of one or more other comparative indexes that have investment characteristics similar to those of the fund.

The fund can also experience short-term performance swings, as shown by the best and worst calendar quarter returns during the years depicted for the Investor Class.

Performance information represents only past performance (before and after taxes) and does not necessarily indicate future results.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing how much returns can differ from year to year and how the Investor Class’ average annual returns for certain periods compare with the returns of a relevant broad-based market index, as well as with the returns of one or more other comparative indexes that have investment characteristics similar to those of the fund.
Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess The Capital Appreciation Fund—I Class incepted on December 17, 2015, and does not have a full calendar year of performance history. Performance for the class will be presented after the class has been in operation for one full calendar year.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 1-800-638-8790
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress troweprice.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Performance information represents only past performance (before and after taxes) and does not necessarily indicate future results.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Capital Appreciation Fund
Calendar Year Returns
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
  Quarter
 Ended		  Total
Return
Best Quarter   6/30/09  18.54%
Worst Quarter 12/31/08 -18.94%
Bar Chart, Returns for Class Not Offered in Prospectus [Text] rr_BarChartReturnsForClassNotOfferedInProspectus As a point of comparison, however, the following bar chart and table show calendar year returns and average annual total returns for the existing Investor Class of the Capital Appreciation Fund (“Investor Class”).
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns

Periods ended
December 31, 2015
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as a 401(k) account or individual retirement account.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher In some cases, the figure shown for “returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares” may be higher than the figure shown for “returns before taxes” because the calculations assume the investor received a tax deduction for any loss incurred on the sale of shares.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock In addition, the average annual total returns table shows hypothetical after-tax returns to demonstrate how taxes paid by a shareholder may influence returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as a 401(k) account or individual retirement account. In some cases, the figure shown for “returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares” may be higher than the figure shown for “returns before taxes” because the calculations assume the investor received a tax deduction for any loss incurred on the sale of shares.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock Current performance information may be obtained through troweprice.com or by calling 1-800-638-8790.
I Class | T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund | T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund-I Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.59%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.14% [1]
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.73%
Fee waiver/expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.09%) [1]
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver/expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.64%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 65
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 215
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 388
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 889
I Class | T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund | T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 14.54%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 4.56%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (27.17%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 33.05%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 14.07%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 3.19%
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 14.70%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 22.43%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 12.25%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 5.42%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 18.54%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (18.94%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.42%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 11.39%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.54%
I Class | T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund | Returns after taxes on distributions | T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.66%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.45%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.06%
I Class | T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund | Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares | T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.42%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.63%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.62%
I Class | T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.38%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 12.57%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.31%
I Class | T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund | Lipper Mixed-Asset Target Allocation Growth Funds Index  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.54%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.69%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.85%
[1] Through April 30, 2018, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. has agreed to pay the operating expenses of the fund’s I Class excluding management fees; interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses (“I Class Operating Expenses”), to the extent the I Class Operating Expenses exceed 0.05% of the class’ average daily net assets. Any expenses paid under this agreement are subject to reimbursement to T.  Rowe Price Associates, Inc. by the fund or class whenever the fund’s I Class Operating Expenses are below 0.05%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years after the payment of the I Class Operating Expenses or if such reimbursement would cause the fund’s I Class Operating Expenses to exceed 0.05%. The agreement may be terminated at any time beyond April 30, 2018, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors.