Label	Element	Value
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Document Type	dei_DocumentType	485BPOS
Document Period End Date	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate	Dec. 31, 2018
Entity Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND
Entity Central Index Key	dei_EntityCentralIndexKey	0000081259
Amendment Flag	dei_AmendmentFlag	false
Entity Inv Company Type	dei_EntityInvCompanyType	N-1A
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PGEOX
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Nov. 25, 2019
Document Effective Date	dei_DocumentEffectiveDate	Nov. 30, 2019
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Nov. 30, 2019
George Putnam Balanced Fund
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Goal
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	George Putnam Balanced Fund seeks to provide a balanced investment composed of a well-diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds which produce both capital growth and current income.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following tables describe the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Putnam funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in How do I buy fund shares? beginning on page 15 of the fund's prospectus, in the Appendix to the fund's prospectus, and in How to buy shares beginning on page II-1 of the fund's statement of additional information (SAI).
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual fund operating expenses (expenses 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-related costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or the above example, affect fund performance. The fund’s turnover rate in the most recent fiscal year was 143%.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	143.00%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts	You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Putnam funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in How do I buy fund shares? beginning on page 15 of the fund's prospectus, in the Appendix to the fund's prospectus, and in How to buy shares beginning on page II-1 of the fund's statement of additional information (SAI).
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount	$ 50,000
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following hypothetical example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds. It assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Investments, risks, and performance
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	Investments We invest mainly in a combination of bonds and common stocks (growth or value stocks or both) of large U.S. companies, with a greater focus on common stocks. For example, we may purchase stocks of companies with stock prices that reflect a value lower than that which we place on the company. We may also consider other factors that we believe will cause the stock price to rise. We buy bonds of governments and private companies that are mostly investment-grade in quality with intermediate- to long-term maturities (three years or longer). We may consider, among other factors, a company’s valuation, financial strength, growth potential, competitive position in its industry, projected future earnings, cash flows and dividends when deciding whether to buy or sell equity investments, and, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell fixed-income investments. We may also use derivatives, such as futures, options, warrants and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund. The value of investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political or financial market conditions, investor sentiment or market perceptions, government actions, geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. Growth stocks may be more susceptible to earnings disappointments, and value stocks may fail to rebound. Bond investments are subject to interest rate risk, which means the value of the fund’s bond investments is likely to fall if interest rates rise. Bond investments also are subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the bond may default on payment of interest or principal. Interest rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”), which may be considered speculative. Our use of derivatives may increase the risks of investing in the fund by increasing investment exposure (which may be considered leverage) or, in the case of many over-the-counter instruments, because of the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions and the potential failure of the other party to the instrument to meet its obligations. The fund may not achieve its goal, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the fund 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
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time. The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower. Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results. Monthly performance figures for the fund are available at putnam.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	putnam.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Year-to-date performance through 9/30/19  17.01% Best calendar quarter Q2 2009   12.57% Worst calendar quarter Q3 2011 −8.87%
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	Year-to-date performance
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	17.01%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Best calendar quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	12.57%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Worst calendar quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(8.87%)
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ended 12/31/18)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect 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.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock	The fund’s performance is compared to the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, an unmanaged index of U.S. investment-grade fixed income securities. The fund’s performance is also compared to the S&P 500 Index, an unmanaged index of large U.S. company stocks. In addition, the fund’s performance is compared to the George Putnam Blended Index, an unmanaged index administered by Putnam Management, 60% of which is the S&P 500 Index and 40% of which is the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes. These after-tax returns do not apply if you hold your fund shares through a 401(k) plan, an IRA, or another tax-advantaged arrangement. Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.
George Putnam Balanced Fund | S&P 500 Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.38%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.49%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.12%
George Putnam Balanced Fund | Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.01%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.52%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.48%
George Putnam Balanced Fund | George Putnam Blended Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.28%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.33%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.59%
George Putnam Balanced Fund | Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	5.75%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	1.00%	[1]
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.52%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.22%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.99%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 670
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	872
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,091
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 1,718
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	25.80%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	11.15%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	2.71%
Annual Return 2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	12.36%
Annual Return 2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	17.76%
Annual Return 2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	10.48%
Annual Return 2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(1.11%)
Annual Return 2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	7.93%
Annual Return 2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	15.02%
Annual Return 2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(3.14%)
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(8.71%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.37%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.93%
George Putnam Balanced Fund | Class A | after taxes on distributions
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(10.73%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.63%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.39%
George Putnam Balanced Fund | Class A | after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.10%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.28%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.26%
George Putnam Balanced Fund | Class B
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	5.00%	[2]
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.52%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.22%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.74%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 677
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	848
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,144
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,853
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	177
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	548
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	944
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 1,853
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(8.33%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.48%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.90%
George Putnam Balanced Fund | Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	1.00%	[3]
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.52%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.22%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.74%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 277
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	548
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	944
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,052
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	177
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	548
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	944
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 2,052
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.74%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.82%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.76%
George Putnam Balanced Fund | Class M
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	3.50%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.52%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.75%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.22%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.49%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 496
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	805
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,135
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 2,067
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(6.99%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.34%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.64%
George Putnam Balanced Fund | Class R
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.52%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.22%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.24%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 126
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	393
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	681
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 1,500
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.37%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.34%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.30%
George Putnam Balanced Fund | Class R5
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.52%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.21%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.73%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 75
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	233
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	406
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 906
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.86%)	[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.90%	[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.86%	[4]
George Putnam Balanced Fund | Class R6
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.52%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.11%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.63%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 64
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	202
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	351
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 786
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.77%)	[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.99%	[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.91%	[4]
George Putnam Balanced Fund | Class Y
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.52%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.22%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.74%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 76
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	237
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	411
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 918
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.93%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.87%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.85%

[1] Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.

[2] This charge is phased out over six years.

[3] This charge is eliminated after one year.

[4] Performance for class R5 and class R6 shares prior to their inception (12/2/13) is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares and has not been adjusted for the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class R5 and class R6 shares; had it, returns would have been higher.