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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType Other
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Dec. 31, 2010
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName STERLING CAPITAL FUNDS
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000889284
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Sep. 14, 2011
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Sep. 14, 2011
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate May 01, 2011
Prospectus, Class A, B and C | Sterling Capital Equity Index Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Supplement [Text Block] scf889284_SupplementTextBlock

SUPPLEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 TO THE

STERLING CAPITAL EQUITY INDEX FUND

CLASS A, CLASS B AND CLASS C SHARES PROSPECTUS

DATED MAY 1, 2011, AS AMENDED

Effective immediately, this Supplement provides the following amended and supplemental information and supersedes any information to the contrary in the Sterling Capital Equity Index Fund Class A, Class B, and Class C Shares Prospectus (the “Prospectus”) dated May 1, 2011, as amended:
Supplement Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Text Block] scf889284_SupplementAnnualFundOperatingExpensesTextBlock The following replaces the text under the heading “Fee Table — Annual Fund Operating Expenses” with respect to the Fund in the Prospectus:
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
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) [1],[2]
Expenses Represent Both Master and Feeder [Text] rr_ExpensesRepresentBothMasterAndFeeder The Shareholder Fees and Annual Fund Operating Expenses tables reflect the expenses of both the S&P 500® Stock Master Portfolio (the "Master Portfolio") and the Fund.
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock A contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") on Class B Shares declines over six years starting with year one and ending on the sixth anniversary from the date of purchase: 5%, 4%, 3%, 3%, 2%, 1%.
Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text] rr_ExpensesRestatedToReflectCurrent Annual Fund Operating Expenses have been restated to reflect current fees.
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination April 30, 2012
Example rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
Supplement Expense Example [Text Block] scf889284_SupplementExpenseExampleTextBlock In addition, the following replaces the text under the heading “Example” with respect to the Fund:
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example [3]
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock This 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 except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on April 30, 2012. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionAbstract  
Expense Example, No Redemption Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Supplement Additional Information [Text Block] scf889284_SupplementAdditionalInformationTextBlock Please contact your financial advisor or Sterling Capital Funds at 1-800-228-1872 if you have any questions.
Prospectus, Institutional Class | Sterling Capital Equity Index Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Supplement [Text Block] scf889284_SupplementTextBlock

SUPPLEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 TO THE

STERLING CAPITAL EQUITY INDEX FUND INSTITUTIONAL SHARES PROSPECTUS

DATED MAY 1, 2011, AS AMENDED

Effective immediately, this Supplement provides the following amended and supplemental information and supersedes any information to the contrary in the Sterling Capital Equity Index Fund Institutional Shares Prospectus (the “Prospectus”) dated May 1, 2011, as amended:
Supplement Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Text Block] scf889284_SupplementAnnualFundOperatingExpensesTextBlock The following replaces the text under the heading “Fee Table — Annual Fund Operating Expenses” with respect to the Fund in the Prospectus:
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
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) [1],[2]
Expenses Represent Both Master and Feeder [Text] rr_ExpensesRepresentBothMasterAndFeeder The Shareholder Fees and Annual Fund Operating Expenses tables reflect the expenses of both the S&P 500® Stock Master Portfolio (the “Master Portfolio”) and the Fund.
Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text] rr_ExpensesRestatedToReflectCurrent Annual Fund Operating Expenses have been restated to reflect current fees.
Example rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
Supplement Expense Example [Text Block] scf889284_SupplementExpenseExampleTextBlock In addition, the following replaces the text under the heading “Example” with respect to the Fund:
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example [3]
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock This 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. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionAbstract  
Expense Example, No Redemption Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Supplement Additional Information [Text Block] scf889284_SupplementAdditionalInformationTextBlock Please contact your financial advisor or Sterling Capital Funds at 1-800-228-1872 if you have any questions.
Sterling Capital Equity Index Fund | Class A Shares
  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Operating Expenses Column [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName Class A Shares
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.05%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.50%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.81%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.36%
Fee Waiver or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.25%) [4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.11% [4]
Example rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 682
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 958
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,254
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,096
Expense Example, No Redemption rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionAbstract  
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 682
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 958
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,254
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,096
Sterling Capital Equity Index Fund | Class B Shares
  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Operating Expenses Column [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName Class B Shares
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.05%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.81%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.86%
Fee Waiver or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets none
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.86%
Example rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 589
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 885
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,106
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,049
Expense Example, No Redemption rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionAbstract  
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 189
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 585
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,006
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,049
Sterling Capital Equity Index Fund | Class C Shares
  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Operating Expenses Column [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName Class C Shares
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.05%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.81%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.86%
Fee Waiver or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets none
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.86%
Example rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 189
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 585
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,006
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,180
Expense Example, No Redemption rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionAbstract  
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 189
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 585
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,006
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,180
Sterling Capital Equity Index Fund | Institutional Shares
  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Operating Expenses Column [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName Institutional Shares
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.05%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.81%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.86%
Example rr_ExpenseExampleAbstract  
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 88
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 274
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 477
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,061
Expense Example, No Redemption rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionAbstract  
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 88
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 274
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 477
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,061
[1] Annual Fund Operating Expenses have been restated to reflect current fees.
[2] The Shareholder Fees and Annual Fund Operating Expenses tables reflect the expenses of both the S&P 500 Stock Master Portfolio (the "Master Portfolio") and the Fund.
[3] The Example reflects the expenses of both the Master Portfolio and the Fund.
[4] The Fund's Distributor has contractually agreed to limit the distribution and shareholder service (12b-1) fees for Class A Shares of the Fund to 0.25% for the period from May 1, 2011 through April 30, 2012. This contractual limitation may be terminated during this period only by the Fund, and will automatically terminate upon termination of the Underwriting Agreement or the 12b-1 Plan with respect to the Fund.