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BNY Mellon Sustainable U.S. Equity Fund, Inc.  
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 appreciation.
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, hold and sell shares of the fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and examples below. 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 BNY Mellon 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 13 of the prospectus, in the Appendix on page A-1 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 Sep. 30, 2023
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 24.86% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 24.86%
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 BNY Mellon 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. 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 expense limitation agreement by BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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 equity securities of U.S. companies that demonstrate attractive investment attributes and sustainable business practices and have no material unresolvable environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. The fund's sub-adviser, Newton Investment Management Limited (NIM), an affiliate of BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. (BNYM Investment Adviser), considers a company to be engaged in "sustainable business practices" if the company engages in business practices that are, in NIM's view, sustainable in an economic sense (i.e., the company's strategy, operations and finances are stable and durable), and takes appropriate measures to manage any material consequences or impact of its policies and operations in relation to ESG matters (e.g., the company's environmental footprint, labor standards, board structure, etc.). Companies engaged in sustainable business practices also may include companies that have committed explicitly to improving their environmental and/or social impacts that will lead to a transformation of their business models. No investment will be made in a company that is deemed by NIM to have material negative environmental, social or governance issues with its business activities. Examples of such companies include: tobacco companies due to the health implications of smoking; a company with a large carbon footprint that has no emission reduction target; or a company that is in direct conflict with the goals of the UN Global Compact (a voluntary corporate initiative that seeks to advance universal principles on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption). The fund also may invest in companies where NIM believes it can promote sustainable business practices through ongoing company engagement and active proxy voting, such as by encouraging the company's management to improve the company's environmental footprint or voting the shares it holds of a company to improve the company's governance structure.

The fund invests principally in common stocks. The fund may invest in the stocks of companies with any market capitalization, but focuses on companies with market capitalizations of $5 billion or more at the time of purchase. The fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in the stocks of foreign companies, including up to 10% of its net assets in the securities of issuers in emerging market countries, that demonstrate attractive investment attributes and sustainable business practices and have no material unresolvable ESG issues. The fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs), which are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income-producing real estate or loans related to real estate.

NIM seeks attractively-priced companies (determined using both quantitative and qualitative fundamental analysis as described under "Fundamental Research and Analysis" below) with good products or services, strong management and strategic direction that have adopted, or are making progress towards, a sustainable business approach. These are companies that NIM believes should benefit from favorable long-term trends. When selecting stocks for the fund's portfolio, NIM uses an investment process that combines investment themes with fundamental research and analysis, with the consideration of ESG matters through, among other things, NIM's proprietary ESG quality review process and application of NIM's sustainable investment criteria, as described below.

Investment Themes. Part of NIM's investment philosophy is the belief that no company, market or economy can be considered in isolation; each must be understood within a broader context. Therefore, NIM's global industry analysts and responsible investment team consider the context provided by a series of global investment themes, which are designed to define the broader social, financial and political environment as a framework for understanding events, trends and competitive pressures worldwide.

Fundamental Research and Analysis. NIM next conducts rigorous fundamental analysis of investment opportunities on a global basis and uses cross comparisons of companies all over the world to identify securities that NIM believes will outperform globally. NIM searches for attractively priced companies with good products or services and strong management that NIM perceives to possess a competitive advantage. NIM conducts an initial review of potential investments by assessing, among other factors, a company's price-to-earnings ratio, positive earnings momentum, earnings per share growth expectations, and earnings stability. NIM also utilizes a variety of valuation techniques, which include earnings, asset value, cash flow and cost of capital measurements, in conducting its fundamental analysis.

ESG Quality Review and Sustainable Investment Criteria. NIM integrates the consideration of ESG issues through, among other aspects of its investment process, NIM's proprietary ESG quality review of each individual company, prior to an investment being made in an equity security of a company for the first time. NIM's ESG quality review incorporates qualitative and quantitative information and data from internal and external (e.g., index providers and consultants) sources, including research, reports, screenings, ratings and/or analysis. NIM's ESG quality review is designed to identify potential risks and opportunities in the assessment to determine if a company is suitable for a sustainable investment strategy.

NIM also employs sustainable investment criteria that incorporate elements of negative screening alongside other general and security level (i.e., in terms of a company's activities) ESG-related analysis, using similar data sources as those in the ESG quality review. Ultimately, in keeping with the investment strategy of the fund, the sustainable investment criteria seek to:

- identify and avoid companies that participate in specific areas of activity that NIM deems to be harmful from an environmental or social perspective, or do not follow good governance practices. For example, NIM could deem companies that have large carbon footprints, companies with poor labor standards, or companies that are in direct conflict with the goals of the UN Global Compact ineligible for investment.

- identify and invest in companies that are proactively seeking to manage environmental and/or social factors to generate sustainable returns. This may also include those companies that are contributing to the development of solutions that will contribute towards addressing environmental and/or social issues, examples of which could include more efficient or reduced use of natural resources or accessibility to healthcare.

There may be situations where the fund will invest in a security of a company that has been identified by NIM as having involvement in potentially harmful activities from an environmental or social perspective. This may arise for certain companies whose activities or operations, typically due to a legacy business mix, have created poor environmental or social outcomes, but are now investing and positively adapting to future needs (for example, this may include energy companies that are preparing for a transition to a lower carbon world). Similarly, in some instances, the fund may invest in a security of a company where NIM determines prevailing ESG information and data provided by external ESG rating providers have not fully captured positive environmental or social-related initiatives of the company.

Ongoing ESG Monitoring and Engagement. NIM monitors companies held in the fund's portfolio for emerging negative environmental, social or governance issues. This is done through a combination of ongoing qualitative and quantitative research. This research may be supported by engagement with a company's management, including discussion of material ESG issues where relevant. NIM may engage with selected companies to understand better a company's approach to managing emerging ESG issues. NIM may also specifically engage with companies identified as transitioning away from environmentally or socially harmful activities, to help determine the progress being made in achieving their objectives, supporting the changes being made or encouraging further enhancements. Engagement may also be undertaken in an effort to influence and to support change in the business practices or activities of a company and to obtain information that helps NIM achieve a better understanding of the company's circumstances. NIM also makes use of a variety of third-party data and research providers that allow it to monitor changes in the ESG characteristics of a company. NIM typically exercises voting rights at each shareholder meeting of portfolio company holdings. This activity is undertaken in-house to ensure that the opinions expressed through NIM's voting record are in line with NIM's investment and engagement priorities.

The fund's portfolio manager typically will consider selling a security as a result of one or more of the following:

● price movement and market activity have created an excessive valuation;

● the valuation of the company has become expensive relative to its peers;

● the company has encountered a material, unresolvable environmental, social or governance issue;

● there has been a significant change in the prospects of the company;

● there has been a change in NIM's view of macroeconomic investment themes (as described above); or

● profit-taking.
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.

● 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.

● ESG investment approach risk. The fund's incorporation of ESG considerations into its investment approach may cause it to make different investments than funds that invest principally in equity securities of U.S. companies that do not incorporate ESG considerations when selecting investments. Under certain economic conditions, this could cause the fund to underperform funds that do not incorporate ESG considerations. For example, the incorporation of ESG considerations may result in the fund forgoing opportunities to buy certain securities when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so or selling securities when it might otherwise be disadvantageous for the fund to do so. The incorporation of ESG considerations may also affect the fund's exposure to certain sectors and/or types of investments, and may adversely impact the fund's performance depending on whether such sectors or investments are in or out of favor in the market. NIM's security selection process incorporates ESG data provided by third parties, which may be limited for certain companies and/or only take into account one or a few ESG related components. In addition, ESG data may include quantitative and/or qualitative measures, and consideration of this data may be subjective. Different methodologies may be used by the various data sources that provide ESG data. ESG data from third parties used by NIM as part of its proprietary ESG process often lacks standardization, consistency and transparency, and for certain companies such data may not be available, complete or accurate. NIM's evaluation of ESG factors relevant to a particular company may be adversely affected in such instances. As a result, the fund's investments may differ from, and potentially underperform, funds that incorporate ESG data from other sources or utilize other methodologies.

● Large-cap stock risk. To the extent the fund invests in large capitalization stocks, the fund may underperform funds that invest primarily in the stocks of lower quality, smaller capitalization companies during periods when the stocks of such companies are in favor.

● REIT risk. Investments in REITs expose the fund to risks similar to investing directly in real estate. The value of securities issued by REITs is affected by tax and regulatory requirements and by perceptions of management skill. They also may be affected by general economic conditions and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers or tenants, self-liquidation at an economically disadvantageous time, and the possibility of failing to qualify for favorable tax treatment under applicable U.S. or foreign law and/or to maintain exempt status under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

● Growth and value stock risk. By investing in a mix of growth and value companies, the fund assumes the risks of both. Investors often expect growth companies to increase their earnings at a certain rate. If these expectations are not met, investors can punish the stocks inordinately, even if earnings do increase. Value stocks involve the risk that they may never reach their expected full market value, either because the market fails to recognize the stock's intrinsic worth or the expected value was misgauged.

● Market risk. The value of the securities in which the fund invests may be affected by political, regulatory, economic and social developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market.  In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed-income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the fund.  Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market.  These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies world-wide. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken world-wide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. 

● Management risk. The investment process used by the fund's sub-adviser could fail to achieve the fund's investment goal and cause your fund investment to lose value.

Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.
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 Z 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.im.bnymellon.com.

The fund changed its investment objective and strategy on May 1, 2017. Prior to May 1, 2017, the fund's investment objective was to provide capital growth, with current income as a secondary goal. To pursue these goals, until May 1, 2017, the fund, under normal circumstances, invested in the common stocks of companies that, in the opinion of the fund's management, met traditional investment standards and conducted their business in a manner that contributed to the enhancement of the quality of life in America. To determine whether a company contributed to the enhancement of the quality of life in America, the fund considered the company's record in the areas of (1) protection and improvement of the environment and the proper use of natural resources, (2) occupational health and safety, (3) consumer protection and product purity, and (4) equal employment opportunity. In addition, prior to May 1, 2017, investment decisions for the fund were made by another affiliate of BNYM Investment Adviser, who managed the fund as employees of BNYM Investment Adviser.
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.im.bnymellon.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 Z
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, 2020: 21.88%

Worst Quarter
Q1, 2020: -16.14%

The year-to-date total return of the fund's Class Z shares as of June 30, 2022 was -22.44%.
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel year-to-date
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Jun. 30, 2022
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn (22.44%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2020
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 21.88%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2020
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (16.14%)
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes reflects no deductions 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 Z shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock

After-tax performance is shown only for Class Z 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.

For the fund's Class Y shares, periods prior to the inception date reflect the performance of the fund's Class Z 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 have different expenses.

Average Annual Return, Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/21)
BNY Mellon Sustainable U.S. Equity Fund, Inc. | S&P 500® Index reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 28.70%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 18.47%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 16.54%
BNY Mellon Sustainable U.S. Equity Fund, Inc. | 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_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none [1]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.60%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder services fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.25%
Miscellaneous other expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.12%
Total other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.37%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.97%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.02%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.95%
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 $ 666
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 864
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,079
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,695
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 666
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 864
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,079
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,695
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.09%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 16.72%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 14.49%
BNY Mellon Sustainable U.S. Equity Fund, Inc. | 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_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 1.00%
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.60%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.75%
Shareholder services fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.25%
Miscellaneous other expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.20%
Total other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.45%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.80%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.10%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.70%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 273
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 557
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 966
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,108
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 173
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 557
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 966
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,108
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 24.37%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 17.22%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 14.29%
BNY Mellon Sustainable U.S. Equity Fund, Inc. | 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_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.60%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder services fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets none
Miscellaneous other expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%
Total other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.70%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.70%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 72
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 224
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 390
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 871
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 72
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 224
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 390
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 871
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 26.69%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 18.42%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 15.50%
BNY Mellon Sustainable U.S. Equity Fund, Inc. | 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_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.60%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder services fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets none
Miscellaneous other expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.07%
Total other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.07%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.67%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.67%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 68
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 214
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 373
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 835
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 68
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 214
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 373
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 835
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 26.74%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 18.44%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 15.45%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 30, 2016
BNY Mellon Sustainable U.S. Equity Fund, Inc. | Class Z  
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_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.60%
Distribution (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder services fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.05%
Miscellaneous other expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.09%
Total other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.14%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.74%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.74%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 76
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 237
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 411
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 918
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 76
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 237
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 411
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 918
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 11.66%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 34.09%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 13.15%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (3.20%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 10.07%
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 15.16%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (4.42%)
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 34.00%
Annual Return 2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 24.22%
Annual Return 2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 26.66%
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 26.66%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 18.34%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 15.40%
BNY Mellon Sustainable U.S. Equity Fund, Inc. | Class Z | After Taxes on Distributions  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 25.29%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 16.14%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 13.38%
BNY Mellon Sustainable U.S. Equity Fund, Inc. | Class Z | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 16.50%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 14.03%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 12.14%
[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, BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., has contractually agreed, until September 30, 2023, to waive receipt of its fees and/or assume the direct expenses of the fund so that the direct expenses of none of the fund's classes (excluding Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder services fees, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, commitment fees on borrowings and extraordinary expenses) exceed .70%. On or after September 30, 2023, BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. may terminate this expense limitation agreement at any time.