XML 61 R143.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.4.0.3
Label Element Value
Global Infrastructure Portfolio  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Global Infrastructure Portfolio
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Global Infrastructure Portfolio (the "Portfolio") seeks to provide both capital appreciation and income.
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—Sales Charges Applicable to Purchases of 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 on page 35 of this Prospectus in the section entitled "Shareholder Information—Sales Charges Applicable to Purchases of 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 48% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 48.00%
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 (except that the example incorporates the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement for only the first year). 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 If You SOLD Your Shares:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption If You HELD Your Shares:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Adviser and/or the Portfolio's "Sub-Advisers," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited ("MSIM Limited") and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company ("MSIM Company") seek to provide both capital appreciation and income by investing primarily in equity securities issued by companies located throughout the world that are engaged in the infrastructure business. Using internal proprietary research, the Adviser seeks to identify public infrastructure companies that are believed to offer the best value relative to their underlying assets and growth prospects.


The Portfolio normally invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities issued by companies located throughout the world that are engaged in the infrastructure business. A company is considered to be in the infrastructure business if it derives at least 50% of its revenues or earnings from, or devotes at least 50% of its assets to, infrastructure-related activities. Infrastructure refers to the systems and networks of energy, transportation, communication and other services required for the normal function of society. Companies in the infrastructure business may be involved in a variety of areas, including, but not limited to, (i) the transmission, distribution, storage or transportation of electricity, oil and gas (and other bulk liquid products), water, and other natural resources used to produce energy, (ii) the construction and operation of renewable power facilities, (iii) the development, ownership, lease, concession, or management of highways, toll roads, tunnels, bridges, pipelines, airports, marine ports, refueling and related facilities, (iv) the provision of communications, including the development, lease, concession, or management of telephone, broadcast and mobile towers, fiber optic/copper cable, and satellite networks, (v) waste-water management and water purification/desalination and (vi) the construction or operation of essential public structures. The Portfolio's investments may include real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and convertible securities. The Portfolio's investments may include securities of small and medium capitalization companies. The Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its net assets in foreign securities, which may include emerging market securities. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 40% of its assets in the securities of issuers located outside of the United States.


The Portfolio's Adviser and/or Sub-Advisers shift the Portfolio's assets between the different types of companies in the infrastructure business described above based on relative valuation, underlying company fundamentals, and demographic and macroeconomic considerations. The Portfolio has a fundamental policy (i.e., one that cannot be changed without shareholder approval) of investing 25% or more of its assets in the infrastructure industry.


In selecting securities to buy, hold or sell for the Portfolio, the Adviser and/or Sub-Advisers actively manage the Portfolio using a combination of bottom-up and top-down methodologies. The value-driven approach to bottom-up security selection utilizes proprietary research models to identify infrastructure companies that offer the best value relative to their underlying assets and growth prospects. The top-down allocation provides exposure to major economic infrastructure sectors and countries, with an overweighting to those sectors/countries that offer the best relative valuation. The Adviser and/or Sub-Advisers generally consider selling a portfolio holding when it determines that the holding no longer satisfies its investment criteria.
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:


•  Infrastructure Industry. By concentrating its investments in the infrastructure industry, the Portfolio has greater exposure to the potential adverse economic, regulatory, political and other changes affecting companies operating within such industry. Companies within the infrastructure industry are subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high interest costs in connection with capital construction and improvement programs, high leverage, costs associated with compliance with and changes in environmental and other regulations, difficulty in raising capital in adequate amounts and on reasonable terms in periods of high inflation and unsettled capital markets or government budgetary constraints that impact publicly funded projects, the effects of economic slowdown or recession and surplus capacity, increased competition from other providers of services, uncertainties concerning the availability of fuel at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies and other factors.


  Other factors that may affect the operations of companies within the infrastructure industry include innovations in technology that could render the way in which a company delivers a product or service obsolete, significant changes to the number of ultimate end-users of a company's products, inexperience with and potential losses resulting from a developing deregulatory environment, increased susceptibility to terrorist attacks, risks of environmental damage due to a company's operations or an accident, and general changes in market sentiment towards infrastructure and utilities assets. Companies operating in the infrastructure industry face operating risks, including the risk of fire, explosions, leaks, mining and drilling accidents or other catastrophic events. In addition, natural risks, such as earthquakes, floods, lightning, hurricanes, tsunamis and wind, are inherent risks in infrastructure company operations.


•  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.


•  Small and Medium Capitalization Companies. Investments in small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk than investments in larger, more established companies. The securities issued by small and medium 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.


•  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, a substantial portion of the Portfolio's investments in foreign issuers may 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.


•  REITs. Investing in REITs exposes investors to the risks of owning real estate directly, as well as to risks that relate specifically to the way in which REITs are organized and operated. Operating REITs requires specialized management skills and the Portfolio indirectly bears management expenses along with the direct expenses of the Portfolio. REITs are also subject to certain provisions under federal tax law and the failure of a company to qualify as a REIT could have adverse consequences for the Portfolio. Certain infrastructure companies in which the Portfolio may invest may elect to be treated as a REIT for U.S. tax purposes, and would therefore be subject to the risks discussed above.


•  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 and five year periods and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as a comparative sector index, 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 or by calling toll-free (800) 548-7786.
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 and five year periods and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as a comparative sector index, over time.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone (800) 548-7786
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

  

12/31/11

    

11.15

%

  

Low Quarter

  

9/30/15

    

–11.41

%

  
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel High Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2011
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 11.15%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Low Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2015
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (11.41%)
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, 2015)
Global Infrastructure Portfolio | Dow Jones Brookfield Global Infrastructure IndexSM (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (14.40%) [1]
Average Annual Returns, Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.78% [1]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.51% [1],[2]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 20, 2010 [1]
Global Infrastructure Portfolio | S&P Global BMI Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.58%) [3]
Average Annual Returns, Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.63% [3]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.35% [2],[3]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 20, 2010 [3]
Global Infrastructure Portfolio | 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 based on the lesser of the offering price or NAV at redemption) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.25%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.10% [4]
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.23% [4]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.87% [4]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 89
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 327
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 584
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,320
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 89
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 327
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 584
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,320
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 15.95%
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 18.21%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 17.91%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 15.38%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (13.90%)
Average Annual Returns, Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (13.90%)
Average Annual Returns, Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.93%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 10.39%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 20, 2010
Global Infrastructure Portfolio | CLASS I | After Taxes on Distributions  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (15.01%)
Average Annual Returns, Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.64%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.16%
Global Infrastructure Portfolio | CLASS I | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (7.05%)
Average Annual Returns, Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.97%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.38%
Global Infrastructure Portfolio | CLASS A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.25%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage based on the lesser of the offering price or NAV at redemption) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none [5]
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.25%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.35% [4]
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.24% [4]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.11% [4]
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock Investments that are not subject to any sales charges at the time of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of 1.00% that will be imposed if you sell your shares within 18 months after the last day of the month of purchase, except for certain specific circumstances. See "Shareholder Information—How to Redeem Portfolio Shares" for further information about the CDSC waiver categories.
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—Sales Charges Applicable to Purchases of 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 632
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 908
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,204
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,044
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 632
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 908
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,204
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,044
Average Annual Returns, Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (18.58%)
Average Annual Returns, Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.46%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.98%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 20, 2010
Global Infrastructure Portfolio | CLASS L  
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 based on the lesser of the offering price or NAV at redemption) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.75%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.95% [4]
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.27% [4]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.68% [4]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 171
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 586
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,027
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,253
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 171
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 586
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,027
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,253
Average Annual Returns, Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (14.64%)
Average Annual Returns, Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.05%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.50%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 20, 2010
Global Infrastructure Portfolio | 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 based on the lesser of the offering price or NAV at redemption) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [6]
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.49%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.34% [4]
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.37% [4]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.97% [4]
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock The Class C CDSC is only applicable if you sell your shares within one year after purchase. See "Shareholder Information—How to Redeem Portfolio Shares" for a complete discussion of the CDSC.
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 300
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 695
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,217
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,648
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 200
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 695
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,217
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,648
Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess Class C shares of the Portfolio had not completed a full calendar year of operations as of December 31, 2015 and therefore Class C shares do not have annualized return information to report.
Average Annual Returns, Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 [7]
Average Annual Returns, Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 [7]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception [7]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 30, 2015 [7]
Global Infrastructure Portfolio | Class IS  
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 based on the lesser of the offering price or NAV at redemption) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.56%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.41% [4]
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.57% [4]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.84% [4]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 86
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 390
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 717
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,642
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 86
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 390
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 717
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,642
Average Annual Returns, Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (13.96%)
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.74%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 13, 2013
[1] The Dow Jones Brookfield Global Infrastructure IndexSM is a float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that measures the stock performance of companies that exhibit strong infrastructure characteristics. The Index intends to measure all sectors of the infrastructure market. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
[2] Since Inception reflects the inception date of Class I.
[3] The Standard & Poor's Global BMI Index (S&P Global BMI Index) is a broad market index designed to capture exposure to equities in all countries in the world that meet minimum size and liquidity requirements. As of the date of this Prospectus, there are approximately 11,000 index members representing 25 developed and 22 emerging market countries. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
[4] The Portfolio's "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., has agreed to reduce its advisory fee and/or reimburse the Portfolio so that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses, excluding certain investment related expenses, taxes, interest and other extraordinary expenses (including litigation), will not exceed 0.87% for Class I, 1.11% for Class A, 1.68% for Class L, 1.97% for Class C and 0.84% for Class IS. The fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least two years from the date of the Global Infrastructure Reorganization (as defined in the section of this Prospectus entitled "Fund Management-Advisory Fees") or until such time as the Fund's Board of Directors acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or reimbursements when it deems such action is appropriate.
[5] Investments that are not subject to any sales charges at the time of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of 1.00% that will be imposed if you sell your shares within 18 months after the last day of the month of purchase, except for certain specific circumstances. See "Shareholder Information-How to Redeem Portfolio Shares" for further information about the CDSC waiver categories.
[6] The Class C CDSC is only applicable if you sell your shares within one year after purchase. See "Shareholder Information-How to Redeem Portfolio Shares" for a complete discussion of the CDSC.
[7] Class C shares of the Portfolio had not completed a full calendar year of operations as of December 31, 2015 and therefore Class C shares do not have annualized return information to report.