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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName HOMESTEAD FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jan. 01, 2020
Stock Index Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Stock Index Fund Fund Summaries   |  Inception: October 28, 1999
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Stock Index Fund is a stock fund that seeks to match, as closely as possible, before expenses, the performance of the Standard & Poor's 500® Index (the "Index"), which emphasizes stocks of large U.S. companies.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

The table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (a) (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 Master Portfolio (as defined below) pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Master Portfolio's turnover rate was 12% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 12.00%
Expenses Represent Both Master and Feeder [Text] rr_ExpensesRepresentBothMasterAndFeeder Expenses shown in this table and used in the example reflect expenses of both the Stock Index Fund and the Stock Index Fund's share of allocated expenses of the Master Portfolio (as defined below).
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Expense Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund to the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Stock Index Fund pursues its investment objective by seeking to replicate the total return performance of the Index, which is composed of 500 selected common stocks, most of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE").

The Stock Index Fund is a feeder fund, meaning that it invests all of its investable assets in a master portfolio. The Fund invests its assets in the S&P 500 Index Master Portfolio ("Master Portfolio"), a separate series of an unaffiliated trust called the Master Investment Portfolio. The Master Portfolio and the Stock Index Fund have substantially similar investment objectives and investment strategies. This structure is sometimes called a "master/feeder" structure. The Fund's investment results will correspond directly to the investment results of the Master Portfolio.

Under normal circumstances, at least 90% of the value of the Master Portfolio's assets, plus the amount of any borrowing for investment purposes, is invested in securities comprising the Index. The Master Portfolio attempts to achieve, in both rising and falling markets, a correlation of at least 95% between the total return of its net assets before fees and expenses and the total return of the Index.

The Master Portfolio seeks to replicate the total return performance of the Index by investing the Master Portfolio's assets so that the percentage of assets of the Master Portfolio invested in a given stock is approximately the same as the percentage such stock represents in the Index. No attempt is made to manage the Master Portfolio using economic, financial or market analysis. In addition, at times, the portfolio composition of the Master Portfolio may be altered (or "rebalanced") to reflect changes in the characteristics of the Index. The Master Portfolio is normally rebalanced quarterly during the months of March, June, September and December. In addition, the Master Portfolio may make interim changes in line with the Index.

The Master Portfolio also may engage in futures and options transactions and other derivative securities transactions and lend its portfolio securities, each of which involves risk. The Master Portfolio may use futures contracts, options and other derivative transactions to manage its short-term liquidity and/or as substitutes for comparable market positions in the securities in its benchmark index. The Master Portfolio may also invest in high-quality money market instruments, including shares of money market funds advised by BlackRock Fund Advisors ("BFA") or its affiliates.

The Master Portfolio reserves the right to concentrate its investments (i.e., invest 25% or more of its total assets in securities of issuers in a particular industry) to approximately the same extent that its benchmark index concentrates in a particular industry.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Fund. Other principal risks of investing in the Fund include:

Market Risk  The risk that markets will perform poorly or that the returns from the securities in which the Fund invests will underperform returns from the general securities markets or other types of investments. Markets may, in response to governmental actions or intervention, political, economic or market developments, or other external factors, experience periods of high volatility and reduced liquidity. During those periods, the Fund may experience high levels of shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when the Fund would otherwise not do so, and potentially at unfavorable prices. Certain securities may be difficult to value during such periods. These risks may be heightened for fixed income securities in low interest rate environments.

Equity Securities Risk  Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The market price of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Equity securities may decline in value due to factors affecting the issuer, equity securities markets generally, particular industries represented in those markets or the issuer itself.

Derivatives Risk  The risk that an investment in derivatives will not perform as anticipated by the Fund's manager, cannot be closed out at a favorable time or price, or will increase the Fund's volatility; that derivatives may create investment leverage; that, when a derivative is used as a substitute for or alternative to a direct cash investment, the transaction may not provide a return that corresponds precisely with that of the cash investment; or that, when used for hedging purposes, derivatives will not provide the anticipated protection, causing the Fund to lose money on both the derivatives transaction and the exposure the Fund sought to hedge. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. Changes in regulation relating to a mutual fund's use of derivatives and related instruments could potentially limit or impact the Fund's ability to invest in derivatives, limit a Fund's ability to employ certain strategies that use derivatives and adversely affect the value or performance of derivatives and the Fund.

Passive Investment Risk  Because BFA does not select the individual companies in the Index that the Master Portfolio tracks, the Master Portfolio may hold securities of companies that present risks that an investment adviser researching individual securities might otherwise seek to avoid.

Master/Feeder Structure Risk  The Fund pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in another pooled investment vehicle (a "master fund"). The ability of the Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to the ability of the master fund to meet its investment objective. The Fund will bear its pro rata portion of the expenses incurred by the master fund. Substantial redemptions by other investors in a master fund may affect the master fund's investment program adversely and limit the ability of the master fund to achieve its objective.

Concentration Risk  To the extent the Master Portfolio concentrates in a particular industry, it may be more susceptible to economic conditions and risks affecting that industry.

Money Market Securities Risk  The value of a money market instrument typically will decline during periods of rising interest rates, and can also decline in response to changes in the financial condition of the issuer, borrower, counterparty, or underlying collateral assets, or changes in market, economic, industry, political, and regulatory conditions affecting a particular type of security or issuer or fixed income securities generally. Money market funds are not designed to offer capital appreciation. Certain money market funds may impose a fee upon the sale of shares or may temporarily suspend the ability of investors to redeem shares if such fund's liquidity falls below required minimums, which may adversely affect the Fund's returns or liquidity.

Tracking Error Risk  Tracking error is the divergence of an index fund's performance from that of the underlying index. Tracking error may occur because of differences between the securities and other instruments held in the Fund's portfolio and those included in the Index, pricing differences, differences in transaction costs, the fund's holding of uninvested cash, differences in timing of the accrual of dividends or interest, tax gains or losses, changes to the Index or the need of the Fund or Master Portfolio to meet various new or existing regulatory requirements. This risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions. Tracking error also may result because the Fund incurs fees and expenses, while the Index does not.

Index Fund Risk  An index fund has operating and other expenses while an index does not. As a result, while a fund will attempt to track its underlying index as closely as possible, it will tend to underperform the index to some degree over time. If an index fund is properly correlated to its stated index, the Fund will perform poorly when the index performs poorly.

Index-Related Risk  There is no assurance that the index provider will compile the underlying index accurately, or that the underlying index will be determined, composed or calculated accurately. Gains, losses or costs associated with index provider errors will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the changes in the Fund's performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. 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 at no cost by visiting homesteadfunds.com or by calling 800.258.3030.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the changes in the Fund's performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 800.258.3030
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress homesteadfunds.com
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 Calendar Year Total Returns  Total Returns (%)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the periods shown in the chart, the Fund's best and worst quarters were as follows:

Best Quarter:
Q2 2009 15.74%
Worst Quarter:
Q3 2011 -14.01%

Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns periods ended 12/31/18
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as IRAs or employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as IRAs or employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Stock Index Fund | Stock Index Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Sales Charge on Purchases rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Deferred Sales Charge on Redemptions rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther none
Redemption Fee rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption none
Exchange Fee rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.04%
Other Expenses - Administrative Expenses rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses - Other Fund Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.27%
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.52%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.56% [1]
1 YR rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 57
3 YR rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 180
5 YR rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 314
10 YR rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 703
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 25.83%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 14.47%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 1.65%
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 15.30%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 31.72%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 13.15%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 0.79%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 11.33%
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 21.16%
2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (4.95%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 15.74%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (14.01%)
Stock Index Fund | Returns before taxes | Stock Index Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (4.95%)
5 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.90%
10 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 12.51%
Stock Index Fund | Returns after taxes on distributions | Stock Index Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (5.68%)
5 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.22%
10 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 11.87%
Stock Index Fund | Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares | Stock Index Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (2.92%)
5 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.88%
10 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 10.12%
Stock Index Fund | Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (4.38%)
5 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.49%
10 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 13.12%
[1] Expenses shown in this table and used in the example reflect expenses of both the Stock Index Fund and the Stock Index Fund's share of allocated expenses of the Master Portfolio (as defined below).