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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Entity Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000089043
SEQUOIA FUND INC (Prospectus Summary) | SEQUOIA FUND INC  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return, Heading rr_RiskReturnHeading

SEQUOIA FUND, INC. (the “Fund”)
Investment Objective, Heading rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective
Investment Objective, Primary rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund's investment objective is long-term growth of capital.
Expense, Heading rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense, Narrative rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees, Caption rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

The Fund does not impose any sales charges, exchange fees or redemption fees.
Operating Expenses, Caption 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 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 rate 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

Example
Expense Example, Narrative rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock

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:
Investment Strategy, Heading rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies
Investment Strategy, Narrative rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund's investment objective is long-term growth of capital. In pursuing this objective, the Fund focuses on investing in equity securities that it believes are undervalued at the time of purchase and have the potential for growth. A guiding principle is the consideration of equity securities, such as common stock, as units of ownership of a business and the purchase of them when the price appears low in relation to the value of the total enterprise.

 

No weight is given to technical stock market studies. The balance sheet and earnings history and prospects of each company are extensively studied to appraise fundamental intrinsic value. The Fund normally invests in equity securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers with any market capitalization. The Fund typically sells the equity security of a company when the company shows deteriorating fundamentals, its earnings progress falls short of the Adviser's expectations or its valuation appears excessive relative to its expected future earnings.

 

Ordinarily, the Fund's portfolio is invested in equity securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies. The Fund is not required, however, to be fully invested in equity securities and, in fact, usually maintains a portion of its total assets in cash and securities generally considered to be cash equivalents, including, but not limited to, short-term U.S. Government securities. Depending upon market conditions, cash reserves may be a significant percentage of the Fund's net assets. The Fund usually invests its cash reserves principally in U.S. Government securities. The Fund is classified as non-diversified.
Risk, Heading rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks
Risk, Narrative rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

     •     Market Risk.  This is the risk that the value of the Fund's investments will fluctuate as the stock markets fluctuate and that prices overall will decline, perhaps severely, over short-term or long-term periods. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.

 

 

     •     Value Investing Risk.  Investing in undervalued securities involves the risk that such securities may never reach their expected market value, either because the market fails to recognize a security's intrinsic worth or the expected value was misgauged. Such securities may decline in value even though they are already undervalued.

 

 

     •     Non-Diversification Risk.  The Fund is “non-diversified,” meaning that it invests its assets in a smaller number of companies than many other funds. As a result, your investment in the Fund has the risk that changes in the value of a single security may have a significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund's net asset value per share (“NAV”).

 

 

     •     Foreign (Non-U.S.) Risk.  This is the risk that the value of the Fund's investments in securities of foreign issuers will be affected adversely by foreign economic, social and political conditions and developments or by the application of foreign legal, regulatory, accounting and auditing standards or foreign taxation policies or by currency fluctuations and controls. The risks to the Fund and, therefore, to your investment in the Fund, of investing in foreign securities include expropriation, settlement difficulties, market illiquidity and higher transaction costs. The prices of foreign securities may move in a different direction than the prices of U.S. securities. In addition, the prices of foreign securities may be more volatile than the prices of U.S. securities.

 

 

     •     Currency Risk.  This refers to the risk that securities that trade or are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar may be affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. An increase in the strength of the U.S. Dollar relative to a foreign currency will generally cause the U.S. Dollar value of an investment denominated in that currency to decline. Currency risk may be hedged or unhedged. Unhedged currency exposure may result in gains or losses as a result of a change in the relationship between the U.S. Dollar and the respective foreign currency.

 

 

     •     Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Company Risk.  Investing in securities of small-cap and mid-cap companies may involve greater risks than investing in securities of larger, more established issuers. Small-cap and mid-cap companies may be engaged in business within a narrow geographic region, be less well-known to the investment community and have more volatile share prices. These companies often lack management depth and have narrower market penetrations, less diverse product lines and fewer resources than larger companies. Moreover, the securities of such companies often have less market liquidity and, as a result, their stock prices often react more strongly to changes in the marketplace.

 

 

     •     Risks of Investing in a Managed Fund.  Performance of individual securities can vary widely. The investment decisions of the Adviser may cause the Fund to underperform other investments or benchmark indices. The Fund may also underperform other mutual funds with similar investment strategies. The Adviser may be incorrect in assessing a particular industry or company, including the anticipated earnings growth of the company. The Adviser may not buy securities at the lowest possible prices or sell securities at the highest possible prices. As with any mutual fund investment, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment goals.

 

 

     •     Liquidity Risk.  When there is no willing buyer and a security cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, the Fund may need to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the security at all. An inability to sell securities, at the Fund's desired price or at all, can adversely affect the Fund's value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities.

 

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. As with any investment, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Lose Money rr_RiskLoseMoney You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk, Nondiversified Status rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus The Fund is “non-diversified,” meaning that it invests its assets in a smaller number of companies than many other funds. As a result, your investment in the Fund has the risk that changes in the value of a single security may have a significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund’s net asset value per share (“NAV”).
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency
Bar Chart and Performance Table, Heading rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Bar Chart and Performance Information
Performance, Narrative rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The bar chart and the table shown below provide an indication of the historical risk of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year-to-year over a 10-year period and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for one, five, and ten years compare to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (“S&P 500 Index”), a broad-based securities market index. The Fund's past performance, of course, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and the table shown below provide an indication of the historical risk of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year over a 10-year period and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for one, five, and ten years compare to the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (“S&P 500 Index”), a broad-based securities market index.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund’s past performance, of course, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future.
Bar Chart, Closing rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 12.59% (4th quarter 2011) and the lowest return for a quarter was (19.95)% (4th quarter 2008).
Performance Table, Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2016)
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are estimates, which are calculated using the highest historical 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 an individual investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table, Closing rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

After-tax returns are estimates, which are calculated using the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some instances, the “Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares” may be greater than “Return Before Taxes” because the investor is assumed to be able to use the capital loss of the sale of Fund shares to offset other taxable gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an individual investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
SEQUOIA FUND INC (Prospectus Summary) | SEQUOIA FUND INC | After Taxes on Distributions  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (10.66%)
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.33%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.92%
SEQUOIA FUND INC (Prospectus Summary) | SEQUOIA FUND INC | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.02%)
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.01%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.81%
SEQUOIA FUND INC (Prospectus Summary) | SEQUOIA FUND INC | S&P 500 Index  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.96%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 14.66%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.95%
SEQUOIA FUND INC (Prospectus Summary) | SEQUOIA FUND INC | SEQUOIA FUND INC  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.07%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.07% [1]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 109
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 340
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 590
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,306
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 8.40%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (27.03%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 15.38%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 19.50%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 13.19%
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 15.68%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 34.58%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 7.56%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (7.31%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 (6.90%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel highest return for a quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2011
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 12.59%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel lowest return for a quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (19.95%)
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (6.90%)
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.64%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.96%
[1] Does not reflect Ruane, Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc.'s (the 'Adviser') contractual reimbursement of a portion of the Fund's operating expenses. This reimbursement is a provision of the Adviser's investment advisory agreement with the Fund and the reimbursement will be in effect only so long as that investment advisory agreement is in effect. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund's annual operating expenses and investment advisory fee, net of such reimbursement, were 1.00% and 0.93%, respectively