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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading GLOBAL FRANCHISE PORTFOLIO
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Global Franchise Portfolio (the "Portfolio") seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. For purchases of Class A shares, you may qualify for a sales charge discount if the cumulative net asset value ("NAV") of Class A shares of the Portfolio purchased in a single transaction, together with the NAV of all Class A shares of other portfolios of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") or Class A shares of other Morgan Stanley Multi-Class Funds (as defined in the section of this Prospectus entitled "Shareholder Information—Exchange Privilege") held in Related Accounts (as defined in the section of this Prospectus entitled "Shareholder Information—How To Purchase Class A Shares"), amounts to $25,000 or more. More information about this combined purchase discount and other discounts is available from your authorized financial intermediary and in the section of this Prospectus entitled "Shareholder Information—How To Purchase Class A Shares."

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
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)
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 Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect Portfolio performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate was 24% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 24.00%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The example below 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, your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Portfolio's "Sub-Advisers," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited ("MSIM Limited") and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company ("MSIM Company"), seek long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities of issuers located throughout the world that they believe have, among other things, resilient business franchises and growth potential. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests in securities of issuers from at least three different countries, which may include the United States.


The Sub-Advisers rely on their research capabilities, analytical resources and judgment to identify and monitor franchise businesses meeting their investment criteria. The Sub-Advisers believe that the number of issuers with strong business franchises meeting their criteria may be limited, and accordingly, the Portfolio may concentrate its holdings in a relatively small number of companies and may invest up to 25% of its assets in a single issuer. The Portfolio may also invest in the equity securities of any size company. The Portfolio's equity investments may include convertible securities.


The Sub-Advisers generally consider selling a portfolio holding when they determine that the holding no longer satisfies their investment criteria or that replacing the holding with another investment should improve the Portfolio's valuation and/or quality.


The Portfolio may utilize foreign currency forward exchange contracts, which are derivatives, in connection with its investments in foreign securities.

Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective and you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. The principal risks of investing in the Portfolio include:


•  Equity Securities. In general, prices of equity securities are more volatile than those of fixed income securities. The prices of equity securities fluctuate, and sometimes widely fluctuate, in response to activities specific to the issuer of the security as well as factors unrelated to the fundamental condition of the issuer, including general market, economic and political conditions. To the extent that the Portfolio invests in convertible securities, and the convertible security's investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.


•  Foreign and Emerging Market Securities. Investments in foreign markets entail special risks such as currency, political, economic and market risks. There also may be greater market volatility, less reliable financial information, higher transaction and custody costs, decreased market liquidity and less government and exchange regulation associated with investments in foreign markets. In addition, investments in certain foreign markets, which have historically been considered stable, may become more volatile and subject to increased risk due to ongoing developments and changing conditions in such markets. Moreover, the growing interconnectivity of global economies and financial markets has increased the probability that adverse developments and conditions in one country or region will affect the stability of economies and financial markets in other countries or regions. The risks of investing in emerging market countries are greater than risks associated with investments in foreign developed countries. In addition, the Portfolio's investments in foreign issuers generally will be denominated in foreign currencies and therefore, to the extent unhedged, the value of the investment will fluctuate with the U.S. dollar exchange rates. To the extent hedged by the use of foreign currency forward exchange contracts, the precise matching of the foreign currency forward exchange contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible because the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date on which the contract is entered into and the date it matures. There is additional risk that such transactions reduce or preclude the opportunity for gain if the value of the currency should move in the direction opposite to the position taken and that foreign currency forward exchange contracts create exposure to currencies in which the Portfolio's securities are not denominated. The use of foreign currency forward exchange contracts involves the risk of loss from the insolvency or bankruptcy of the counterparty to the contract or the failure of the counterparty to make payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the contract.


•  Liquidity. The Portfolio's investments in illiquid securities may entail greater risk than investments in publicly traded securities. These securities may be more difficult to sell, particularly in times of market turmoil. Additionally, the market for certain investments deemed liquid at the time of purchase may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions. Illiquid securities may be more difficult to value. If the Portfolio is forced to sell an illiquid security to fund redemptions or for other cash needs, it may be forced to sell the security at a loss.


•  Small Capitalization Companies. Investments in small capitalization companies may involve greater risk than investments in larger, more established companies. The securities issued by small capitalization companies may be less liquid, and such companies may have more limited markets, financial resources and product lines, and may lack the depth of management of larger companies.


•  Global Franchise Companies. Changes in the worldwide economy, consumer spending, competition, demographics and consumer preferences, government regulation and economic conditions may adversely affect global franchise companies and may negatively impact the Portfolio to a greater extent than if the Portfolio's assets were invested in a wider variety of companies.


•  Non-Diversification. Because the Portfolio is non-diversified, it may be more susceptible to an adverse event affecting a portfolio investment than a diversified portfolio and a decline in the value of that instrument would cause the Portfolio's overall value to decline to a greater degree.


Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective and you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus Because the Portfolio is non-diversified, it may be more susceptible to an adverse event affecting a portfolio investment than a diversified portfolio and a decline in the value of that instrument would cause the Portfolio's overall value to decline to a greater degree.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured 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 by showing changes in the Portfolio's Class I shares' performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Portfolio's average annual returns for the past one, five and 10 year periods and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds, over time. The performance of the other Classes, which is shown in the table below, will differ because the Classes have different ongoing fees. The Portfolio's returns in the table include the maximum applicable sales charge for Class A and assume you sold your shares at the end of each period (unless otherwise noted). The Portfolio's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at www.morganstanley.com/im.

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 by showing changes in the Portfolio's Class I shares' performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Portfolio's average annual returns for the past one, five and 10 year periods and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds, over time.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.morganstanley.com/im
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Portfolio's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Total Returns-Calendar Years
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

High Quarter

 

6/30/09

   

18.11

%

 

Low Quarter

 

12/31/08

   

–13.37

%

 
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel High Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 18.11%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Low Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (13.37%)
Performance Table Does Reflect Sales Loads rr_PerformanceTableDoesReflectSalesLoads The Portfolio's returns in the table include the maximum applicable sales charge for Class A and assume you sold your shares at the end of each period (unless otherwise noted).
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate The after-tax returns shown in the table above are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown 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 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.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns for the Portfolio's other Classes will vary from Class I shares' returns.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The after-tax returns shown in the table above are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns for the Portfolio's other Classes will vary from Class I shares' returns. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and 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. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.

Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns (for the calendar periods ended December 31, 2013)
MSCI World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 26.68% [1]
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.02% [1]
Average Annual Returns, Past 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.98% [1]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.45% [1],[2]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Nov. 28, 2001 [1]
Lipper Global Large-Cap Growth Funds Index (reflects no deduction for taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 23.51% [3]
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.80% [3]
Average Annual Returns, Past 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.07% [3]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.83% [2],[3]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Nov. 28, 2001 [3]
CLASS I
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.79%
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.16%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.95%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 97
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 303
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 525
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,166
Annual Return 2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 13.77%
Annual Return 2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 11.91%
Annual Return 2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 21.60%
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 9.58%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (28.88%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 29.65%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 14.07%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 9.38%
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 15.38%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 19.71%
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.71%
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 17.45%
Average Annual Returns, Past 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 10.43%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 11.93%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Nov. 28, 2001
CLASS I | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 18.57%
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 16.85%
Average Annual Returns, Past 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 9.42%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 11.07%
CLASS I | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.17%
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 14.27%
Average Annual Returns, Past 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.66%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 10.15%
CLASS A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.25% [4]
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.79% [4]
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25% [4]
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.16% [4]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.20% [4]
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts For purchases of Class A shares, you may qualify for a sales charge discount if the cumulative net asset value ("NAV") of Class A shares of the Portfolio purchased in a single transaction, together with the NAV of all Class A shares of other portfolios of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") or Class A shares of other Morgan Stanley Multi-Class Funds (as defined in the section of this Prospectus entitled "Shareholder Information-Exchange Privilege") held in Related Accounts (as defined in the section of this Prospectus entitled "Shareholder Information-How To Purchase Class A Shares"), amounts to $25,000 or more.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount 25,000
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 641 [4]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 886 [4]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,150 [4]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,903 [4]
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 13.15% [4]
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.88% [4]
Average Annual Returns, Past 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 9.55% [4]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 11.14% [4]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Nov. 28, 2001 [4]
Class L
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.79%
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.75%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.16%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.70%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 173
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 536
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 923
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 2,009
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 18.78%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 11.69%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 27, 2012
[1] The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure global equity market performance of developed markets. The term "free float" represents the portion of shares outstanding that are deemed to be available for purchase in the public equity markets by investors. The MSCI World Index currently consists of 23 developed market country indices. The performance of the Index is listed in U.S. dollars and assumes reinvestment of net dividends. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
[2] Since Inception reflects the inception date of Class I.
[3] The Lipper Global Large-Cap Growth Funds Index is an equally weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Global Large-Cap Growth Funds classification. There are currently 10 funds represented in this Index.
[4] Effective September 9, 2013, Class P shares were renamed Class A shares.