Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	GLENMEDE FUND INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 28, 2020
Quantitative International Equity Portfolio
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Quantitative International Equity Portfolio
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	Maximum long-term total return consistent with reasonable risk to principal.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio
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 Portfolio.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual Portfolio 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	The Advisor has contractually agreed to these waivers and/or reimbursements until at least February 28, 2021 and may discontinue this arrangement at any time thereafter. This contractual fee waiver agreement may not be terminated before February 28, 2021 without the approval of The Glenmede Fund, Inc.’s (the “Fund”) Board of Directors (the “Board”).
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 Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio 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 Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, taking into account the fee waiver in the first year of each period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The Portfolio 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 Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 93% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	93.00%
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	Using quantitative analysis, under normal market circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of the value of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of foreign companies, directly and/or through American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). ADRs are depository receipts issued in registered form by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Under normal market circumstances, the Portfolio will invest, directly and/or through ADRs in companies based in at least three countries other than the United States in primarily developed markets. The Advisor uses proprietary multi-factor computer models to select stocks and/or ADRs of foreign companies that the models identify as having reasonable prices, good fundamentals and rising earnings expectations. These computer models rank securities based on certain criteria, including valuation ratios, profitability and earnings-related measures. The Portfolio may actively trade its securities to achieve its principal investment strategies.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Investment Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	All investments carry a certain amount of risk and the Portfolio cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective. In addition, the strategies that the Advisor uses may fail to produce the intended result. Each risk summarized below is considered a “principal risk” of investing in the Portfolio, regardless of the order in which it appears. An investment in the Portfolio is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Therefore, you could lose money by investing in the Portfolio. The Portfolio may be appropriate for you if you are investing for goals several years away, and are comfortable with the risks of investing in foreign securities. The Portfolio would not be appropriate for you if you are investing for short-term goals, or are mainly seeking current income. Market Risk: Stocks may decline over short or even extended periods of time. Equity markets tend to be cyclical: there are times when stock prices generally increase, and other times when they generally decrease. In addition, the Portfolio is subject to the additional risk that the particular types of stocks held by the Portfolio will underperform other types of securities. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market, economic and social developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies (including pandemics and epidemics), terrorism and other global unforeseeable events may lead to instability in world economies and markets, may lead to market volatility, and may have adverse long-term effects. The Portfolio cannot predict the effects of such unforeseeable events in the future on the economy, the markets or the Portfolio’s investments. Frequent Trading Risk: A high rate of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly high transaction costs, which may adversely affect the Portfolio’s performance over time. High portfolio turnover may also result in the realization of short-term capital gains. Distributions derived from such gains will be treated as ordinary income for Federal income tax purposes. Investment Style Risk: The Portfolio invests in securities with strong earnings growth prospects that the Advisor believes are reasonably priced. There is no guarantee that the prices of these securities will not move even lower. ADR/Foreign Investment Risk: The Portfolio intends to invest in foreign securities directly and/or in the form of ADRs, which are depositary receipts issued in registered form by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign company and listed on a U.S. stock exchange. The Portfolio is subject to additional risks due to its foreign investments. Foreign stocks involve special risks not typically associated with U.S. stocks. Foreign investments may be riskier than U.S. investments because of factors such as foreign government restrictions, changes in currency exchange rates, incomplete financial information about the issuers of securities, and political or economic instability. Foreign stocks may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. stocks. Investments in ADRs involve risks similar to those accompanying direct investments in foreign securities. IPO Risk: The market value of initial public offering (“IPO”) shares could fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. When the Portfolio’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Portfolio’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Portfolio. As the Portfolio’s assets grow, the effect of the Portfolio’s investment in IPOs on the Portfolio’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Portfolio’s performance. Tax Managed Risk: The Portfolio uses various investment methods in seeking to reduce the impact of Federal and state income taxes on shareholders’ returns. As a result, the Portfolio may defer the opportunity to realize gains.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	Therefore, you could lose money by investing in the Portfolio.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Portfolio is not a bank deposit and 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 Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Portfolio has varied from year to year. The table shows how the Portfolio’s average annual total returns for one, five and ten years compare to those of selected market indices. The Portfolio’s past performance, before and after-taxes, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Performance reflects expense reimbursements and/or fee waivers made in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. If such expense reimbursements or waivers were not in place, the Portfolio’s performance in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 would be reduced. Updated performance information is available by visiting www.glenmedeim.com or by calling 1-800-442-8299.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Portfolio has varied from year to year. The table shows how the Portfolio’s average annual total returns for one, five and ten years compare to those of selected market indices.
Performance Additional Market Index [Text]	rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex	The Morningstar Foreign Large Blend Average is provided so that investors may compare the performance of the Portfolio with the performance of a peer group of funds that Morningstar, Inc. considers similar to the Portfolio.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	1-800-442-8299
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	www.glenmedeim.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	The Portfolio’s past performance, before and after-taxes, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Quantitative International Equity Portfolio
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest quarterly return was 16.71% (for the quarter ended September 30, 2010) and the lowest quarterly return was -24.32% (for the quarter ended September 30, 2011).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2019)
Performance Table Market Index Changed	rr_PerformanceTableMarketIndexChanged	Effective as of February 28, 2020, the Portfolio's benchmark changed from the MSCI EAFE Index to the MSCI World-ex US Index as the Advisor believes that, given the Portfolio's investment strategy, the MSCI World-ex US Index provides a more appropriate basis for performance comparison because it has characteristics more similar to the Portfolio's investment style than the MSCI EAFE Index.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns for the Portfolio 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 the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”).
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	After-tax returns for the Portfolio 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 the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”).
Quantitative International Equity Portfolio | Quantitative International Equity Portfolio
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.75%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.35%	[1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.10%
Fee Waivers and Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	0.10%	[2]
Net Expenses	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.00%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 102
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	340
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	596
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 1,331
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	6.56%
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(14.25%)
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	14.27%
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	19.30%
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	(9.31%)
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	2.14%
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	(2.31%)
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	22.47%
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(16.26%)
2019	rr_AnnualReturn2019	18.00%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest quarterly return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2010
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	16.71%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest quarterly return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(24.32%)
Past 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	18.00%
Past 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.84%
Past 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.15%
Quantitative International Equity Portfolio | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Quantitative International Equity Portfolio
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Past 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	17.53%
Past 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.57%
Past 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.87%
Quantitative International Equity Portfolio | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Quantitative International Equity Portfolio
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Past 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	11.59%
Past 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.15%
Past 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.64%
Quantitative International Equity Portfolio | MSCI World-ex US Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Past 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	22.49%	[3]
Past 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.42%	[3]
Past 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.32%	[3]
Quantitative International Equity Portfolio | MSCI EAFE Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Past 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	22.01%
Past 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.67%
Past 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.50%
Quantitative International Equity Portfolio | Morningstar Foreign Large Blend Average
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Past 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	21.59%	[4]
Past 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.20%	[4]
Past 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.05%	[4]

[1] (includes 0.25% shareholder servicing fees payable to Glenmede Trust)

[2] Glenmede Investment Management LP (the “Advisor”) has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent that the Portfolio’s annual total operating expenses exceed 1.00% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets (excluding Acquired Fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes). The Advisor has contractually agreed to these waivers and/or reimbursements until at least February 28, 2021 and may discontinue this arrangement at any time thereafter. This contractual fee waiver agreement may not be terminated before February 28, 2021 without the approval of The Glenmede Fund, Inc.’s (the “Fund”) Board of Directors (the “Board”).

[3] Effective as of February 28, 2020, the Portfolio’s benchmark changed from the MSCI EAFE Index to the MSCI World-ex US Index as the Advisor believes that, given the Portfolio’s investment strategy, the MSCI World-ex US Index provides a more appropriate basis for performance comparison because it has characteristics more similar to the Portfolio’s investment style than the MSCI EAFE Index.

[4] The Morningstar Foreign Large Blend Average is provided so that investors may compare the performance of the Portfolio with the performance of a peer group of funds that Morningstar, Inc. considers similar to the Portfolio.