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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Oct. 31, 2013
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName PRINCIPAL FUNDS INC
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000898745
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Aug. 28, 2014
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Sep. 03, 2014
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Sep. 03, 2014
PFI Prospectus - Class A, P | LargeCap Growth Fund I [Member]
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading LARGECAP GROWTH FUND I
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Objective:
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund:
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.
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)
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 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 37.0% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 37.00%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
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.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption 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, 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 Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of companies with large market capitalizations at the time of each purchase. For this Fund, companies with large market capitalizations are those with market capitalizations within the range of companies comprising the Russell 1000® Growth Index (as of December 31, 2013, this range was between approximately $1.26 billion and $526.685 billion). The Fund invests in growth equity securities; growth orientation emphasizes buying equity securities of companies whose potential for growth of capital and earnings is expected to be above average.
Principal Management Corporation invests between 10% and 35% of the Fund's assets in equity securities in an attempt to match or exceed the performance of the Fund's benchmark index (listed in the Average Annual Total Returns table) by purchasing securities in the index while slightly overweighting and underweighting certain individual equity securities relative to their weight in the index.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
The Fund may be an appropriate investment for investors seeking long-term growth of capital and willing to accept the risks of investing in equity securities that may have greater risks than equity securities of companies with lower potential for earnings growth.
The value of your investment in the Fund changes with the value of the Fund's investments. Many factors affect that value, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. 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. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, in alphabetical order, are:
Equity Securities Risk. The value of equity securities could decline if the issuer's financial condition declines or in response to overall market and economic conditions. A fund's principal market segment(s), such as large cap, mid cap or small cap stocks, or growth or value stocks, may underperform other market segments or the equity markets as a whole. Investments in smaller companies and mid-size companies may involve greater risk and price volatility than investments in larger, more mature companies.
Growth Stock Risk. If growth companies do not increase their earnings at a rate expected by investors, the market price of the stock may decline significantly, even if earnings show an absolute increase. Growth company stocks also typically lack the dividend yield that can lessen price declines in market downturns.
Risk of Being an Underlying Fund. A fund is subject to the risk of being an underlying fund to the extent that a fund of funds invests in the fund. An underlying fund of a fund of funds may experience relatively large redemptions or investments as the fund of funds periodically reallocates or rebalances its assets. These transactions may cause the underlying fund to sell portfolio securities to meet such redemptions, or to invest cash from such investments, at times it would not otherwise do so, and may as a result increase transaction costs and adversely affect underlying fund performance.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney Many factors affect that value, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] 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 Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock
The following information provides an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You may get updated performance information online at www.principalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-222-5852.
The bar chart shows the investment returns of the Fund's Class P shares for each full calendar year of operations for 10 years (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund). The table shows, for each share class of the Fund and for the last one, five, and ten calendar year periods (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund), how the Fund's average annual total returns compare to the returns of one or more broad-based market indices.
•
The Class P shares were first sold on June 3, 2014.
•
For periods prior to the date on which the Class P shares began operations, its returns are based on the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares adjusted to reflect the fees and expenses of the Class P shares.
•
The adjustments result in performance (for the periods prior to the date the Class P shares began operations) that is no higher than the historical performance of the Institutional Class shares, which were first sold on December 6, 2000.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following information provides an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You may get updated performance information online at www.principalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-222-5852.The bar chart shows the investment returns of the Fund's Class P shares for each full calendar year of operations for 10 years (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund). The table shows, for each share class of the Fund and for the last one, five, and ten calendar year periods (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund), how the Fund's average annual total returns compare to the returns of one or more broad-based market indices.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 1-800-222-5852
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.principalfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture 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 Total Returns as of December 31 each year (Class P shares)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Highest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Q2 '09
19.83
 %
Lowest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Q4 '08
-22.76
 %
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 an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The 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 [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock
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 an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The 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.
Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns For the periods ended December 31, 2013
PFI Prospectus - Class A, P | LargeCap Growth Fund I [Member] | Russell 1000 Growth Index [Member]
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 33.48%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 20.39%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.83%
PFI Prospectus - Class A, P | LargeCap Growth Fund I [Member] | LargeCap Growth Fund I, Class P
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol PVCPX
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.61%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.26% [1]
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.87%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.08%) [2],[3]
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.79%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination February 28, 2016
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 81
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 260
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 81
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 260
Annual Return 2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 9.20%
Annual Return 2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 7.57%
Annual Return 2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 6.04%
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 8.30%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (40.63%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 52.08%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 19.78%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (0.48%)
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 16.31%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 36.44%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Highest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 19.83%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Lowest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (22.76%)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class P Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 36.44%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 23.53%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.70%
PFI Prospectus - Class A, P | LargeCap Growth Fund I [Member] | LargeCap Growth Fund I, Class P | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class P Return After Taxes on Distributions
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 34.49%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 22.85%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.16%
PFI Prospectus - Class A, P | LargeCap Growth Fund I [Member] | LargeCap Growth Fund I, Class P | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class P Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 22.17%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 19.48%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.13%
PFI Prospectus - Class A, P | MidCap Value Fund III [Member]
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading MIDCAP VALUE FUND III
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Objective:
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund
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 Class A Shares of Principal Funds, Inc. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Choosing a Share Class and The Costs of Investing” beginning on page 30 of the Fund’s prospectus and “Multiple Class Structure” beginning on page 67 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)
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 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 88.3% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 88.30%
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 Class A Shares of Principal Funds, Inc.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount 50,000
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
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.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption 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, 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 Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of companies with medium market capitalizations at the time of each purchase. For this Fund, companies with medium market capitalizations are those with market capitalizations within the range of companies comprising the Russell Midcap® Value Index (as of December 31, 2013, this range was between approximately $1.126 billion and $26.943 billion). The Fund invests in value equity securities, an investment strategy that emphasizes buying equity securities that appear to be undervalued. The Fund invests in real estate investment trusts.
Principal Management Corporation invests between 10% and 35% of the Fund's assets in equity securities in an attempt to match or exceed the performance of the Fund's benchmark index (listed in the Average Annual Total Returns table) by purchasing securities in the index while slightly overweighting and underweighting certain individual equity securities relative to their weight in the index.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
The Fund may be an appropriate investment for investors seeking long-term growth of capital and willing to accept the potential for short-term fluctuations in the value of investments.
The value of your investment in the Fund changes with the value of the Fund's investments. Many factors affect that value, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. 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. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, in alphabetical order, are:
Equity Securities Risk. The value of equity securities could decline if the issuer's financial condition declines or in response to overall market and economic conditions. A fund's principal market segment(s), such as large cap, mid cap or small cap stocks, or growth or value stocks, may underperform other market segments or the equity markets as a whole. Investments in smaller companies and mid-size companies may involve greater risk and price volatility than investments in larger, more mature companies.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) Risk. A REIT could fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code, and fund shareholders will indirectly bear their proportionate share of the expenses of REITs in which the fund invests.
Real Estate Securities Risk. Real estate securities are subject to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, including declines in value, adverse economic conditions, increases in expenses, regulatory changes and environmental problems. Investing in securities of companies in the real estate industry, subjects a fund to the special risks associated with the real estate market including factors such as loss to casualty or condemnation, changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer.
Risk of Being an Underlying Fund. A fund is subject to the risk of being an underlying fund to the extent that a fund of funds invests in the fund. An underlying fund of a fund of funds may experience relatively large redemptions or investments as the fund of funds periodically reallocates or rebalances its assets. These transactions may cause the underlying fund to sell portfolio securities to meet such redemptions, or to invest cash from such investments, at times it would not otherwise do so, and may as a result increase transaction costs and adversely affect underlying fund performance.
Value Stock Risk. The market may not recognize the intrinsic value of value stocks for a long time, or they may be appropriately priced at the time of purchase.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney Many factors affect that value, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] 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 Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock
The following information provides an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You may get updated performance information online at www.principalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-222-5852.
The bar chart shows the investment returns of the Fund’s Class A shares for each full calendar year of operations for 10 years (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund). These annual returns do not reflect sales charges; if they did, results would be lower. The table shows, for Class A and Class P shares of the Fund and for the last one, five, and ten calendar year periods (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund), how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of one or more broad-based market indices.
•
Class A shares were first sold on June 3, 2014.
•
Class P shares were first sold on June 3, 2014.
•
For periods prior to the date on which these classes began operations, their performance is based on the performance of the Fund’s Class R-3 shares adjusted to reflect the fees and expenses of these classes.
•
The adjustments result in performance for such periods that is no higher than the historical performance of the Class R-3 shares, which were first sold on December 6, 2000.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following information provides an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You may get updated performance information online at www.principalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-222-5852.The bar chart shows the investment returns of the Fund’s Class A shares for each full calendar year of operations for 10 years (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund). These annual returns do not reflect sales charges; if they did, results would be lower. The table shows, for Class A and Class P shares of the Fund and for the last one, five, and ten calendar year periods (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund), how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of one or more broad-based market indices.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 1-800-222-5852
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.principalfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture 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 Total Returns as of December 31 each year (Class A shares)
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads These annual returns do not reflect sales charges; if they did, results would be lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Highest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Q3 '09
19.13
 %
Lowest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Q4 '08
-22.51
 %
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 an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The 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 One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only and would be different for Class P shares.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock
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 an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The 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. After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only and would be different for Class P shares.
Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns For the periods ended December 31, 2013
PFI Prospectus - Class A, P | MidCap Value Fund III [Member] | Russell Midcap Value Index [Member]
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Russell Midcap Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 33.46%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 21.16%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 10.25%
PFI Prospectus - Class A, P | MidCap Value Fund III [Member] | MidCap Value Fund III, Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol PVCAX
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.50%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00%
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.65%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.40% [1]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.04%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.34%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [4],[5]
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.33%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination February 28, 2016
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 678
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 949
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 678
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 949
Annual Return 2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 15.97%
Annual Return 2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 12.21%
Annual Return 2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 15.38%
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 (0.79%)
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (36.60%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 29.36%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 19.77%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 1.80%
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 16.45%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 35.98%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Highest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 19.13%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Lowest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (22.51%)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class A Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 28.51%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 18.74%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.34%
PFI Prospectus - Class A, P | MidCap Value Fund III [Member] | MidCap Value Fund III, Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class A Return After Taxes on Distributions
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 27.03%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 18.16%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.21%
PFI Prospectus - Class A, P | MidCap Value Fund III [Member] | MidCap Value Fund III, Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class A Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 16.65%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.06%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.48%
PFI Prospectus - Class A, P | MidCap Value Fund III [Member] | MidCap Value Fund III, Class P
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol PMVPX
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.65%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.27% [1]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.04%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.96%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.08%) [4],[5]
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.88%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination February 28, 2016
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 90
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 288
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 90
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 $ 288
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class P Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 36.06%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 20.14%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 9.02%
[1] Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
[2] Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the investment advisor, has contractually agreed to limit the Fund's Management Fees through the period ending February 28, 2016. The fee waiver will reduce the Fund's Management Fees by 0.016% (expressed as a percent of average net assets on an annualized basis). It is expected that the fee waiver will continue through the period disclosed; however, Principal Funds, Inc. and Principal, the parties to the agreement may agree to terminate the fee waiver prior to the end of the period.
[3] Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the investment advisor, has contractually agreed to limit the Fund’s expenses by paying, if necessary, expenses normally payable by the Fund, (excluding interest expense, expenses related to fund investments, acquired fund fees and expenses, and other extraordinary expenses) to maintain "Other Expenses" (expressed as a percent of average net assets on an annualized basis) not to exceed 0.20% for Class P shares. It is expected that the expense limit will continue through the period ending February 28, 2016; however, Principal Funds, Inc. and Principal, the parties to the agreement, may agree to terminate the expense limit prior to the end of the period.
[4] Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the investment advisor, has contractually agreed to limit the Fund's expenses by paying, if necessary, expenses normally payable by the Fund, (excluding interest expense, expenses related to fund investments, acquired fund fees and expenses, and other extraordinary expenses) to maintain a total level of operating expenses (expressed as a percent of average net assets on an annualized basis) not to exceed 1.30% for Class A shares. In addition, for Class P, the expense limit will maintain "Other Expenses" (expressed as a percent of average net assets on an annualized basis) not to exceed 0.20% (excluding interest expense, expenses related to fund investments, acquired fund fees and expenses, and other extraordinary expenses). It is expected that the expense limit will continue through the period ending February 28, 2016; however, Principal Funds, Inc. and Principal, the parties to the agreement, may agree to terminate the expense limit prior to the end of the period.
[5] Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the investment advisor, has contractually agreed to limit the Fund's Management Fees through the period ending February 28, 2016. The fee waiver will reduce the Fund's Management Fees by 0.014% (expressed as a percent of average net assets on an annualized basis). It is expected that the fee waiver will continue through the period disclosed; however, Principal Funds, Inc. and Principal, the parties to the agreement may agree to terminate the fee waiver prior to the end of the period.