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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName RS INVESTMENT TRUST
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate May 01, 2013
Retail Class Prospectus | RS Investment Quality Bond Fund
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading RS Investment Quality Bond Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock To seek a high level of current income and capital appreciation without undue risk to principal.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock The tables below describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts for the purchase of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in RS Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the “Types of Shares Available — Class A Shares” section on page 110 of the Fund’s prospectus and the “Waivers of Certain Sales Loads” section on page 37 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.
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 are deducted from Fund assets as a percentage of average daily net assets)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination April 30, 2014
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The Fund 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 for you if your 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 most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 154% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 154.00%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts for the purchase of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in RS Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount 100,000
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 costs of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. This Example also assumes that your investment earns a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same as shown above. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption Assuming Redemption at End of  Period
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption Assuming No Redemption
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Investments, Risks, and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock The Fund invests primarily in investment-grade securities, including corporate bonds, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, and obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies.

The Fund’s investment team allocates the Fund’s investments among various sectors of the debt markets by analyzing overall economic conditions within and among these sectors. The Fund normally allocates its assets broadly among the debt securities markets but may emphasize some sectors over others based on what the investment team believes to be their attractiveness relative to one another. Within sector allocations, the Fund’s investment team selects individual securities by considering the yield paid by the security, potential appreciation in the value of the security, credit quality of the issuer, maturity, and the degree of risk associated with a specific security relative to other securities in the sector.

The Fund seeks to maintain an intermediate duration (between three and 10 years) but may lengthen or shorten its duration within the intermediate range to reflect changes in the overall composition of the investment-grade debt markets. Duration is a measure of a bond price’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Generally, the longer a bond’s duration, the greater its price sensitivity to a change in interest rates. For example, the price of a bond with a duration of five years would be expected to fall approximately 5% if rates were to rise by one percentage point.

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in investment-grade debt securities. Debt securities may include, for example, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, zero-coupon bonds, loans, and obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities. An investment-grade security is one that is rated by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group Baa3 or BBB-, respectively, or higher or, if unrated, that has been determined by the Fund’s investment team to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest in below investment grade debt securities, commonly known as “high-yield” securities or “junk bonds”; normally, less than 20% of the Fund’s assets will be invested in below investment grade securities.

The Fund may also invest up to 20% of the value of its net assets in foreign securities denominated in foreign currencies. In addition, the Fund may invest without limit in so-called Yankee securities, which include debt securities issued by non-U.S. corporate or government entities but denominated in U.S. dollars.

The Fund may engage in dollar roll and reverse repurchase agreement transactions. The Fund may enter into exchange-traded or over-the-counter derivatives transactions of any kind, such as futures contracts, options on futures, and swap contracts, including, for example, interest rate swaps and credit default swaps. The Fund also may enter into exchange-traded or over-the-counter foreign currency exchange transactions, including currency futures, forward, and option transactions. The Fund may enter into any of these transactions for a variety of purposes, including, but not limited to, hedging various risks such as credit risk, interest rate risk, currency risk, and liquidity risk; taking a net long or short position in certain investments or markets; providing liquidity in the Fund; equitizing cash; minimizing transaction costs; generating income; adjusting the Fund’s sensitivity to interest rate risk, currency risk, or other risk; replicating certain direct investments; and asset and sector allocation.

The Fund may invest in loans of any maturity and credit quality. If the Fund invests in loans, the Fund’s investment team may seek to avoid the receipt of material non-public information about the issuers of the loans being considered for purchase by the Fund, which may affect its ability to assess the loans as compared to investors that do receive such information.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock You may lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund may not achieve its investment objectives. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its net asset value and total return, are as follows.

Debt Securities Risk
The value of a debt security or other income-producing security changes in response to various factors, including, by way of example, market-related factors (such as changes in interest rates or changes in the risk appetite of investors generally) and changes in the actual or perceived ability of the issuer (or of issuers generally) to meet its (or their) obligations.

Foreign Securities Risk
Foreign securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. In addition, when the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent that investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund.

Mortgage- and Asset-backed Securities Risk
During periods of falling interest rates, mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be called or prepaid, which may result in the Fund having to reinvest proceeds in other investments at a lower interest rate. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of mortgage- and asset-backed securities may extend, which may lock in a below-market interest rate, increase the security’s duration, and reduce the value of the security. Enforcing rights against the underlying assets or collateral may be difficult, or the underlying assets or collateral may be insufficient if the issuer defaults.

High-yield/Junk Bond Risk
Lower-quality debt securities can involve a substantially greater risk of default than higher quality debt securities, and their values can decline significantly over short periods of time. Lower-quality debt securities tend to be more sensitive to adverse news about the issuer, or the market or economy in general.

Liquidity Risk
Lack of a ready market or restrictions on resale may limit the ability of the Fund to sell a security at an advantageous time or price. In addition, the Fund, by itself or together with other accounts managed by Guardian Investor Services LLC, may hold a position in a security that is large relative to the typical trading volume for that security, which can make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of the position at an advantageous time or price.

Portfolio Turnover Risk
Frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities may result in higher Fund expenses and may result in more significant distributions of short-term capital gains to investors, which are taxed as ordinary income. In recent periods, the Fund has experienced annual portfolio turnover in excess of 100% and will likely experience high portfolio turnover rates in the future.

Derivatives Risk
Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may be highly volatile. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a loss greater than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund’s margin, or otherwise honor its obligations.

Currency Risk
Investments in foreign securities are often denominated and traded in foreign currencies. The value of the Fund’s assets may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, currency exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign currencies. To attempt to protect against changes in currency exchange rates, the Fund may, but will not necessarily, engage in forward foreign-currency exchange transactions. The use of foreign exchange transactions to reduce foreign-currency exposure can eliminate some or all of the benefit of an increase in the value of a foreign currency versus the U.S. dollar.

Loan Risk
Investments in loans are generally subject to the same risks as investments in other types of debt securities, including, in many cases, investments in high-yield/junk bonds. They may be difficult to value and may be illiquid. If the Fund holds a loan through another financial institution, or relies on a financial institution to administer the loan, its receipt of principal and interest on the loan may be subject to the credit risk of that financial institution. It is possible that any collateral securing a loan may be insufficient or unavailable to the Fund, and that the Fund’s rights to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or insolvency laws. There may be limited public information available regarding the loan. Transactions in loans may settle on a delayed basis, and the Fund may not receive the proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period of time after the sale.

Credit Derivatives Risk
The Fund may enter into credit derivatives, including credit default swaps and credit default index investments. The Fund may use these investments (i) as alternatives to direct long or short investment in a particular security, (ii) to adjust the Fund’s asset allocation or risk exposure, or (iii) for hedging purposes. The use by the Fund of credit default swaps may have the effect of creating a short position in a security. These investments can create investment leverage and may create additional investment risks that may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in more traditional securities.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Fund Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the impact of sales loads. If they did, the returns would be lower than those shown. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future performance. Updated performance information for the Fund is available at www.rsinvestments.com or by calling 800-766-3863.
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 changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 800-766-3863
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.rsinvestments.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future performance.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Total Return for Class A Shares (calendar year-end)
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the impact of sales loads. If they did, the returns would be lower than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Best Quarter  Third Quarter 2009  5.27%            Worst Quarter  Second Quarter  2004  -2.63%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns (periods ended 12/31/12)
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 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only; after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only; after-tax returns for other classes will vary. 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 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Retail Class Prospectus | RS Investment Quality Bond Fund | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 3.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lower of sale proceeds or the original offering price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none [1]
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.50%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.24%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.99% [2]
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.14%) [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.85% [2]
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock Contingent deferred sales load of 1.00% applies to purchases of $1 million or more of Class A shares if these shares are sold within 18 months of purchase.
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 459
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 665
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 888
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,530
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 459
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 665
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 888
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,530
2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 4.52%
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 4.10%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 2.07%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 4.08%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 5.73%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (0.35%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 10.50%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 7.55%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 6.87%
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 5.85%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 5.27%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2004
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (2.63%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.91%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.22%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.65%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.44%
Inception Date of Share Class rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 16, 1993
Retail Class Prospectus | RS Investment Quality Bond Fund | Class C
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
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 the lower of sale proceeds or the original offering price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 1.00% [3]
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.50%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.29%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.79% [2]
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.19%) [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.60% [2]
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock Contingent deferred sales load applies for shares sold within one year of purchase.
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 263
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 545
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 952
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,090
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 163
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 545
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 952
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,090
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.06%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.23%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.27%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.11%
Inception Date of Share Class rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Aug. 07, 2000
Retail Class Prospectus | RS Investment Quality Bond Fund | Class K
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
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 the lower of sale proceeds or the original offering price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.50%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.65%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.29%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.44% [2]
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.19%) [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.25% [2]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 127
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 437
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 769
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,708
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 127
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 437
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 769
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,708
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.33%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.60%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.63%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.19%
Inception Date of Share Class rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 15, 2001
Retail Class Prospectus | RS Investment Quality Bond Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.54%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.69%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.05%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.45%
Inception Date of Share Class rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 16, 1993
Retail Class Prospectus | RS Investment Quality Bond Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.33%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.59%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.05%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.43%
Inception Date of Share Class rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 16, 1993
Retail Class Prospectus | RS Investment Quality Bond Fund | Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.21%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.95%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.18%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.25%
Inception Date of Share Class rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 16, 1993
Retail Class Prospectus | RS Investment Quality Bond Fund | Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class C
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.21%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.95%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.18%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.14%
Inception Date of Share Class rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Aug. 07, 2000
Retail Class Prospectus | RS Investment Quality Bond Fund | Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class K
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.21%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.95%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.18%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.83%
Inception Date of Share Class rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 15, 2001
[1] Contingent deferred sales load of 1.00% applies to purchases of $1 million or more of Class A shares if these shares are sold within 18 months of purchase.
[2] RS Investments has contractually agreed to limit the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding expenses indirectly incurred by the Fund through investments in pooled investment vehicles, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses (e.g., brokerage commissions), and extraordinary expenses) to 0.85% for Class A shares, 1.60% for Class C shares, and 1.25% for Class K shares. This expense limitation will continue through April 30, 2014 and cannot be terminated by RS Investments prior to that date without the action or consent of the Fund's Board of Trustees.
[3] Contingent deferred sales load applies for shares sold within one year of purchase.