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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName HOMESTEAD FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jan. 01, 2020
Growth Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Growth Fund Fund Summaries   |  Inception: January 22, 2001
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Growth Fund is a stock fund that seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation through investments in common stocks of growth 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 (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 Fund 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 Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 34% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 34.00%
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

In taking a growth approach to stock selection, the Fund normally will invest at least 80% of net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in the common stocks of large companies. A large company is defined as one whose market capitalization is larger than the median market capitalization of companies in the Russell 1000 Growth Index ("Russell Index"), a widely used benchmark of the largest domestic growth stocks ranging from $1.1 billion to $904.7 billion in capitalization as of March 31, 2019 (the median market capitalization as of March 31, 2019, was approximately $11.8 billion, and is subject to change). The market capitalization of the companies in the Fund's portfolio and the Russell Index will change over time. The Fund may continue to hold securities of a portfolio company that subsequently depreciates below the large-capitalization threshold. Because of this, the Fund may have less than 80% of its net assets in equity securities of large-capitalization companies at any given time. The Fund will not cease to purchase stock of a company it already owns just because the company's market capitalization falls below this level. The Fund may at times invest significantly in certain sectors, such as the information technology sector.

The approach of the Fund's subadviser, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. ("T. Rowe Price"), generally is to look for companies with what it expects to have an above-average rate of earnings and cash flow growth and a lucrative niche in the economy that gives them the ability to sustain earnings momentum even during times of slow economic growth.

As a growth investor, T. Rowe Price believes that when a company increases its earnings faster than both inflation and the overall economy, the market will eventually reward it with a higher stock price.

In pursuing its investment objective, however, T. Rowe Price may deviate from its normal investment approach. These situations might arise when T. Rowe Price believes a security could increase in value for a variety of reasons, including an extraordinary corporate event, a new product introduction or innovation, a favorable competitive development, or a change in management.

The Fund may sell securities for a variety of reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, or redeploy assets into more promising opportunities.

While most of the Fund's assets typically will be invested in U.S. common stocks, the Fund may invest in foreign stocks in keeping with its investment objective.
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 are:

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.

Issuer Risk  The risk that the value of a security may decline because of adverse events or circumstances that directly relate to the issuer.

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.

Growth Style Risk  The risk that returns on stocks within the growth style in which the Fund invests will trail returns of stocks representing other styles or the market overall over any period of time and may shift in and out of favor with investors generally, sometimes rapidly, depending on changes in market, economic, and other factors. Growth stocks can be volatile, as these companies usually invest a high portion of earnings in their business and therefore may lack the dividends of value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market. Also, earnings disappointments often lead to sharply falling prices because investors buy growth stocks in anticipation of superior earnings growth.

Focused Investment Risk  A fund that invests a substantial portion of its assets in a particular market, industry, sector, group of industries or sectors, country, region, group of countries or asset class is subject to greater risk than a fund that invests in a more diverse investment portfolio. In addition, the value of such a fund is more susceptible to any single economic, market, political or regulatory or other occurrence affecting, for example, the particular markets, industries, regions, sectors or asset classes in which the fund is invested. This is because, for example, issuers in a particular market, industry, region, sector or asset class may react similarly to specific economic, market, regulatory, political or other developments. The particular markets, industries, regions, sectors or asset classes in which the Fund may focus its investments may change over time and the Fund may alter its focus at inopportune times. For example, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies in the information technology sector. Companies in the information technology sector can be adversely affected by, among other things, intense competition, earnings disappointments, and rapid obsolescence of products and services due to technological innovations or changing consumer preferences.

Market Capitalization Risk  Investing primarily in issuers within the same market capitalization category carries the risk that the category may be out of favor due to current market conditions or investor sentiment. Securities issued by large-cap companies tend to be less volatile than securities issued by smaller companies. However, larger companies may not be able to attain the high growth rates of successful smaller companies, especially during strong economic periods, and may be unable to respond as quickly to competitive challenges.

Foreign Risk  Foreign securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments and may exhibit more extreme changes in value than securities of U.S. companies. The securities markets of many foreign countries are relatively small, with a limited number of companies representing a small number of industries. In addition, foreign companies often are not subject to the same degree of regulation as U.S. companies. Reporting, legal, accounting and auditing standards of foreign countries differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards. Nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, currency blockage, political changes or diplomatic developments could adversely affect the Fund's investments in a foreign country. In the event of nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation, the Fund could lose its entire investment. Investments in emerging market countries are likely to involve significant risks. These countries are generally more likely to experience political and economic instability.

Manager Risk  The risk that the subadviser's decisions, including security selection, will cause the Fund to underperform relative to the Fund's peers. There can be no assurance that the subadviser's investment techniques and decisions will produce the desired results. The Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective is dependent upon the subadviser's ability to identify profitable investment opportunities for the Fund. The past experience of the portfolio manager, including with other strategies and funds, does not guarantee future results for the Fund.
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

* For periods prior to December 5, 2008, the performance information for the Growth Fund (formerly the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock SM Fund) reflects its previous investment strategy of matching, as closely as possible, before expenses, the performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index®.

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

Best Quarter:
Q1 2012 19.54%
Worst Quarter:
Q3 2011 -14.55%

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.

Growth Fund | Growth 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 0.65%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.86%
1 YR rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 88
3 YR rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 274
5 YR rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 477
10 YR rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,061
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 51.66%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 15.54%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (2.09%)
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 17.57%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 43.40%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 8.38%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 9.43%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 2.54%
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 37.68%
2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 3.96%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2012
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 19.54%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (14.55%)
Growth Fund | Returns before taxes | Growth Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.96% [1]
5 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 11.72% [1]
10 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 17.54% [1]
Growth Fund | Returns after taxes on distributions | Growth Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.32% [1]
5 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.85% [1]
10 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 16.19% [1]
Growth Fund | Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares | Growth Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.06% [1]
5 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.03% [1]
10 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 14.77% [1]
Growth Fund | Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.51%) [1]
5 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 10.40% [1]
10 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 15.29% [1]
[1] For periods prior to December 5, 2008, the performance information for the Growth Fund (formerly the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock SM Fund) reflects its previous investment strategy of matching, as closely as possible, before expenses, the performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index®.