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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName BRIDGEWAY FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Oct. 31, 2015
Small-Cap Momentum Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading FUND SUMMARY: SMALL-CAP MOMENTUM FUND
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective:
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The Small-Cap Momentum Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide long-term total return on capital, primarily through capital appreciation.
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 (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 198% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 198.00%
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.

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:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies:
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity or equity-related securities (“common stocks”) of small-cap companies at the time of purchase. The Fund primarily invests in small-cap stocks that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE MKT and NASDAQ that the Adviser determines to have positive risk-adjusted momentum (i.e., above-average recent returns) based on a statistically driven approach. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in foreign securities. For purposes of the Fund’s investments, “foreign securities” means those securities issued by companies: (i) that are domiciled in a country other than the U.S.; and (ii) that derive 50% or more of their total revenue from activities outside of the U.S.

Although the Fund seeks investments across a number of sectors, from time to time, in pursuing the Fund’s investment strategy, the Fund may have significant positions in particular sectors.

The Adviser expects to rebalance the Fund’s portfolio (selling securities that, in the Adviser’s opinion, have lower risk-adjusted momentum and buying securities that, in the Adviser’s opinion, have higher risk-adjusted momentum) no less frequently than quarterly, and thus, the Fund engages in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities.

The Fund may purchase stock market index futures in order to equitize cash.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks:
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock The value of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate as a result of the movement of the overall stock-market or of the value of the individual securities held by the Fund, and shareholders could lose money.

Investing in securities with positive risk-adjusted momentum entails investing in securities that may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of stock market securities.

Investing in small-cap stocks may involve greater volatility and risk than investing in large- or mid-cap stocks.

Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. A certain sector may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. As the Adviser allocates more of the Fund’s portfolio holdings to a particular sector, the Fund’s performance will be more susceptible to any economic, business or other developments which generally affect that sector.

Investments in foreign securities can be more volatile than investments in U.S. securities.

A higher portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs and as a result may adversely impact the Fund’s performance and may increase share price volatility. Moreover, a higher portfolio turnover rate may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.

The Fund’s use of futures to manage risk or hedge market volatility may not always be successful hedges, their prices can be highly volatile, they may not always successfully manage risk and they could lower the Fund’s total return.

The Adviser uses statistical analyses and models to select investments for the Fund. Any imperfections, errors or limitations in the models or analyses and therefore any decisions made in reliance on such models or analyses could expose the Fund to potential risks. In addition, the models used by the Adviser assume that certain historical statistical relationships will continue. These models are constructed based on historical data supplied by third parties and, as a result, the success of relying on such models may depend heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied historical data.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney The value of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate as a result of the movement of the overall stock-market or of the value of the individual securities held by the Fund, and shareholders could lose money.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance:
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied on a calendar year basis. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for the period compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. This information is based on past performance. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not guarantee future results. Updated performance information is available on the Fund’s website at www.bridgeway.com or by calling 800-661-3550.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied on a calendar year basis. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for the period compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 800-661-3550
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.bridgeway.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Past performance (before and after taxes) does not guarantee future results.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Small-Cap Momentum Fund
Year by Year % Returns as of 12/31 of Each Year
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Return from 1/1/15 through 9/30/15 was -1.89%
                 
       Quarter      Total
Return 		 
Best Quarter:
     Q4 11         18.80%   
Worst Quarter:
     Q3 11         -22.68%   
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns (For the periods ended 12/31/14)
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 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 plans.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a potential tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares.
Small-Cap Momentum Fund | Class N  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther none
Redemption Fees (as a percentage of amount redeemed for shares held less than 6 months) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption 2.00%
Exchange Fees rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 2.81%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 3.36%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (2.46%) [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.90%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 92
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 287
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 498
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,108
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (0.92%)
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 14.18%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 37.07%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (0.94%)
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Return from 1/1/15 through 9/30/15
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Sep. 30, 2015
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn (1.89%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2011
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 18.80%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (22.68%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.94%)
3 Years bfi_AverageAnnualReturnYear03 15.74%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 14.01%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 28, 2010
Small-Cap Momentum Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Class N  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (4.16%) [2]
3 Years bfi_AverageAnnualReturnYear03 11.83% [2]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 10.61% [2]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 28, 2010 [2]
Small-Cap Momentum Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Class N  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 0.22% [2]
3 Years bfi_AverageAnnualReturnYear03 11.06% [2]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.93% [2]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 28, 2010 [2]
Small-Cap Momentum Fund | Russell 2000® Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.89%
3 Years bfi_AverageAnnualReturnYear03 19.21%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 15.48%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 28, 2010
[1] Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc. (the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, pursuant to its Management Agreement with Bridgeway Funds, Inc. (“Bridgeway Funds”), is contractually obligated to waive fees and/or pay Fund expenses, if necessary, to ensure that net expenses do not exceed 0.90%. The expense limitation cannot be changed or eliminated without shareholder approval. The Fund is authorized to reimburse the Adviser for management fees previously waived and/or for expenses previously paid by the Adviser, provided, however, that any reimbursements must be paid at a date not more than three years after the fiscal year in which the Adviser waived the fees or reimbursed the expenses and the reimbursements do not cause the Fund to exceed the expense limitation in the agreement.
[2] 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. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a potential tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. 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 plans.