Label	Element	Value
Principal Funds Inc \| Blue Chip Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Blue Chip
Principal Funds Inc \| Blue Chip Fund \| Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PBLAX
Principal Funds Inc \| Blue Chip Fund \| Class C
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PBLCX
Principal Funds Inc \| Blue Chip Fund \| Class J
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PBCJX
Principal Funds Inc \| Blue Chip Fund \| Institutional Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PBCKX
Principal Funds Inc \| Blue Chip Fund \| R-3
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PGBEX
Principal Funds Inc \| Blue Chip Fund \| R-4
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PGBFX
Principal Funds Inc \| Blue Chip Fund \| R-5
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PGBGX
Principal Funds Inc \| Blue Chip Fund \| R-6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PGBHX
Principal Funds Inc \| Bond Market Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Bond Market Index
Principal Funds Inc \| Bond Market Index Fund \| Class J
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PBIJX
Principal Funds Inc \| Bond Market Index Fund \| Institutional Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PNIIX
Principal Funds Inc \| Bond Market Index Fund \| R-1
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PBIMX
Principal Funds Inc \| Bond Market Index Fund \| R-3
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PBOIX
Principal Funds Inc \| Bond Market Index Fund \| R-4
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PBIPX
Principal Funds Inc \| Bond Market Index Fund \| R-5
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PBIQX
Principal Funds Inc \| Capital Securities Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Capital Securities
Principal Funds Inc \| Capital Securities Fund \| Class S
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PCSFX
Principal Funds Inc \| Diversified Real Asset Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	SUMMARY FOR DIVERSIFIED REAL ASSET FUND
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	In the Principal Investment Strategies section, under Infrastructure, delete the last sentence in the paragraph.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	In the Principal Risks section, delete the Master Limited Partnership (“MLP”) Risk.
Principal Funds Inc \| Diversified Real Asset Fund \| Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PRDAX
Principal Funds Inc \| Diversified Real Asset Fund \| Institutional Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PDRDX
Principal Funds Inc \| Diversified Real Asset Fund \| R-3
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PGDRX
Principal Funds Inc \| Diversified Real Asset Fund \| R-4
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PGDSX
Principal Funds Inc \| Diversified Real Asset Fund \| R-5
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PGDTX
Principal Funds Inc \| Diversified Real Asset Fund \| R-6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PDARX
Principal Funds Inc \| Edge MidCap Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Edge MidCap
Principal Funds Inc \| Edge MidCap Fund \| Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PEMCX
Principal Funds Inc \| Edge MidCap Fund \| Institutional Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PEDGX
Principal Funds Inc \| Edge MidCap Fund \| R-6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PEDMX
Principal Funds Inc \| Global Multi-Strategy Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Global Multi-Strategy
Principal Funds Inc \| Global Multi-Strategy Fund \| Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PMSAX
Principal Funds Inc \| Global Multi-Strategy Fund \| Institutional Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PSMIX
Principal Funds Inc \| Global Multi-Strategy Fund \| R-6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PGLSX
Principal Funds Inc \| International Equity Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	International Equity Index
Principal Funds Inc \| International Equity Index Fund \| Institutional Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PIDIX
Principal Funds Inc \| International Equity Index Fund \| R-1
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PILIX
Principal Funds Inc \| International Equity Index Fund \| R-3
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PIIOX
Principal Funds Inc \| International Equity Index Fund \| R-4
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PIIPX
Principal Funds Inc \| International Equity Index Fund \| R-5
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PIIQX
Principal Funds Inc \| International Equity Index Fund \| R-6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PFIEX
Principal Funds Inc \| International Small Company Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	International Small Company
Principal Funds Inc \| International Small Company Fund \| Institutional Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PISMX
Principal Funds Inc \| International Small Company Fund \| R-6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PFISX
Principal Funds Inc \| Opportunistic Municipal Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Opportunistic Municipal
Principal Funds Inc \| Opportunistic Municipal Fund \| Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PMOAX
Principal Funds Inc \| Opportunistic Municipal Fund \| Institutional Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	POMFX
Principal Funds Inc \| Origin Emerging Markets Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Origin Emerging Markets
Principal Funds Inc \| Origin Emerging Markets Fund \| Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	POEYX
Principal Funds Inc \| Origin Emerging Markets Fund \| Institutional Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	POEIX
Principal Funds Inc \| Origin Emerging Markets Fund \| R-6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	POEFX
Principal Funds Inc \| Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Small-MidCap Dividend Income
Principal Funds Inc \| Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund \| Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PMDAX
Principal Funds Inc \| Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund \| Class C
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PMDDX
Principal Funds Inc \| Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund \| Institutional Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PMDIX
Principal Funds Inc \| Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund \| R-6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PMDHX
Principal Funds Inc \| Small-MidCap Growth Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Small-MidCap Growth
Principal Funds Inc \| Small-MidCap Growth Fund \| Institutional Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PSMHX
Principal Funds Inc \| Spectrum Preferred and Capital Securities Income Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Spectrum Preferred and Capital Securities Income
Principal Funds Inc \| Spectrum Preferred and Capital Securities Income Fund \| Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PPSAX
Principal Funds Inc \| Spectrum Preferred and Capital Securities Income Fund \| Class C
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PRFCX
Principal Funds Inc \| Spectrum Preferred and Capital Securities Income Fund \| Class J
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PPSJX
Principal Funds Inc \| Spectrum Preferred and Capital Securities Income Fund \| Institutional Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PPSIX
Principal Funds Inc \| Spectrum Preferred and Capital Securities Income Fund \| R-1
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PUSAX
Principal Funds Inc \| Spectrum Preferred and Capital Securities Income Fund \| R-3
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PNARX
Principal Funds Inc \| Spectrum Preferred and Capital Securities Income Fund \| R-4
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PQARX
Principal Funds Inc \| Spectrum Preferred and Capital Securities Income Fund \| R-5
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PPARX
Principal Funds Inc \| Spectrum Preferred and Capital Securities Income Fund \| R-6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PPREX

Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.

No definition available.

Name:	dei_TradingSymbol
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:tradingSymbolItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Narrative Risk Disclosure.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Form
-Number N-1A
-Chapter A
-Section 4
-Subsection b
-Paragraph 1

+ Details

Name:	rr_RiskHeading
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Narrative Risk Disclosure. A Fund may, in responding to this Item, describe the types of investors for whom the Fund is intended or the types of investment goals that may be consistent with an investment in the Fund.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Form
-Number N-1A
-Chapter A
-Section 4
-Subsection b
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph i
-Clause instruction

+ Details

Name:	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Risk/Return Summary Investment Objectives/Goals Include the following information, in plain English under rule 421(d) under the Securities Act, in the order and subject matter indicated

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Form
-Number N-1A
-Chapter A
-Section 2

+ Details

Name:	rr_RiskReturnHeading
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Principal investment strategies of the Fund. Summarize how the Fund intends to achieve its investment objectives by identifying the Fund's principal investment strategies (including the type or types of securities in which the Fund invests or will invest principally) and any policy to concentrate in securities of issuers in a particular industry or group of industries.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Form
-Number N-1A
-Chapter A
-Section 4
-Subsection a

+ Details

Name:	rr_StrategyHeading
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Form
-Number N-1A
-Chapter A
-Section 4
-Subsection a

+ Details

Name:	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	rr_
Data Type:	dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration