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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
ProspectusDate rr_ProspectusDate Jan. 01, 2012
Dreyfus Core Equity Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Dreyfus Core Equity Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return, Heading rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund Summary
Investment Objective, Heading rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
investment Objective, Primary rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock 
The fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Expense, Heading rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
Expense, Narrative rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock 
This table describes the fees and expenses that 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 certain
funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. More information about these and other
discounts is available from your financial professional and in the Shareholder
Guide section on page 8 of the Prospectus and in the How to Buy Shares section
and the Additional Information About How to Buy Shares section on page II-1 and
page III-1, respectively, of the fund's Statement of Additional Information.
Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment
of $1 million or more may be charged a deferred sales charge of 1.00% if
redeemed within one year.
Shareholder Fees, Caption rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses, Caption rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover, Heading rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover 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 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 most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4.08%
of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 4.08%
Expense Breakpoint, Discounts 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 certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required Amount rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount 50,000
Expense Example, Heading rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example, Narrative rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock 
The 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 and that the fund's operating expenses
remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on
these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Investment Strategy, Heading rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategy
Investment Strategy, Narrative rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock 
To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets,
plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stock. The fund focuses
on "blue chip" companies with market capitalizations exceeding $5 billion at the
time of purchase, including multinational companies.

In choosing stocks, the fund first identifies economic sectors that it believes
will expand over the next three to five years or longer. Using fundamental
analysis, the fund then seeks companies within these sectors that have dominant
positions in their industries and that have demonstrated sustained patterns of
profitability, strong balance sheets, an expanding global presence and the
potential to achieve predictable, above-average earnings growth. The fund is
also alert to companies which it considers undervalued in terms of current
earnings, assets or growth prospects.

The fund employs a "buy-and-hold" investment strategy, which generally has
resulted in an annual portfolio turnover of below 15%. The fund typically sells
a stock when it believes there is a significant adverse change in a company's
business fundamentals that may lead to a sustained impairment in earnings power.
Risk, Heading rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk, Narrative rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock 
An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government
agency. It is not a complete investment program. The fund's share price
fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.

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

o Blue chip risk. By focusing on large capitalization, high quality stocks, the
fund may underperform funds that invest in the stocks of lower quality, smaller
capitalization companies during periods when the stocks of such companies are in
favor.

o Foreign investment risk. Special risks associated with investments in foreign
companies include exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, less
developed or less efficient trading markets, lack of comprehensive company
information, political instability and differing auditing and legal standards.

o Market sector risk. The fund may significantly overweight or underweight
certain companies, industries or market sectors, which may cause the fund's
performance to be more or less sensitive to developments affecting those
companies, industries or sectors.
Risk, Lose Money rr_RiskLoseMoney The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.
Risk, Not Insured Depository Institution rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table, Heading rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance, Narrative rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock 
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of
investing in the fund. The table compares the average annual
total returns of the fund's shares to those of a broad measure of market
performance. The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is no
guarantee of future results. More recent performance information may be available at
www.dreyfus.com.
Performance, Information Illustrates Variability of Returns rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund.
Performance, Availability Website Address rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.dreyfus.com
Performance, Past Does Not Indicate Future rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of future results.
Bar Chart, Heading rr_BarChartHeading Year-by-Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year (%) Class A
Bar Chart, Narrative rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock 
The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the fund's Class A shares from
year to year. Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if
those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown.
Bar Chart, Does Not Reflect Sales Loads rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown.
Bar Chart, Closing rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock 
Best Quarter
Q03, 2009: 13.37%
Worst Quarter
Q4, 2008: -18.64%

The year-to-date total return of the fund's Class A shares as of 9/30/11 was
-4.41%.
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes
Performance Table, Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal 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 the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table, One Class of after Tax Shown rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax performance is shown only for Class A shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary.
Performance Table, Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock 
After-tax performance is shown only for Class A shares. After-tax performance of
the fund's other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using
the historical highest individual federal marginal tax rates, and do not reflect
the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the
investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax
returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through
tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement
accounts.

For the fund's Class B, C and I shares, periods prior to 4/15/02 reflect the
performance of the fund's Class A shares adjusted to reflect each share class'
applicable sales charge. Such performance figures have not been adjusted,
however, to reflect applicable class fees and expenses; if such fees and
expenses had been reflected, the performance shown for Class B and C shares for
such periods may have been lower.
Average Annual Returns, Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/10) Class (Inception Date)
Dreyfus Core Equity Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Dreyfus Core Equity Fund | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel The year-to-date total return of the fund's Class A shares
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn (4.41%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 13.37%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (18.64%)
Dreyfus Core Equity Fund | S&P 500 ® Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel S&P 500® Index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 15.08%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.29%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.42%
Dreyfus Core Equity Fund | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
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 lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.10%
Distribution and/or Service (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.01%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.36%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [1]
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.35%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 705
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 978
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,272
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,105
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 705
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 978
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,272
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,105
Annual Return 2001 rr_AnnualReturn2001 (9.90%)
Annual Return 2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 (17.40%)
Annual Return 2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 16.85%
Annual Return 2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 4.06%
Annual Return 2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 2.99%
Annual Return 2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 15.53%
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 5.79%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (31.81%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 22.37%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 15.07%
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class A returns before taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.47%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.04%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 0.30%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 30, 1998
Dreyfus Core Equity Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class A returns after taxes on distributions
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.28%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.81%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 0.13%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 30, 1998
Dreyfus Core Equity Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class A returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.75%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.72%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 0.23%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 30, 1998
Dreyfus Core Equity Fund | Class B
  
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 lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 4.00%
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.10%
Distribution and/or Service (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.01%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.11%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [1]
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 2.10%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 613
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 958
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,329
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,064
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 213
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 658
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,129
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,064
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class B returns before taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 10.25%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.11%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 0.54% [2]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 15, 2002
Dreyfus Core Equity 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 lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 1.00%
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.10%
Distribution and/or Service (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.01%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.11%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [1]
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 2.10%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 313
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 658
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,129
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,431
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 213
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 658
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,129
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,431
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class C returns before taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 13.28%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.50%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 0.24%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 15, 2002
Dreyfus Core Equity Fund | Class I
  
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 lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.10%
Distribution and/or Service (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.01%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.11%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [1]
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.10%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 112
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 350
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 606
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,340
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 112
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 350
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 606
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,340
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class I returns before taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 15.39%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.53%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.29%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 15, 2002
[1] The Dreyfus Corporation has agreed to pay all of the fund's expenses, except management fees, Rule 12b-1 fees, and certain other expenses, including the fees and expenses of the non-interested board members and their counsel. The Dreyfus Corporation has agreed to reduce its fees in an amount equal to the fund's allocable portion of the fees and expenses of the non-interested board members and their counsel (in the amount of .01% for the past fiscal year).
[2] Assumes conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares at the end of sixth year following the date of purchase.