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Class A, C, I, & Y Prospectus | Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund Summary
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The fund seeks long-term capital growth.
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. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the fund or shares of other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds that are subject to a sales charge. More information about sales charges, including these and other discounts and waivers, is available from your financial professional and in the Shareholder Guide section beginning on page 9 of the prospectus and in the How to Buy Shares section and the Additional Information About How to Buy Shares section beginning on page II-1 and page III-1, respectively, of the fund's Statement of Additional Information.
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 Oct. 01, 2017
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 80.11% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 80.11%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the fund or shares of other funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds that are subject to a sales charge.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 50,000
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-years examples are based on net operating expenses, which reflect the fee waiver and expense limitation agreement by The Dreyfus Corporation. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
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 the stocks of companies organized, or with a majority of assets or business, in emerging market countries. In selecting stocks, the portfolio managers identify potential investments through extensive quantitative and fundamental research using a value-oriented, research-driven approach. Emphasizing individual stock selection rather than economic and industry trends, the fund focuses on value, business health and business momentum. The fund considers emerging market countries to be generally all countries represented by the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Emerging Markets Index.
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.


· Foreign investment risk. To the extent the fund invests in foreign securities, the fund's performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting investments in foreign issuers. 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. To the extent the fund's investments are focused in a limited number of foreign countries, the fund's performance could be more volatile than that of more geographically diversified funds.


· Emerging market risk. The securities of issuers located or doing substantial business in emerging market countries tend to be more volatile and less liquid than the securities of issuers located in countries with more mature economies. Emerging markets generally have less diverse and less mature economic structures and less stable political systems than those of developed countries. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. The risks may include less protection of property rights and uncertain political and economic policies, the imposition of capital controls and/or foreign investment limitations by a country, nationalization of businesses and the imposition of sanctions by other countries, such as the United States.

From time to time, the fund's investments may be concentrated in issuers located in China and, therefore, at such times, the fund may be particularly exposed to the economy, industries, securities and currency markets of China, which may be adversely affected by protectionist trade policies, slow economic activity in other Asian countries or worldwide, political and social instability, environmental events and natural disasters, regional and global conflicts, terrorism and war, include actions that are contrary to the interests of the United States.


· Foreign currency risk. Investments in foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar or, in the case of hedged positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline relative to the currency being hedged. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Foreign currencies are also subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government intervention and controls.


· Risks of stock investing. Stocks generally fluctuate more in value than bonds and may decline significantly over short time periods. There is the chance that stock prices overall will decline because stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and falling prices. The market value of a stock may decline due to general market conditions or because of factors that affect the particular company or the company's industry.


· 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 in a timely manner at or near their perceived value. In such a market, the value of such securities and the fund's share price may fall dramatically. Investments that are illiquid or that trade in lower volumes may be more difficult to value. Investments in foreign securities, particularly those of issuers located in emerging markets, tend to have greater exposure to liquidity risk than domestic securities.


· 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 bar chart shows changes in the performance of the fund's Class A 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. 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 not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future. 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 not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Year-by-Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year (%) Class A
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: 36.58%

Worst Quarter
Q4, 2008: -25.48%

The year-to-date total return of the fund's Class A shares as of March 31, 2017 was 12.92%.

  
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel year-to-date total return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Mar. 31, 2017
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 12.92%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 36.58%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (25.48%)
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 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, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through U.S. tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax performance is shown only for Class A shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than returns before taxes or returns after taxes on distributions due to an assumed tax benefit from losses on a sale of the fund's shares at the end of the period.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock

After-tax performance is shown only for Class A shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary. 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, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through U.S. tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than returns before taxes or returns after taxes on distributions due to an assumed tax benefit from losses on a sale of the fund's shares at the end of the period.


For the fund's Class Y shares, periods prior to the inception date reflect the performance of the fund's Class A shares, not reflecting the applicable sales charges for Class A shares. Such performance figures have not been adjusted to reflect applicable class fees and expenses. Each share class is invested in the same portfolio of securities, and the annual returns would have differed only to the extent that the classes do not have the same expenses.
Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/16)
Class A, C, I, & Y Prospectus | Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund | MSCI Emerging Markets Index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.19%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.28%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.84%
Class A, C, I, & Y Prospectus | Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.75%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none [1]
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.25%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.95%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.20%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.20%)
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 2.00% [2]
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more may be charged a deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within one year.
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 766
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,206
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,670
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,949
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 766
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 1,206
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,670
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,949
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 27.23%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (47.09%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 75.46%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 15.39%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (24.14%)
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 16.05%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 (5.26%)
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (4.14%)
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (16.87%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 19.08%
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.22%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.33%)
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 0.16%
Class A, C, I, & Y Prospectus | Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.83%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.05%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 (0.79%)
Class A, C, I, & Y Prospectus | Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 7.88%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.37%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 0.84%
Class A, C, I, & Y Prospectus | Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund | Class C  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00%
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.25%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.75%
Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.90%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.90%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.15%)
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 2.75% [2]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 378
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 884
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,515
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 3,213
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 278
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 884
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,515
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 3,213
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 17.26%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.09%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 (0.02%)
Class A, C, I, & Y Prospectus | Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund | Class I  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.25%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.51%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.76%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%)
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.75% [2]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 178
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 553
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 953
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,072
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 178
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 553
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 953
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,072
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.33%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.10%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 0.97%
Class A, C, I, & Y Prospectus | Dreyfus Emerging Markets Fund | Class Y  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.25%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.43%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.68%
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.68% [2]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 171
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 530
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 913
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,987
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 171
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 530
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 913
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,987
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.60%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.30%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 0.98%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jul. 01, 2013
[1] Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more may be charged a deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within one year.
[2] The fund's investment adviser, The Dreyfus Corporation, has contractually agreed, until October 1, 2017, to waive receipt of its fees and/or assume the direct expenses of the fund so that the expenses of none of the classes (excluding Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder services fees, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, commitment fees on borrowings and extraordinary expenses) exceed 1.75%. On or after October 1, 2017, The Dreyfus Corporation may terminate this expense limitation at any time.