Annual Total Returns [BarChart] - Ariel Fund - Investor Class	Feb. 01, 2021
Bar Chart Table:
2011	(11.34%)
Annual Return 2012	20.32%
Annual Return 2013	44.68%
Annual Return 2014	10.95%
Annual Return 2015	(4.10%)
Annual Return 2016	15.57%
Annual Return 2017	15.88%
Annual Return 2018	(13.67%)
Annual Return 2019	24.67%
Annual Return 2020	10.02%

If the Fund has annual returns for at least one calendar year, provide a bar chart showing the Fund's annual total returns for each of the last 10 calendar years (or for the life of the Fund if less than 10 years), but only for periods subsequent to the effective date of the Fund's registration statement. Present the corresponding numerical return adjacent to each bar. If the Fund's fiscal year is other than a calendar year, include the year-to-date return information as of the end of the most recent quarter in a footnote to the bar chart. Following the bar chart, disclose the Fund's highest and lowest return for a quarter during the 10 years or other period of the bar chart. When a Multiple Class Fund offers more than one Class in the prospectus, provide annual total returns in the bar chart for only one of those Classes. The Fund can select which Class to include (e.g., the oldest Class, the Class with the greatest net assets).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Form
-Number N-1A
-Chapter A
-Section 4
-Subsection b
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph instructions
-Clause 3
-Exhibit a

+ Details

Name:	rr_AnnualReturn2011
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References