Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Dec. 01, 2012
Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The fund seeks to maximize total return, consisting of capital appreciation and current income.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
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 173.05% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	173.05%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The Example 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 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. The one-year example and the first year of the three-, five- and ten-year examples are based on net operating expenses, which reflect the expense waiver/reimbursement by The Dreyfus Corporation. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategy
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in fixed-income securities of U.S. and foreign issuers rated investment grade or the unrated equivalent as determined by The Dreyfus Corporation. These securities include: U.S. government bonds and notes, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, convertible securities, preferred stocks, inflation-indexed securities, asset-backed securities, mortgage-related securities (including CMOs), and foreign bonds. Typically, the fund's portfolio can be expected to have an average effective maturity and an average effective duration of three years or less. For additional yield, the fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in fixed-income securities rated below investment grade ("high yield" or "junk" bonds) to as low as Caa/CCC or the unrated equivalent as determined by The Dreyfus Corporation. The fund will focus on U.S. securities, but may invest up to 30% of its total assets in fixed-income securities of foreign issuers, including those of issuers in emerging markets.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. It is not a complete investment program. The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money. o Interest rate risk. Prices of bonds tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in rates will adversely affect bond prices and, accordingly, the fund's share price. The longer the effective maturity and duration of the fund's portfolio, the more the fund's share price is likely to react to interest rates. o Credit risk. Failure of an issuer to make timely interest or principal payments, or a decline or perception of a decline in the credit quality of a bond, can cause a bond's price to fall, potentially lowering the fund's share price. The lower a bond's credit rating, the greater the chance - in the rating agency's opinion - that the bond issuer will default or fail to meet its payment obligations. Although the fund invests primarily in investment grade bonds, the fund may invest to a limited extent in high yield bonds. High yield ("junk") bonds involve greater credit risk, including the risk of default, than investment grade bonds, and are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's ability to make principal and interest payments. The prices of high yield bonds can fall dramatically in response to bad news about the issuer or its industry, or the economy in general. o Liquidity risk. When there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities at or near their perceived value. In such a market, the value of such securities and the fund's share price may fall dramatically. o Market risk. The market value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. A security's market value also may decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry, or factors that affect a particular company, such as management performance, financial leverage, and reduced demand for the company's products or services. o Foreign investment risk. Special risks associated with investments in foreign issuers include exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, less developed or less efficient trading markets, lack of comprehensive company information, political and economic instability and differing auditing and legal standards. Investments denominated in foreign currencies are subject to the risk that such currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar and affect the value of these investments held by the fund. Securities of issuers located in emerging markets can be more volatile and less liquid than those of issuers in more developed economies. o Non-diversification risk. The fund is non-diversified, which means that the fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. Therefore, the fund's performance may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a diversified fund.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	The fund is non-diversified, which means that the fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. Therefore, the fund's performance may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a diversified fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.
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 table compares the average annual total returns of the fund's shares to those of a broad measure of market performance. The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of future results. More recent performance information may be available at www.dreyfus.com.
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.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	www.dreyfus.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of future results.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Year-by-Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year (%) -- Class D
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block]	rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock	The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the fund's Class D shares from year to year. Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Best Quarter Q2, 2009: 5.96% Worst Quarter Q4, 2008: -3.30% The year-to-date total return of the fund's Class D shares as of 9/30/12 was 2.95%.
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text]	rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes	reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal 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, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal 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, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/11)
Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund | BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year Corporate/Government Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year Corporate/Government Index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.10%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.81%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.26%
Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund | Class D
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other expenses (including shareholder services fees)	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.40%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.90%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.25%)	[1]
Total annual fund operating expenses (less fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement)	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.65%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	2013-12-01
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	66
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	262
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	474
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,085
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	2.49%
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	2.54%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	1.99%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	1.32%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	4.24%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	2.92%
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(5.54%)
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	13.92%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	4.73%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	1.61%
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	The year-to-date total return of the fund's Class D shares
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2012
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	2.95%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	5.96%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(3.30%)
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Class D returns before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.61%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.34%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.92%
Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund | Class D | After Taxes on Distributions
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Class D returns after taxes on distributions
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.72%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.98%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.47%
Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Dreyfus Short-Term Income Fund | Class D | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Class D returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.05%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.04%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.62%

[1] The Dreyfus Corporation has contractually agreed, until December 1, 2013, to waive receipt of its fees and/or assume the expenses of the fund so that the expenses of none of the fund's share classes (excluding shareholder services fees, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.45%. On or after December 1, 2013, The Dreyfus Corporation may terminate this expense waiver at any time.