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

The International Equity Fund (the "Fund") seeks long-term capital appreciation through investments in equity securities of companies based outside the United States.
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)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination May 1, 2020
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 16% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 16.00%
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, except for any expense reimbursement which is only in effect during the first year. 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 Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks, preferred stocks, rights and warrants issued by companies that are based outside the United States, securities convertible into such securities (including Depositary Receipts), and investment companies that invest in the types of securities in which the Fund would normally invest. The Fund also may invest in securities of U.S. companies that derive, or are expected to derive, a significant portion of their revenues from their foreign operations, although under normal circumstances not more than 15% of the Fund's total assets will be invested in securities of U.S. companies.

The Fund invests primarily in companies based in developed markets outside the United States as well as in established companies in emerging and frontier markets. Harding Loevner LP ("Harding Loevner"), the Fund's subadviser, undertakes fundamental research in an effort to identify companies that it believes are well managed, financially sound, fast growing, and strongly competitive, and whose shares are under-priced relative to estimates of their value. In an effort to reduce its volatility, the Fund seeks to be diversified across dimensions of geography, industry, currency, and market capitalization. The Fund normally holds investments across at least 10 countries.

The Fund will normally invest broadly in equity securities of companies domiciled in the global developed, emerging, and frontier markets, excluding the U.S. At least 65% of total assets will be denominated in at least three currencies other than the U.S. dollar. For purposes of compliance with this restriction, American Depositary Receipts, Global Depositary Receipts and European Depositary Receipts (collectively, "Depositary Receipts"), will be considered to be denominated in the currency of the country where the securities underlying the Depositary Receipts are principally traded.

Because some emerging market countries do not permit foreigners to participate directly in their securities markets or otherwise present difficulties for efficient foreign investment, the Fund may use equity derivative securities, and, in particular, participation notes, to gain exposure to those countries.
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 a 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.

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.

Currency Risk  Foreign currencies may experience steady or sudden devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar or other currencies, adversely affecting the value of the Fund's investments. The value of the Fund's assets may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, currency exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign currencies. Because the Fund's net asset value is determined on the basis of U.S. dollars, if the local currency of a foreign market depreciates against the U.S. dollar, you may lose money even if the foreign market prices of the Fund's holdings rise.

Emerging and Frontier Market Risk  The risk that investing in emerging and frontier markets will be subject to greater political and economic instability, greater volatility in currency exchange rates, less developed securities markets, possible trade barriers, currency transfer restrictions, a more limited number of potential buyers and issuers, an emerging market country's dependence on revenue from particular commodities or international aid, less governmental supervision and regulation, unavailability of currency hedging techniques, differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, thinner trading markets, different clearing and settlement procedures and custodial services, and less developed legal systems than in many more developed countries. The securities of emerging market companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. These risks are generally greater for investments in frontier market countries, which typically have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging market countries.

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.

Preferred Securities Risk  The risk that: (i) certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip or defer distributions; (ii) preferred stocks may be subject to redemption, including at the issuer's call, and, in the event of redemption, the Fund may not be able to reinvest the proceeds at comparable or favorable rates of return; (iii) preferred stocks are generally subordinated to bonds and other debt securities in an issuer's capital structure in terms of priority for corporate income and liquidation payments; and (iv) preferred stocks may trade less frequently and in a more limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than many other securities.

Convertible Securities Risk  Convertible securities may be subordinate to other debt securities issued by the same issuer. Issuers of convertible securities are often not as strong financially as issuers with higher credit ratings. Convertible securities typically provide yields lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Their values may be more volatile than those of non-convertible securities, reflecting changes in the values of the securities into which they are convertible.

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.

Depositary Receipts Risk  Depositary receipts in which the Fund may invest are receipts listed on U.S. exchanges that are issued by banks or trust companies that entitle the holder to all dividends and capital gains that are paid out on the underlying foreign shares. Investments in depositary receipts may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market.

Manager Risk   The risk that the manager's decisions, particularly 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. The performance information shown for the Fund includes historical performance of the Fund for the periods prior to January 15, 2016. As of January 15, 2016, Harding Loevner was appointed as the subadviser to the Fund and the Fund adopted its current investment strategies. The Fund's past performance may have been different if the Fund were managed using the current investment strategies. 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

* Performance information for the International Equity Fund (formerly the International Value Fund) reflects its investment as an actively managed fund subadvised by Mercator Asset Management from December 31, 2006 to September 14, 2015, as a passively managed portfolio directed by SSgA Funds Management, Inc. from September 15, 2015 to January 8, 2016 and, after a transition, as an actively managed fund subadvised by Harding Loevner LP from January 15, 2016 to period end.

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

Best Quarter:
Q2 2009 21.51%
Worst Quarter:
Q3 2011 -21.02%

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.

International Equity Fund | International Equity 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 0.75%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.48%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.23%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.24%) [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.99% [1]
1 YR rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 101
3 YR rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 367
5 YR rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 653
10 YR rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,467
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 25.93%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 5.73%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (16.55%)
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 17.41%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 23.44%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (8.90%)
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (3.48%)
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 4.85%
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 28.12%
2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (12.74%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 21.51%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (21.02%)
International Equity Fund | Returns before taxes | International Equity Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (12.74%) [2]
5 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.61% [2]
10 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.20% [2]
International Equity Fund | Returns after taxes on distributions | International Equity Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (13.36%) [2]
5 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.59%) [2]
10 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.14% [2]
International Equity Fund | Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares | International Equity Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (7.54%) [2]
5 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.10%) [2]
10 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.63% [2]
International Equity Fund | MSCI® EAFE® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (13.79%) [2]
5 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.53% [2]
10 YR rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.32% [2]
[1] RE Advisers has contractually agreed, through at least May 1, 2020, to limit the Fund's operating expenses to an amount not to exceed 0.99%. Operating expenses exclude interest: taxes; brokerage commissions; other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business; and the fees and expenses associated with an investment in (i) an investment company or (ii) any company that would be an investment company under Section 3(a) of the 1940 Act, but for the exceptions to that definition provided for in Sections 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. This waiver agreement will terminate immediately upon termination of the Fund's Management Agreement and may be terminated by the Fund or RE Advisers with one year's notice.
[2] Performance information for the International Equity Fund (formerly the International Value Fund) reflects its investment as an actively managed fund subadvised by Mercator Asset Management from December 31, 2006 to September 14, 2015, as a passively managed portfolio directed by SSgA Funds Management, Inc. from September 15, 2015 to January 8, 2016 and, after a transition, as an actively managed fund subadvised by Harding Loevner LP from January 15, 2016 to period end.