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(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Infrastructure Portfolio)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The Global Infrastructure Portfolio (the “Fund”) 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, hold and sell Class IR shares of the Fund. The Fund does not charge any sales loads or other fees when you purchase or redeem Class IR shares. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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 Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a 5% return each year and the Fund’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
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] 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 rate 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 Total 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 61% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 61.00%
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
The Adviser seeks 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 Fund 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. This policy may be changed without shareholder approval; however, you would be notified upon 60 days’ notice in writing of any changes. 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, utilities 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, water purification/desalination, and other waste operations and (vi) the construction or operation of essential public structures. The Fund’s investments may include real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and convertible securities. The Fund’s investments may include securities of small and medium capitalization companies. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities, which may include emerging market securities. Under normal market conditions, the Fund typically invests at least the lesser of (i) 40% of its total assets in the securities of issuers located outside of the United States or (ii) an amount of its total assets equal to the approximate percentage of issuers located outside of the United States included in the Dow Jones Brookfield Global Infrastructure IndexSM, unless the Adviser determines, in its sole discretion, that conditions are not favorable. If the Adviser determines that conditions are not favorable, the Fund may invest under 40% of its total assets in the securities of issuers located outside of the United States, provided that the Fund will not invest less than 30% of its total assets in such securities except for temporary defensive purposes. In addition, under normal market conditions, the Fund invests in the securities of issuers from at least three different countries, which may include the United States.
The Fund’s Adviser may consider information about environmental, social and governance issues (also referred to as ESG) in its bottom-up stock selection process when making investment decisions. The Fund’s Adviser may engage with company management regarding corporate governance practices as well as what the Fund’s Adviser deems to be materially important environmental and/or social issues facing a company.
The Fund’s Adviser shifts the Fund’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 Fund has a fundamental policy (i.e., one that cannot be changed without shareholder approval) of investing 25% or more of its total assets in the infrastructure industry.
In selecting securities to buy, hold or sell for the Fund, the Adviser actively manages the Fund 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 generally considers 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 Fund will achieve its investment objective, and you can lose money investing in this Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund include:
•
Infrastructure Industry. By concentrating its investments in the infrastructure industry, the Fund 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 Mid Cap Companies. Investments in small and mid cap companies may involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies. The securities issued by small and mid cap 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, less stringent investor protections and disclosure standards, 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 that 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. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets or the imposition of punitive taxes. The governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by the Fund, particularly during periods of market turmoil. When the Fund holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value. The risks of investing in emerging market countries are greater than the risks associated with investments in foreign developed countries. Certain emerging market countries may be subject to less stringent requirements regarding accounting, auditing, financial reporting and record keeping and therefore, material information related to an investment may not be available or reliable. In addition, the Fund is limited in its ability to exercise its legal rights or enforce a counterparty’s legal obligations in certain jurisdictions outside of the United States, in particular, in emerging markets countries. In addition, the Fund’s investments in foreign issuers may be denominated in foreign currencies and therefore, to the extent unhedged, the value of those investments will fluctuate with 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 may 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 Fund’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. Economic sanctions or other similar measures may be, and have been, imposed against certain countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals. Economic sanctions and other similar measures could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate the Fund’s ability to purchase or sell securities, negatively impact the value or liquidity of the Fund’s investments, significantly delay or prevent the settlement of the Fund’s securities transactions, force the Fund to sell or otherwise dispose of investments at inopportune times or prices, or impair the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective or invest in accordance with its investment strategies.
•
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 Fund indirectly bears management expenses along with the direct expenses of the Fund. 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 Fund. Certain infrastructure companies in which the Fund 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. The Fund is non-diversified, which means that the Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may be more susceptible to an adverse event affecting a single issuer or portfolio investment than a diversified portfolio and a decline in the value of that issuer’s securities or that portfolio investment may cause the Fund’s overall value to decline to a greater degree than a diversified portfolio.
•
Market and Geopolitical Risk. The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the values of the Fund’s investments, which may change due to economic and other events that affect markets generally, as well as those that affect particular regions, countries, industries, companies or governments. These events may be sudden and unexpected, and could adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, which may in turn impact valuation, the Fund’s ability to sell securities and/or its ability to meet redemptions. The risks associated with these developments may be magnified if certain social, political, economic and other conditions and events (such as war, natural disasters, epidemics and pandemics, terrorism, conflicts and social unrest) adversely interrupt the global economy and financial markets. It is difficult to predict when events affecting the U.S. or global financial markets may occur, the effects that such events may have and the duration of those effects (which may last for extended periods).
These events may negatively impact broad segments of businesses and populations and have a significant and rapid negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s investments, adversely affect and increase the volatility of the Fund’s share price and exacerbate pre-existing risks to the Fund.
Shares of the Fund 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 Fund will achieve its investment objective, and you can lose money investing in this Fund.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus Non-Diversification. The Fund is non-diversified, which means that the Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may be more susceptible to an adverse event affecting a single issuer or portfolio investment than a diversified portfolio and a decline in the value of that issuer’s securities or that portfolio investment may cause the Fund’s overall value to decline to a greater degree than a diversified portfolio.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution Shares of the Fund 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 Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Class R6 shares’ performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the past one and five year periods and since inception compare with those of broad measures of market performance, as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds, over time. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund 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 Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Class R6 shares’ performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the past one and five year periods and since inception compare with those of broad measures of market performance, as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds, 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 Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Total Returns—Calendar Years
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 Fund shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns for the Fund’s Class IR shares will vary from Class R6 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 Fund shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
High Quarter
03/31/19
13.96%
Low Quarter
03/31/20
-18.18%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns(for the calendar periods ended December 31, 2021)
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 Fund’s Class IR shares will vary from Class R6 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 Fund 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 Fund shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Infrastructure Portfolio) | Dow Jones Brookfield Global Infrastructure Index℠ (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.87% [1]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.89% [1]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.83% [1],[2]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Infrastructure Portfolio) | S&P Global BMI Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 18.18% [3]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 14.53% [3]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 11.04% [2],[3]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Infrastructure Portfolio) | Lipper Global Infrastructure Funds Index (reflects no deduction for taxes)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 15.76% [4]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.58% [4]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.27% [2],[4]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Infrastructure Portfolio) | Class IR  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 16.97%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 17.82% [5]
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 16.88% [5]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.94% [5]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 96
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 3,344
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 5,813
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 9,695
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 96
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 3,344
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 5,813
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 9,695
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 14.18%
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.40%
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Infrastructure Portfolio) | Class R6  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 15.38%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (13.96%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 15.66%
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 12.65%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (7.92%)
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 27.31%
Annual Return 2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 (1.37%)
Annual Return 2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 14.17%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel High Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 13.96%
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2019
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Low Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (18.18%)
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2020
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 14.17% [6]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.26% [6]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.84% [6]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Infrastructure Portfolio) | Class R6 | Return After Taxes on Distributions  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.98% [6],[7]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.68% [6],[7]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.20% [6],[7]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Infrastructure Portfolio) | Class R6 | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 9.70% [6]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.30% [6]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.93% [6]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Real Estate Portfolio)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The Global Real Estate Portfolio (the “Fund”) seeks to provide current income and 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, hold and sell Class IR shares of the Fund. The Fund does not charge any sales loads or other fees when you purchase or redeem Class IR shares. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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 Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a 5% return each year and the Fund’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
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] 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 rate 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 Total 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 135% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 135.00%
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in equity securities of companies in the real estate industry, including real estate operating companies (“REOCs”), real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and similar entities established outside the United States (“foreign real estate companies”). This policy may be changed without shareholder approval; however, you would be notified upon 60 days’ notice in writing of any changes.
The Fund will invest primarily in companies located in the developed countries of North America, Europe and Asia, but may also invest in emerging markets.
The Adviser and/or the Fund’s “Sub-Advisers,” Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited (“MSIM Limited”) and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company (“MSIM Company”), actively manage the Fund using a combination of bottom-up and
top-down methodologies. The Adviser’s and/or Sub-Advisers’ proprietary models drive the bottom-up value-driven approach for stock selection, which is utilized to identify those companies that the Adviser and/or Sub-Advisers determine represent the best relative value relative to their underlying assets and earnings. Analysts will assess real estate specific factors, broader equity factors, as well as ESG factors in their fundamental analysis in order calculate appropriate valuation metrics. Top-down considerations are also incorporated into the portfolio construction process, and the investment adviser seeks to achieve exposure across regions, countries and/or sectors and integrate forecasted fundamental inflections, macroeconomic considerations, geopolitical and country risk assessments, among other factors.
The Fund’s Adviser and/or Sub-Advisers may consider information about environmental, social and governance issues (also referred to as ESG) in its bottom-up stock selection process when making investment decisions. The Fund’s Adviser and/or Sub-Advisers may engage with company management regarding corporate governance practices as well as what the Fund’s Adviser and/or Sub-Advisers deem to be materially important environmental and/or social issues facing a company.
The Adviser and/or Sub-Advisers generally considers selling a portfolio holding based upon the relative valuation ranking of securities in the investment universe.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, and you can lose money investing in this Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund 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.
•
Small and Mid Cap Companies. Investments in small and mid cap companies may involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies. The securities issued by small and mid cap 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.
•
Real Estate Investing. Companies in the real estate industry (and, therefore, because of its investment in such companies, the Fund) will experience risks similar to the risks of investing in real estate directly. Real estate is a cyclical business, highly sensitive to general and local economic developments and characterized by intense competition and periodic overbuilding. Real estate income and values and the real estate market may also be greatly affected by demographic trends, such as population shifts or changing tastes and values, and government actions. Real estate companies may also be affected by changing interest rates and credit quality requirements. By concentrating its investments in the real estate industry, the Fund has greater exposure to the potential adverse economic, regulatory, political and other changes affecting companies operating within such industry.
•
REITs, REOCs and Foreign Real Estate Companies. Investing in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and real estate investing companies (“REOCs”) and foreign real estate companies exposes investors to the risks of owning real estate directly, as well as to risks that relate specifically to the way in which REITs, REOCs and foreign real estate companies are organized and operated. Operating REITs and foreign real estate companies requires specialized management skills and the Fund indirectly bears management expenses along with the direct expenses of the Fund. 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 Fund. In addition, foreign real estate companies may be subject to the laws, rules and regulations governing those entities and their failure to comply with those laws, rules and regulations could negatively impact the performance of those entities. By concentrating its investments in the real estate industry, the Fund has greater exposure to the potential adverse economic, regulatory, political and other changes affecting companies operating within such industry.
•
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, less stringent investor protections and disclosure standards, 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 that 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. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets or the imposition of punitive taxes. The governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in
that currency. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by the Fund, particularly during periods of market turmoil. When the Fund holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value. The risks of investing in emerging market countries are greater than the risks associated with investments in foreign developed countries. Certain emerging market countries may be subject to less stringent requirements regarding accounting, auditing, financial reporting and record keeping and therefore, material information related to an investment may not be available or reliable. In addition, the Fund is limited in its ability to exercise its legal rights or enforce a counterparty’s legal obligations in certain jurisdictions outside of the United States, in particular, in emerging markets countries. In addition, the Fund’s investments in foreign issuers may be denominated in foreign currencies and therefore, to the extent unhedged, the value of those investments will fluctuate with 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 may 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 Fund’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. Economic sanctions or other similar measures may be, and have been, imposed against certain countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals. Economic sanctions and other similar measures could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate the Fund’s ability to purchase or sell securities, negatively impact the value or liquidity of the Fund’s investments, significantly delay or prevent the settlement of the Fund’s securities transactions, force the Fund to sell or otherwise dispose of investments at inopportune times or prices, or impair the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective or invest in accordance with its investment strategies.
•
Market and Geopolitical Risk. The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the values of the Fund’s investments, which may change due to economic and other events that affect markets generally, as well as those that affect particular regions, countries, industries, companies or governments. These events may be sudden and unexpected, and could adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, which may in turn impact valuation, the Fund’s ability to sell securities and/or its ability to meet redemptions. The risks associated with these developments may be magnified if certain social, political, economic and other conditions and events (such as war, natural disasters, epidemics and pandemics, terrorism, conflicts and social unrest) adversely interrupt the global economy and financial markets. It is difficult to predict when events affecting the U.S. or global financial markets may occur, the effects that such events may have and the duration of those effects (which may last for extended periods). These events may negatively impact broad segments of businesses and populations and have a significant and rapid negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s investments, adversely affect and increase the volatility of the Fund’s share price and exacerbate pre-existing risks to the Fund.
Shares of the Fund 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 Fund will achieve its investment objective, and you can lose money investing in this Fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution Shares of the Fund 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 Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Class R6 shares’ performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the past one and five year periods and since inception compare with those of broad measures of market performance as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds, over time. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund 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 Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Class R6 shares’ performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the past one and five year periods and since inception compare with those of broad measures of market performance as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds, 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 Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Total Returns—Calendar Years
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 Fund shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns for the Fund’s Class IR shares will vary from Class R6 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 Fund shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
High Quarter
12/31/20
16.92%
Low Quarter
03/31/20
-32.83%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns(for the calendar periods ended December 31, 2021)
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 Fund’s Class IR shares will vary from Class R6 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 Fund 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 Fund shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Real Estate Portfolio) | FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index-Net Total Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 26.09% [8]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.81% [8]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.98% [8]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Real Estate Portfolio) | FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index-Net Total Return to U.S. investors (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 26.90% [9]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.50% [9]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.65% [9],[10]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Real Estate Portfolio) | MSCI World Net Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 21.82% [11]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.03% [11]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 11.41% [10],[11]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Real Estate Portfolio) | Lipper Global Real Estate Funds Index (reflects no deduction for taxes)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 27.11% [12]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.52% [12]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.06% [10],[12]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Real Estate Portfolio) | Class IR  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.80%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 22.22% [13]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 23.02% [14]
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 22.07% [14]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.95% [14]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 97
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 4,063
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 6,729
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 10,169
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 97
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 4,063
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 6,729
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 10,169
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 24.08%
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 4.38%
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Real Estate Portfolio) | Class R6  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 14.27%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (0.84%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 3.45%
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 9.80%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (7.83%)
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 18.43%
Annual Return 2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 (14.36%)
Annual Return 2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 24.02%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel High Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 16.92%
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2020
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Low Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (32.83%)
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2020
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 24.02% [15]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.95% [15]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.08% [15]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Real Estate Portfolio) | Class R6 | Return After Taxes on Distributions  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.42% [15],[16]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.97% [15],[16]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.19% [15],[16]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (Global Real Estate Portfolio) | Class R6 | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 16.13% [15]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.63% [15]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.02% [15]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (U.S. Real Estate Portfolio)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The U.S. Real Estate Portfolio (the “Fund”) seeks to provide above average current income and long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities of companies in the U.S. real estate industry, including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
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, hold and sell Class IR shares of the Fund. The Fund does not charge any sales loads or other fees when you purchase or redeem Class IR shares. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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 Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a 5% return each year and the Fund’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
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] 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 rate 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 Total 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 132% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 132.00%
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s assets will be invested in equity securities of companies in the U.S. real estate industry. This policy may be changed without shareholder approval; however, you would be notified upon 60 days’ notice in writing of any changes.
The Adviser seeks a combination of above-average current income and long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities of companies in the U.S. real estate industry, including REITs. The Fund focuses on REITs as well as real estate operating companies (“REOCs”) that invest in a variety of property types and regions.
The Adviser may consider information about environmental, social and governance issues (also referred to as ESG) in its bottom-up stock selection process when making investment decisions. The Adviser may engage with company management regarding corporate
governance practices as well as what the Adviser deems to be materially important environmental and/or social issues facing a company.
The Adviser actively manages the Fund using a combination of bottom-up and top-down methodologies. The Adviser’s proprietary models drive the bottom-up value-driven approach for stock selection, which is utilized to identify those companies that the Adviser determines represent the best relative value relative to their underlying assets and earnings. Analysts will assess real estate specific factors, broader equity factors, as well as ESG factors in their fundamental analysis in order calculate appropriate valuation metrics.
Top-down considerations are incorporated into the portfolio construction process, and the Adviser seeks to achieve exposure across sectors and integrate forecasted fundamental inflections and macroeconomic considerations, among other factors.
The Adviser generally considers selling a portfolio holding based upon the relative valuation ranking of securities in the investment universe.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, and you can lose money investing in this Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund 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.
•
Small and Mid Cap Companies. Investments in small and mid cap companies may involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies. The securities issued by small and mid cap 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.
•
Real Estate Investing. Companies in the real estate industry (and, therefore, because of its investment in such companies, the Fund) will experience risks similar to the risks of investing in real estate directly. Real estate is a cyclical business, highly sensitive to general and local economic developments and characterized by intense competition and periodic overbuilding. Real estate income and values and the real estate market may also be greatly affected by demographic trends, such as population shifts or changing tastes and values, and government actions. Real estate companies may also be affected by changing interest rates and credit quality requirements. By concentrating its investments in the real estate industry, the Fund has greater exposure to the potential adverse economic, regulatory, political and other changes affecting companies operating within such industry.
•
REITs and REOCs. Investing in REITs and REOCs exposes investors to the risks of owning real estate directly, as well as to risks that relate specifically to the way in which REITs and REOCs are organized and operated. Operating REITs requires specialized management skills and the Fund indirectly bears management expenses along with the direct expenses of the Fund. 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 Fund.
•
Non-Diversification. The Fund is non-diversified, which means that the Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may be more susceptible to an adverse event affecting a single issuer or portfolio investment than a diversified portfolio and a decline in the value of that issuer’s securities or that portfolio investment may cause the Fund’s overall value to decline to a greater degree than a diversified portfolio.
•
Market and Geopolitical Risk. The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the values of the Fund’s investments, which may change due to economic and other events that affect markets generally, as well as those that affect particular regions, countries, industries, companies or governments. These events may be sudden and unexpected, and could adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, which may in turn impact valuation, the Fund’s ability to sell securities and/or its ability to meet redemptions. The risks associated with these developments may be magnified if certain social, political, economic and other conditions and events (such as war, natural disasters, epidemics and pandemics, terrorism, conflicts and social unrest) adversely interrupt the global economy and financial markets. It is difficult to predict when events affecting the U.S. or global financial markets may occur, the effects that such events may have and the duration of those effects (which may last for extended periods). These events may negatively impact broad segments of businesses and populations and have a significant and rapid negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s investments, adversely affect and increase the volatility of the Fund’s share price and exacerbate pre-existing risks to the Fund.
Shares of the Fund 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 Fund will achieve its investment objective, and you can lose money investing in this Fund.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus Non-Diversification. The Fund is non-diversified, which means that the Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may be more susceptible to an adverse event affecting a single issuer or portfolio investment than a diversified portfolio and a decline in the value of that issuer’s securities or that portfolio investment may cause the Fund’s overall value to decline to a greater degree than a diversified portfolio.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution Shares of the Fund 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 Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Class R6 shares’ performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the past one and five year periods and since inception compare with those of broad measures of market performance, as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds, over time. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund 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 Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Class R6 shares’ performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the past one and five year periods and since inception compare with those of broad measures of market performance, as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds, 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 Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Total Returns—Calendar Years
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 Fund shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns for the Fund’s Class IR shares will vary from Class R6 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 Fund shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
High Quarter
12/31/20
16.81%
Low Quarter
03/31/20
-35.65%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns(for the calendar periods ended December 31, 2021)
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 Fund’s Class IR shares will vary from Class R6 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 Fund 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 Fund shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (U.S. Real Estate Portfolio) | FTSE Nareit Equity REITs Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 43.24% [17]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 10.75% [17]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 11.25% [17],[18]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (U.S. Real Estate Portfolio) | S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 28.71% [19]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 18.47% [19]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 15.55% [18],[19]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (U.S. Real Estate Portfolio) | Lipper Real Estate Funds Index (reflects no deduction for taxes)  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 38.99% [20]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 11.53% [20]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 11.28% [18],[20]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (U.S. Real Estate Portfolio) | Class IR  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.70%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 25.34%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 26.04% [21]
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 25.21% [21]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.83% [21]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 85
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 4,428
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 7,137
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 10,244
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 85
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 4,428
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 7,137
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 10,244
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 39.06%
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.07%
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (U.S. Real Estate Portfolio) | Class R6  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 30.82%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 2.36%
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 6.96%
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 3.32%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (8.36%)
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 18.48%
Annual Return 2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 (17.98%)
Annual Return 2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 39.06%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel High Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 16.81%
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2020
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Low Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (35.65%)
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2020
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 39.06% [22]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.05% [22]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.61% [22]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (U.S. Real Estate Portfolio) | Class R6 | Return After Taxes on Distributions  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 37.60% [22],[23]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.65% [22],[23]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 4.26% [22],[23]
(MSIF - Listed Real Asset Portfolios - Class IR) | (U.S. Real Estate Portfolio) | Class R6 | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares  
Prospectus: rr_ProspectusTable  
Past One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 23.05% [22]
Past Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.06% [22]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.14% [22]
[1]
3 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. Effective after the close of business on April 29, 2022, the Fund selected the Dow Jones Brookfield Global Infrastructure IndexSM as its broad-based index as a replacement for the Standard and Poor’s Global BMI Index (“S&P Global BMI Index”) because it believes the Dow Jones Brookfield Global Infrastructure IndexSM is more reflective of the Fund’s principal investment strategies.
[2]
4 Since Inception reflects the inception date of Class R6.
[3]
5 The 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. The index members represent developed and emerging market countries. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
[4]
6 The Lipper Global Infrastructure Funds Index is an equally-weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Global Infrastructure Funds classification. There are currently 10 funds represented in this index.
[5]
1 The Fund’s “Adviser,” Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., has agreed to reduce its advisory fee and/or reimburse the Fund so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses, excluding acquired fund fees and expenses (as applicable), certain investment related expenses, taxes, interest and other extraordinary expenses (including litigation), will not exceed 0.94% for Class IR. The fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year from the date of this Prospectus or until such time as the Board of Directors of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or reimbursements when it deems such action is appropriate.
[6]
1 Class R6 shares are not offered in the Prospectus.
[7]
2 These returns do not reflect any tax consequences from a sale of your shares at the end of each period.
[8]
3 The FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index—Net Total Return is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to reflect the stock performance of companies engaged in the North American, European and Asian real estate markets. 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. Effective after the close of business on April 29, 2022, the Fund selected the FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index—Net Total Return as its broad-based index as a replacement for the MSCI World Net Index because it believes the FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index—Net Total Return is more reflective of the Fund’s principal investment strategies.
[9]
4 The FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index—Net Total Return to U.S. Investors is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to reflect the stock performance of companies engaged in the North American, European and Asian real estate markets. The performance of the Index is listed in U.S. dollars and assumes reinvestment of net dividends. “Net Total Return to U.S. Investors” reflects a reduction in total returns after taking into account the withholding tax on dividends by certain foreign countries represented in the Index for periods after 1/31/05 (gross returns used prior to 1/31/05). It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
[10]
5 Since Inception reflects the inception date of Class R6.
[11]
6 The MSCI World Net Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the 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 Net 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. Net total return indices reinvest dividends after the deduction of withholding taxes, using (for international indices) a tax rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
[12]
7 The Lipper Global Real Estate Funds Index is an equally-weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Global Real Estate Funds classification. There are currently 30 funds represented in this index.
[13]
1 Other Expenses include interest expense of 0.01% which is not included in the determination of the expense limitation. Excluding interest expense, Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement is 0.94% for Class IR shares.
[14]
2 The Fund’s “Adviser,” Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., has agreed to reduce its advisory fee and/or reimburse the Fund so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses, excluding acquired fund fees and expenses (as applicable), certain investment related expenses, taxes, interest and other extraordinary expenses (including litigation), will not exceed 0.94% for Class IR. The fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year from the date of this Prospectus or until such time as the Board of Directors of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or reimbursements when it deems such action is appropriate.
[15]
1 Class R6 shares are not offered in the Prospectus.
[16]
2 These returns do not reflect any tax consequences from a sale of your shares at the end of each period.
[17]
3 The FTSE Nareit (National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts) Equity REITs Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index of tax-qualified REITs listed on the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Amex and the NASDAQ National Market Systems. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Effective after the close of business on April 29, 2022, the Fund selected the FTSE Nareit Equity REITs Index as its broad-based index as a replacement for the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index (S&P 500® Index) because it believes the FTSE Nareit Equity REITs Index is more reflective of the Fund’s principal investment strategies.
[18]
4 Since Inception reflects the inception date of Class R6.
[19]
5 The S&P 500® Index measures the performance of the large cap segment of the U.S. equities market, covering approximately 80% of the U.S. equities market. The S&P 500® Index includes 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
[20]
6 The Lipper Real Estate Funds Index is an equally-weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Real Estate Funds classification. There are currently 30 funds represented in this index.
[21]
1 The Fund’s “Adviser,” Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., has agreed to reduce its advisory fee and/or reimburse the Fund so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses, excluding acquired fund fees and expenses (as applicable), certain investment related expenses, taxes, interest and other extraordinary expenses (including litigation), will not exceed 0.83% for Class IR. The fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year from the date of this Prospectus or until such time as the Board of Directors of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or reimbursements when it deems such action is appropriate.
[22]
1 Class R6 shares are not offered in the Prospectus.
[23]
2 These returns do not reflect any tax consequences from a sale of your shares at the end of each period.