485BPOS

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

File No. 002-75526
File No. 811-03363

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933		/X/
	Pre-Effective Amendment No.   _____	/   /
	Post-Effective Amendment No.    70	/X/
		and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940		/X/
	Amendment No.     70

(Check appropriate box or boxes)
DELAWARE GROUP LIMITED-TERM GOVERNMENT FUNDS
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
	2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	19103-7094
	(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code:	(800) 523-1918
David F. Connor, Esq., 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7094
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box): 

/X/	immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
/   /	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
/   /	60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
/   /	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
/   /	75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
/   /	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate check the following box:

/   / this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Philadelphia and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on this 8th day of May, 2012.

DELAWARE GROUP LIMITED-TERM GOVERNMENT FUNDS
By:	/s/ Patrick P. Coyne
	Patrick P. Coyne
	Chairman/President/Chief Executive Officer

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

Signature		Title	Date
/s/ Patrick P. Coyne		Chairman/President/Chief Executive Officer	May 8, 2012
Patrick P. Coyne		(Principal Executive Officer) and Trustee
Thomas L. Bennett	*	Trustee	May 8, 2012
Thomas L. Bennett
John A. Fry	*	Trustee	May 8, 2012
John A. Fry
Anthony D. Knerr	*	Trustee	May 8, 2012
Anthony D. Knerr
Lucinda S. Landreth	*	Trustee	May 8, 2012
Lucinda S. Landreth
Ann R. Leven	*	Trustee	May 8, 2012
Ann R. Leven
Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa	*	Trustee	May 8, 2012
Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa
Janet L. Yeomans	*	Trustee	May 8, 2012
Janet L. Yeomans
J. Richard Zecher	*	Trustee	May 8, 2012
J. Richard Zecher
Richard Salus	*	Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer	May 8, 2012
Richard Salus		(Principal Financial Officer)

By:	/s/ Patrick P. Coyne
	Patrick P. Coyne
	as Attorney-in-Fact for
	each of the persons indicated
(Pursuant to Powers of Attorney previously filed)

2

INDEX TO EXHIBITS
(Delaware Group^® Limited-Term Government Funds N-1A)

Exhibit No.	Exhibit
EX-1-101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
EX-1-101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
EX-1-101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
EX-1-101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
EX-1-101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

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(Institutional) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund)

What is the Fund's investment objective?

Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund seeks maximum total return, consistent with reasonable risk.

What are the Fund's fees and expenses?

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund)	Institutional Class
Management fees	0.47%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	none
Other expenses	0.20%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.67%

Example

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund to the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example shows the cumulative amount of Fund expenses on a hypothetical investment of $10,000 with an annual 5% return over the time shown. This example assumes that the Fund's total operating expenses remain unchanged in each of the periods shown. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Institutional Class	68	214	373	835

Portfolio turnover

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 333% of the average value of its portfolio.

What are the Fund's principal investment strategies?

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in investment grade fixed income securities, including, but not limited to, fixed income securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, and by U.S. corporations. Investment grade fixed income securities are securities rated BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor's (S&P), Baa3 or higher by Moody's Investors Service (Moody's), or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO), or those that are deemed to be of comparable quality. The Fund will maintain an average effective duration from one to three years. The Fund's investment manager, Delaware Management Company (Manager or we), will determine how much of the Fund's assets to allocate among the different types of fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest based on our evaluation of economic and market conditions and our assessment of the returns and potential for appreciation that can be achieved from various sectors of the fixed income market.

The corporate debt obligations in which the Fund may invest include bonds, notes, debentures, and commercial paper of U.S. companies and, subject to the limitations described below, non-U.S. companies. The Fund may also invest in a variety of securities that are issued or guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the U.S. government, and by various agencies or instrumentalities, which have been established or are sponsored by the U.S. government, and, subject to the limitations described below, securities issued by foreign governments.

Additionally, the Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, government-sponsored corporations, and mortgage-backed securities issued by certain private, nongovernment entities. The Fund may also invest in securities that are backed by assets such as receivables on home equity and credit card loans, automobile, mobile home, recreational vehicle and other loans, wholesale dealer floor plans, and leases.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in below-investment-grade securities (also known as high yield or "junk" bonds). In general, the below-investment-grade securities that the Fund may purchase in this sector will generally be rated BB or lower by S&P and Ba or lower by Moody's, or similarly rated by another NRSRO.

The Fund may also invest up to 30% of its net assets in foreign securities, including up to 10% of its net assets in securities of issuers located in emerging markets. The Fund's total non-U.S. dollar currency exposure will be limited, in the aggregate, to no more than 10% of net assets.

The Fund may use a wide range of derivative instruments, typically including options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swaps. The Fund will use derivatives for both hedging and nonhedging purposes. For example, the Fund may invest in: futures and options to manage duration and for defensive purposes, such as to protect gains or hedge against potential losses in the portfolio without actually selling a security, or to stay fully invested; forward foreign currency contracts to manage foreign currency exposure; interest rate swaps to neutralize the impact of interest rate changes; credit default swaps to hedge against bond defaults, to manage credit exposure or to enhance total return; and index swaps to enhance return or to affect diversification. The Fund will not use derivatives for reasons inconsistent with its investment objective and will limit its investments in derivative instruments to 20% of net assets.

What are the principal risks of investing in the Fund?

Investing in any mutual fund involves the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Over time, the value of your investment in the Fund will increase and decrease according to changes in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio. Principal risks include:

Investments not guaranteed by the Manager or its affiliates — Investments in the Fund are not and will not be deposits with or liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 and its holding companies, including their subsidiaries or related companies (Macquarie Group), and are subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and capital invested. No Macquarie Group company guarantees or will guarantee the performance of the Fund, the repayment of capital from the Fund, or any particular rate of return.

Market risk — The risk that all or a majority of the securities in a certain market — such as the stock or bond market — will decline in value because of factors such as adverse political or economic conditions, future expectations, investor confidence, or heavy institutional selling.

Interest rate risk — The risk that securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise. This risk is generally associated with bonds.

Credit risk — The risk that an issuer of a debt security, including a governmental issuer, may be unable to make interest payments and repay principal in a timely manner.

High yield (junk bond) risk — The risk that high yield securities, commonly known as "junk bonds," are subject to reduced creditworthiness of issuers; increased risk of default and a more limited and less liquid secondary market; and greater price volatility and risk of loss of income and principal than are higher rated securities.

Prepayment risk — The risk that the principal on a bond that is held by a portfolio will be prepaid prior to maturity at a time when interest rates are lower than what that bond was paying. A portfolio may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.

Liquidity risk — The possibility that securities cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a fund has valued them.

Derivatives risk — Derivative contracts, such as options, futures, and swaps, may involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums) and are subject to significant loss if a security, or a securities index to which a derivative contract is associated, moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated. Derivative contracts are also subject to the risk that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the contract due to financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization).

Foreign risk — The risk that foreign securities (particularly in emerging markets) may be adversely affected by political instability; changes in currency exchange rates; inefficient markets and higher transaction costs; foreign economic conditions; or inadequate or different regulatory and accounting standards.

Bank loans and other indebtedness risk — The risk that the portfolio will not receive payment of principal, interest, and other amounts due in connection with these investments and will depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower and the lending institution.

Valuation risk — The risk that a less liquid secondary market may make it more difficult for a fund to obtain precise valuations of certain securities in its portfolio.

Government and regulatory risk — The risk that governments or regulatory authorities have, from time to time, taken or considered actions that could adversely affect various sectors of the securities markets.

How has Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund performed?

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. The returns reflect expense caps in effect during these periods. The returns would be lower without the expense caps. You may obtain the Fund's most recently available month-end performance by calling 800 523-1918 or by visiting our website at www.delawareinvestments.com/performance.

Effective November 30, 2007, the Fund's investment objective, strategies, and policies were changed to permit the Fund to invest in a diversified portfolio of limited-term fixed income securities. These changes allowed the Fund to invest in a broader range of fixed income securities, including U.S. government securities, foreign government securities, and corporate and high yield securities of domestic and foreign issuers. Prior to November 30, 2007, the Fund invested primarily in U.S. government securities. The returns prior to this time reflect the Fund's prior investment objective, strategies, and policies and may not be indicative of future returns.

Year-by-year total return (Institutional Class)

During the periods illustrated in this bar chart, the Institutional Class' highest quarterly return was 4.80% for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 and its lowest quarterly return was -1.29% for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.

Average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2011

Average Annual Total Returns (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund)	1 year	5 years	10 years
Institutional Class	2.94%	5.68%	4.61%
Institutional Class return after taxes on distributions (Institutional)	1.62%	4.22%	3.07%
Institutional Class return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares (Institutional)	2.02%	4.02%	3.03%
Barclays Capital 1–3 Year Government/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) (Institutional)	1.59%	3.99%	3.63%

Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's individual tax situation and may differ from the returns shown. After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the periods presented and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

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Annual Fund Operating Expenses ((Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund))	0 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2012
Institutional Class
Operating Expenses:
Management fees	0.47%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	none
Other expenses	0.20%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.67%
(Retail) | Class A
Operating Expenses:
Management fees	0.47%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	0.30%
Other expenses	0.20%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.97%
Fee waivers and expense reimbursements	(0.15%)	[1]
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements	0.82%
(Retail) | Class B
Operating Expenses:
Management fees	0.47%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	1.00%
Other expenses	0.20%
Total annual fund operating expenses	1.67%
Fee waivers and expense reimbursements	none
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements	1.67%
(Retail) | Class C
Operating Expenses:
Management fees	0.47%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	1.00%
Other expenses	0.20%
Total annual fund operating expenses	1.67%
Fee waivers and expense reimbursements	none
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements	1.67%
(Retail) | Class R
Operating Expenses:
Management fees	0.47%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	0.60%
Other expenses	0.20%
Total annual fund operating expenses	1.27%
Fee waivers and expense reimbursements	(0.10%)	[1]
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements	1.17%

[1] The Fund's distributor, Delaware Distributors, L.P. (Distributor), has contracted to limit the Fund's Class A and Class R shares' 12b-1 fees to no more than 0.15% and 0.50% of average daily net assets, respectively, from April 27, 2012 through April 30, 2013. The waiver may be terminated only by agreement of the Distributor and the Fund.

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(Retail) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund)

What is the Fund's investment objective?

Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund seeks maximum total return, consistent with reasonable risk.

What are the Fund's fees and expenses?

The following 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 $100,000 in Delaware Investments® Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor, in this prospectus under the section entitled "About your account," and in the Fund's statement of additional information under the section entitled "Purchasing shares."

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees (Retail) (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund)	Class A	Class B		Class C		Class R
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price	2.75%	none		none		none
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower	none	2.00%	[1]	1.00%	[1]	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Retail) (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund)	Class A		Class B	Class C	Class R
Management fees	0.47%		0.47%	0.47%	0.47%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	0.30%		1.00%	1.00%	0.60%
Other expenses	0.20%		0.20%	0.20%	0.20%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.97%		1.67%	1.67%	1.27%
Fee waivers and expense reimbursements	(0.15%)	[1]	none	none	(0.10%)	[1]
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements	0.82%		1.67%	1.67%	1.17%

Example

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 reflects the applicable Distributor's expense waivers for the 1-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without waivers for years 2 through 10. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) (Retail) (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class A	356	561	782	1,419
Class B	370	626	907	1,539
Class C	270	526	907	1,976
Class R	119	393	687	1,525

Expense Example, No Redemption (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) (Retail) (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class B	170	526	907	1,539
Class C	170	526	907	1,976

Portfolio turnover

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 333% of the average value of its portfolio.

What are the Fund's principal investment strategies?

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in investment grade fixed income securities, including, but not limited to, fixed income securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, and by U.S. corporations. Investment grade fixed income securities are securities rated BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor's (S&P), Baa3 or higher by Moody's Investors Service (Moody's), or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO), or those that are deemed to be of comparable quality. The Fund will maintain an average effective duration from one to three years. The Fund's investment manager, Delaware Management Company (Manager or we), will determine how much of the Fund's assets to allocate among the different types of fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest based on our evaluation of economic and market conditions and our assessment of the returns and potential for appreciation that can be achieved from various sectors of the fixed income market.

The corporate debt obligations in which the Fund may invest include bonds, notes, debentures, and commercial paper of U.S. companies and, subject to the limitations described below, non-U.S. companies. The Fund may also invest in a variety of securities that are issued or guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the U.S. government, and by various agencies or instrumentalities, which have been established or are sponsored by the U.S. government, and, subject to the limitations described below, securities issued by foreign governments.

Additionally, the Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, government-sponsored corporations, and mortgage-backed securities issued by certain private, nongovernment entities. The Fund may also invest in securities that are backed by assets such as receivables on home equity and credit card loans, automobile, mobile home, recreational vehicle and other loans, wholesale dealer floor plans, and leases.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in below-investment-grade securities (also known as high yield or "junk" bonds). In general, the below-investment-grade securities that the Fund may purchase in this sector will generally be rated BB or lower by S&P and Ba or lower by Moody's, or similarly rated by another NRSRO.

The Fund may also invest up to 30% of its net assets in foreign securities, including up to 10% of its net assets in securities of issuers located in emerging markets. The Fund's total non-U.S. dollar currency exposure will be limited, in the aggregate, to no more than 10% of net assets.

The Fund may use a wide range of derivative instruments, typically including options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swaps. The Fund will use derivatives for both hedging and nonhedging purposes. For example, the Fund may invest in: futures and options to manage duration and for defensive purposes, such as to protect gains or hedge against potential losses in the portfolio without actually selling a security, or to stay fully invested; forward foreign currency contracts to manage foreign currency exposure; interest rate swaps to neutralize the impact of interest rate changes; credit default swaps to hedge against bond defaults, to manage credit exposure or to enhance total return; and index swaps to enhance return or to affect diversification. The Fund will not use derivatives for reasons inconsistent with its investment objective and will limit its investments in derivative instruments to 20% of net assets.

What are the principal risks of investing in the Fund?

Investing in any mutual fund involves the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Over time, the value of your investment in the Fund will increase and decrease according to changes in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio. Principal risks include:

Investments not guaranteed by the Manager or its affiliates — Investments in the Fund are not and will not be deposits with or liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 and its holding companies, including their subsidiaries or related companies (Macquarie Group), and are subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and capital invested. No Macquarie Group company guarantees or will guarantee the performance of the Fund, the repayment of capital from the Fund, or any particular rate of return.

Market risk — The risk that all or a majority of the securities in a certain market — such as the stock or bond market — will decline in value because of factors such as adverse political or economic conditions, future expectations, investor confidence, or heavy institutional selling.

Interest rate risk — The risk that securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise. This risk is generally associated with bonds.

Credit risk — The risk that an issuer of a debt security, including a governmental issuer, may be unable to make interest payments and repay principal in a timely manner.

High yield (junk bond) risk — The risk that high yield securities, commonly known as "junk bonds," are subject to reduced creditworthiness of issuers; increased risk of default and a more limited and less liquid secondary market; and greater price volatility and risk of loss of income and principal than are higher rated securities.

Prepayment risk — The risk that the principal on a bond that is held by a portfolio will be prepaid prior to maturity at a time when interest rates are lower than what that bond was paying. A portfolio may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.

Liquidity risk — The possibility that securities cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a fund has valued them.

Derivatives risk — Derivative contracts, such as options, futures, and swaps, may involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums) and are subject to significant loss if a security, or a securities index to which a derivative contract is associated, moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated. Derivative contracts are also subject to the risk that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the contract due to financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization).

Foreign risk — The risk that foreign securities (particularly in emerging markets) may be adversely affected by political instability; changes in currency exchange rates; inefficient markets and higher transaction costs; foreign economic conditions; or inadequate or different regulatory and accounting standards.

Bank loans and other indebtedness risk — The risk that the portfolio will not receive payment of principal, interest, and other amounts due in connection with these investments and will depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower and the lending institution.

Valuation risk — The risk that a less liquid secondary market may make it more difficult for a fund to obtain precise valuations of certain securities in its portfolio.

Government and regulatory risk — The risk that governments or regulatory authorities have, from time to time, taken or considered actions that could adversely affect various sectors of the securities markets.

How has Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund performed?

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the 1-, 5-, and 10-year or lifetime periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. The returns reflect expense caps in effect during certain of these periods. The returns would be lower without the expense caps. You may obtain the Fund's most recently available month-end performance by calling 800 523-1918 or by visiting our website at www.delawareinvestments.com/performance.

Effective November 30, 2007, the Fund's investment objective, strategies, and policies were changed to permit the Fund to invest in a diversified portfolio of limited-term fixed income securities. These changes allowed the Fund to invest in a broader range of fixed income securities, including U.S. government securities, foreign government securities, and corporate and high yield securities of domestic and foreign issuers. Prior to November 30, 2007, the Fund invested primarily in U.S. government securities. The returns prior to this time reflect the Fund's prior investment objective, strategies, and policies and may not be indicative of future returns.

Year-by-year total return (Class A)

During the periods illustrated in this bar chart, Class A's highest quarterly return was 4.76% for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 and its lowest quarterly return was -1.33% for the quarter ended June 30, 2004. The maximum Class A sales charge of 5.75%, which is normally deducted when you purchase shares, is not reflected in the highest/lowest quarterly returns or in the bar chart. If this sales charge were included, the returns would be less than those shown. The average annual returns in the table below do include the sales charge.

Average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2011

Average Annual Total Returns (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) (Retail)	Label	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
Class A		(0.02%)	4.93%	4.16%
Class A return after taxes on distributions		(1.25%)	3.54%	2.68%
Class A return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares		0.09%	3.42%	2.67%
Class B		(0.06%)	4.63%	4.00%
Class C		1.04%	4.62%	3.56%
Class R	(lifetime: 6/2/03-12/31/11)	2.42%	5.12%		3.75%
Barclays Capital 1–3 Year Government/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)		1.59%	3.99%	3.63%

After-tax performance is presented only for Class A shares of the Fund. The after-tax returns for other Fund classes may vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's individual tax situation and may differ from the returns shown. After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the periods presented and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

[1] If you redeem Class B shares during the first year after you buy them, you will pay a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 2.00%, which declines to 1.00% during the second and third years, and 0% thereafter. Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a 1.00% CDSC.

[1] The Fund's distributor, Delaware Distributors, L.P. (Distributor), has contracted to limit the Fund's Class A and Class R shares' 12b-1 fees to no more than 0.15% and 0.50% of average daily net assets, respectively, from April 27, 2012 through April 30, 2013. The waiver may be terminated only by agreement of the Distributor and the Fund.

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(Institutional)

What is the Fund's investment objective?

Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund seeks maximum total return, consistent with reasonable risk.

What are the Fund's fees and expenses?

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund)	Institutional Class
Management fees	0.47%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	none
Other expenses	0.20%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.67%

Example

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund to the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example shows the cumulative amount of Fund expenses on a hypothetical investment of $10,000 with an annual 5% return over the time shown. This example assumes that the Fund's total operating expenses remain unchanged in each of the periods shown. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Institutional Class	68	214	373	835

Portfolio turnover

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 333% of the average value of its portfolio.

What are the Fund's principal investment strategies?

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in investment grade fixed income securities, including, but not limited to, fixed income securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, and by U.S. corporations. Investment grade fixed income securities are securities rated BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor's (S&P), Baa3 or higher by Moody's Investors Service (Moody's), or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO), or those that are deemed to be of comparable quality. The Fund will maintain an average effective duration from one to three years. The Fund's investment manager, Delaware Management Company (Manager or we), will determine how much of the Fund's assets to allocate among the different types of fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest based on our evaluation of economic and market conditions and our assessment of the returns and potential for appreciation that can be achieved from various sectors of the fixed income market.

The corporate debt obligations in which the Fund may invest include bonds, notes, debentures, and commercial paper of U.S. companies and, subject to the limitations described below, non-U.S. companies. The Fund may also invest in a variety of securities that are issued or guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the U.S. government, and by various agencies or instrumentalities, which have been established or are sponsored by the U.S. government, and, subject to the limitations described below, securities issued by foreign governments.

Additionally, the Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, government-sponsored corporations, and mortgage-backed securities issued by certain private, nongovernment entities. The Fund may also invest in securities that are backed by assets such as receivables on home equity and credit card loans, automobile, mobile home, recreational vehicle and other loans, wholesale dealer floor plans, and leases.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in below-investment-grade securities (also known as high yield or "junk" bonds). In general, the below-investment-grade securities that the Fund may purchase in this sector will generally be rated BB or lower by S&P and Ba or lower by Moody's, or similarly rated by another NRSRO.

The Fund may also invest up to 30% of its net assets in foreign securities, including up to 10% of its net assets in securities of issuers located in emerging markets. The Fund's total non-U.S. dollar currency exposure will be limited, in the aggregate, to no more than 10% of net assets.

The Fund may use a wide range of derivative instruments, typically including options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swaps. The Fund will use derivatives for both hedging and nonhedging purposes. For example, the Fund may invest in: futures and options to manage duration and for defensive purposes, such as to protect gains or hedge against potential losses in the portfolio without actually selling a security, or to stay fully invested; forward foreign currency contracts to manage foreign currency exposure; interest rate swaps to neutralize the impact of interest rate changes; credit default swaps to hedge against bond defaults, to manage credit exposure or to enhance total return; and index swaps to enhance return or to affect diversification. The Fund will not use derivatives for reasons inconsistent with its investment objective and will limit its investments in derivative instruments to 20% of net assets.

What are the principal risks of investing in the Fund?

Investing in any mutual fund involves the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Over time, the value of your investment in the Fund will increase and decrease according to changes in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio. Principal risks include:

Investments not guaranteed by the Manager or its affiliates — Investments in the Fund are not and will not be deposits with or liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 and its holding companies, including their subsidiaries or related companies (Macquarie Group), and are subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and capital invested. No Macquarie Group company guarantees or will guarantee the performance of the Fund, the repayment of capital from the Fund, or any particular rate of return.

Market risk — The risk that all or a majority of the securities in a certain market — such as the stock or bond market — will decline in value because of factors such as adverse political or economic conditions, future expectations, investor confidence, or heavy institutional selling.

Interest rate risk — The risk that securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise. This risk is generally associated with bonds.

Credit risk — The risk that an issuer of a debt security, including a governmental issuer, may be unable to make interest payments and repay principal in a timely manner.

High yield (junk bond) risk — The risk that high yield securities, commonly known as "junk bonds," are subject to reduced creditworthiness of issuers; increased risk of default and a more limited and less liquid secondary market; and greater price volatility and risk of loss of income and principal than are higher rated securities.

Prepayment risk — The risk that the principal on a bond that is held by a portfolio will be prepaid prior to maturity at a time when interest rates are lower than what that bond was paying. A portfolio may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.

Liquidity risk — The possibility that securities cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a fund has valued them.

Derivatives risk — Derivative contracts, such as options, futures, and swaps, may involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums) and are subject to significant loss if a security, or a securities index to which a derivative contract is associated, moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated. Derivative contracts are also subject to the risk that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the contract due to financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization).

Foreign risk — The risk that foreign securities (particularly in emerging markets) may be adversely affected by political instability; changes in currency exchange rates; inefficient markets and higher transaction costs; foreign economic conditions; or inadequate or different regulatory and accounting standards.

Bank loans and other indebtedness risk — The risk that the portfolio will not receive payment of principal, interest, and other amounts due in connection with these investments and will depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower and the lending institution.

Valuation risk — The risk that a less liquid secondary market may make it more difficult for a fund to obtain precise valuations of certain securities in its portfolio.

Government and regulatory risk — The risk that governments or regulatory authorities have, from time to time, taken or considered actions that could adversely affect various sectors of the securities markets.

How has Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund performed?

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. The returns reflect expense caps in effect during these periods. The returns would be lower without the expense caps. You may obtain the Fund's most recently available month-end performance by calling 800 523-1918 or by visiting our website at www.delawareinvestments.com/performance.

Effective November 30, 2007, the Fund's investment objective, strategies, and policies were changed to permit the Fund to invest in a diversified portfolio of limited-term fixed income securities. These changes allowed the Fund to invest in a broader range of fixed income securities, including U.S. government securities, foreign government securities, and corporate and high yield securities of domestic and foreign issuers. Prior to November 30, 2007, the Fund invested primarily in U.S. government securities. The returns prior to this time reflect the Fund's prior investment objective, strategies, and policies and may not be indicative of future returns.

Year-by-year total return (Institutional Class)

During the periods illustrated in this bar chart, the Institutional Class' highest quarterly return was 4.80% for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 and its lowest quarterly return was -1.29% for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.

Average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2011

Average Annual Total Returns (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund)	1 year	5 years	10 years
Institutional Class	2.94%	5.68%	4.61%
Institutional Class return after taxes on distributions (Institutional)	1.62%	4.22%	3.07%
Institutional Class return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares (Institutional)	2.02%	4.02%	3.03%
Barclays Capital 1–3 Year Government/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) (Institutional)	1.59%	3.99%	3.63%

Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's individual tax situation and may differ from the returns shown. After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the periods presented and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

(Retail)

What is the Fund's investment objective?

Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund seeks maximum total return, consistent with reasonable risk.

What are the Fund's fees and expenses?

The following 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 $100,000 in Delaware Investments® Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor, in this prospectus under the section entitled "About your account," and in the Fund's statement of additional information under the section entitled "Purchasing shares."

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees (Retail) (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund)	Class A	Class B		Class C		Class R
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price	2.75%	none		none		none
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower	none	2.00%	[1]	1.00%	[1]	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Retail) (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund)	Class A		Class B	Class C	Class R
Management fees	0.47%		0.47%	0.47%	0.47%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	0.30%		1.00%	1.00%	0.60%
Other expenses	0.20%		0.20%	0.20%	0.20%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.97%		1.67%	1.67%	1.27%
Fee waivers and expense reimbursements	(0.15%)	[1]	none	none	(0.10%)	[1]
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements	0.82%		1.67%	1.67%	1.17%

Example

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 reflects the applicable Distributor's expense waivers for the 1-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without waivers for years 2 through 10. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) (Retail) (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class A	356	561	782	1,419
Class B	370	626	907	1,539
Class C	270	526	907	1,976
Class R	119	393	687	1,525

Expense Example, No Redemption (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) (Retail) (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class B	170	526	907	1,539
Class C	170	526	907	1,976

Portfolio turnover

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 333% of the average value of its portfolio.

What are the Fund's principal investment strategies?

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in investment grade fixed income securities, including, but not limited to, fixed income securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, and by U.S. corporations. Investment grade fixed income securities are securities rated BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor's (S&P), Baa3 or higher by Moody's Investors Service (Moody's), or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO), or those that are deemed to be of comparable quality. The Fund will maintain an average effective duration from one to three years. The Fund's investment manager, Delaware Management Company (Manager or we), will determine how much of the Fund's assets to allocate among the different types of fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest based on our evaluation of economic and market conditions and our assessment of the returns and potential for appreciation that can be achieved from various sectors of the fixed income market.

The corporate debt obligations in which the Fund may invest include bonds, notes, debentures, and commercial paper of U.S. companies and, subject to the limitations described below, non-U.S. companies. The Fund may also invest in a variety of securities that are issued or guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the U.S. government, and by various agencies or instrumentalities, which have been established or are sponsored by the U.S. government, and, subject to the limitations described below, securities issued by foreign governments.

Additionally, the Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, government-sponsored corporations, and mortgage-backed securities issued by certain private, nongovernment entities. The Fund may also invest in securities that are backed by assets such as receivables on home equity and credit card loans, automobile, mobile home, recreational vehicle and other loans, wholesale dealer floor plans, and leases.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in below-investment-grade securities (also known as high yield or "junk" bonds). In general, the below-investment-grade securities that the Fund may purchase in this sector will generally be rated BB or lower by S&P and Ba or lower by Moody's, or similarly rated by another NRSRO.

The Fund may also invest up to 30% of its net assets in foreign securities, including up to 10% of its net assets in securities of issuers located in emerging markets. The Fund's total non-U.S. dollar currency exposure will be limited, in the aggregate, to no more than 10% of net assets.

The Fund may use a wide range of derivative instruments, typically including options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swaps. The Fund will use derivatives for both hedging and nonhedging purposes. For example, the Fund may invest in: futures and options to manage duration and for defensive purposes, such as to protect gains or hedge against potential losses in the portfolio without actually selling a security, or to stay fully invested; forward foreign currency contracts to manage foreign currency exposure; interest rate swaps to neutralize the impact of interest rate changes; credit default swaps to hedge against bond defaults, to manage credit exposure or to enhance total return; and index swaps to enhance return or to affect diversification. The Fund will not use derivatives for reasons inconsistent with its investment objective and will limit its investments in derivative instruments to 20% of net assets.

What are the principal risks of investing in the Fund?

Investing in any mutual fund involves the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Over time, the value of your investment in the Fund will increase and decrease according to changes in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio. Principal risks include:

Investments not guaranteed by the Manager or its affiliates — Investments in the Fund are not and will not be deposits with or liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 and its holding companies, including their subsidiaries or related companies (Macquarie Group), and are subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and capital invested. No Macquarie Group company guarantees or will guarantee the performance of the Fund, the repayment of capital from the Fund, or any particular rate of return.

Market risk — The risk that all or a majority of the securities in a certain market — such as the stock or bond market — will decline in value because of factors such as adverse political or economic conditions, future expectations, investor confidence, or heavy institutional selling.

Interest rate risk — The risk that securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise. This risk is generally associated with bonds.

Credit risk — The risk that an issuer of a debt security, including a governmental issuer, may be unable to make interest payments and repay principal in a timely manner.

High yield (junk bond) risk — The risk that high yield securities, commonly known as "junk bonds," are subject to reduced creditworthiness of issuers; increased risk of default and a more limited and less liquid secondary market; and greater price volatility and risk of loss of income and principal than are higher rated securities.

Prepayment risk — The risk that the principal on a bond that is held by a portfolio will be prepaid prior to maturity at a time when interest rates are lower than what that bond was paying. A portfolio may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.

Liquidity risk — The possibility that securities cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a fund has valued them.

Derivatives risk — Derivative contracts, such as options, futures, and swaps, may involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums) and are subject to significant loss if a security, or a securities index to which a derivative contract is associated, moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated. Derivative contracts are also subject to the risk that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the contract due to financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization).

Foreign risk — The risk that foreign securities (particularly in emerging markets) may be adversely affected by political instability; changes in currency exchange rates; inefficient markets and higher transaction costs; foreign economic conditions; or inadequate or different regulatory and accounting standards.

Bank loans and other indebtedness risk — The risk that the portfolio will not receive payment of principal, interest, and other amounts due in connection with these investments and will depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower and the lending institution.

Valuation risk — The risk that a less liquid secondary market may make it more difficult for a fund to obtain precise valuations of certain securities in its portfolio.

Government and regulatory risk — The risk that governments or regulatory authorities have, from time to time, taken or considered actions that could adversely affect various sectors of the securities markets.

How has Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund performed?

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the 1-, 5-, and 10-year or lifetime periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. The returns reflect expense caps in effect during certain of these periods. The returns would be lower without the expense caps. You may obtain the Fund's most recently available month-end performance by calling 800 523-1918 or by visiting our website at www.delawareinvestments.com/performance.

Effective November 30, 2007, the Fund's investment objective, strategies, and policies were changed to permit the Fund to invest in a diversified portfolio of limited-term fixed income securities. These changes allowed the Fund to invest in a broader range of fixed income securities, including U.S. government securities, foreign government securities, and corporate and high yield securities of domestic and foreign issuers. Prior to November 30, 2007, the Fund invested primarily in U.S. government securities. The returns prior to this time reflect the Fund's prior investment objective, strategies, and policies and may not be indicative of future returns.

Year-by-year total return (Class A)

During the periods illustrated in this bar chart, Class A's highest quarterly return was 4.76% for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 and its lowest quarterly return was -1.33% for the quarter ended June 30, 2004. The maximum Class A sales charge of 5.75%, which is normally deducted when you purchase shares, is not reflected in the highest/lowest quarterly returns or in the bar chart. If this sales charge were included, the returns would be less than those shown. The average annual returns in the table below do include the sales charge.

Average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2011

Average Annual Total Returns (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) (Retail)	Label	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
Class A		(0.02%)	4.93%	4.16%
Class A return after taxes on distributions		(1.25%)	3.54%	2.68%
Class A return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares		0.09%	3.42%	2.67%
Class B		(0.06%)	4.63%	4.00%
Class C		1.04%	4.62%	3.56%
Class R	(lifetime: 6/2/03-12/31/11)	2.42%	5.12%		3.75%
Barclays Capital 1–3 Year Government/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)		1.59%	3.99%	3.63%

After-tax performance is presented only for Class A shares of the Fund. The after-tax returns for other Fund classes may vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's individual tax situation and may differ from the returns shown. After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the periods presented and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

[1] If you redeem Class B shares during the first year after you buy them, you will pay a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 2.00%, which declines to 1.00% during the second and third years, and 0% thereafter. Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a 1.00% CDSC.

[1] The Fund's distributor, Delaware Distributors, L.P. (Distributor), has contracted to limit the Fund's Class A and Class R shares' 12b-1 fees to no more than 0.15% and 0.50% of average daily net assets, respectively, from April 27, 2012 through April 30, 2013. The waiver may be terminated only by agreement of the Distributor and the Fund.

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Document Type

dei_DocumentType

485BPOS

Document Period End Date

dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate

Dec. 31, 2011

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

Delaware Group Limited-Term Government Funds

Central Index Key

dei_EntityCentralIndexKey

0000357059

Amendment Flag

dei_AmendmentFlag

false

Document Creation Date

dei_DocumentCreationDate

Apr. 27, 2012

Document Effective Date

dei_DocumentEffectiveDate

Apr. 29, 2012

Prospectus Date

rr_ProspectusDate

Apr. 29, 2012

(Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) | Institutional Class

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.47%

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.20%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

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

Annual Return 2002

rr_AnnualReturn2002

7.27%

Annual Return 2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

2.27%

Annual Return 2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

2.46%

Annual Return 2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

1.91%

Annual Return 2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

3.92%

Annual Return 2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

6.52%

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

2.37%

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

12.93%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

3.97%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

2.94%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

highest quarterly return was 4.80% for the quarter ended June 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

4.80%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

lowest quarterly return was -1.29% for the quarter ended June 30, 2004

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2004

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(1.29%)

1 year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

2.94%

5 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

5.68%

10 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.61%

(Institutional) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

What is the Fund's investment objective?

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund seeks maximum total return, consistent with reasonable risk.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

What are the Fund's fees and expenses?

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

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 333% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

333.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund to the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example shows the cumulative amount of Fund expenses on a hypothetical investment of $10,000 with an annual 5% return over the time shown. This example assumes that the Fund's total operating expenses remain unchanged in each of the periods shown. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

What are the Fund's principal investment strategies?

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in investment grade fixed income securities, including, but not limited to, fixed income securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, and by U.S. corporations. Investment grade fixed income securities are securities rated BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor's (S&P), Baa3 or higher by Moody's Investors Service (Moody's), or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO), or those that are deemed to be of comparable quality. The Fund will maintain an average effective duration from one to three years. The Fund's investment manager, Delaware Management Company (Manager or we), will determine how much of the Fund's assets to allocate among the different types of fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest based on our evaluation of economic and market conditions and our assessment of the returns and potential for appreciation that can be achieved from various sectors of the fixed income market.

The corporate debt obligations in which the Fund may invest include bonds, notes, debentures, and commercial paper of U.S. companies and, subject to the limitations described below, non-U.S. companies. The Fund may also invest in a variety of securities that are issued or guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the U.S. government, and by various agencies or instrumentalities, which have been established or are sponsored by the U.S. government, and, subject to the limitations described below, securities issued by foreign governments.

Additionally, the Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, government-sponsored corporations, and mortgage-backed securities issued by certain private, nongovernment entities. The Fund may also invest in securities that are backed by assets such as receivables on home equity and credit card loans, automobile, mobile home, recreational vehicle and other loans, wholesale dealer floor plans, and leases.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in below-investment-grade securities (also known as high yield or "junk" bonds). In general, the below-investment-grade securities that the Fund may purchase in this sector will generally be rated BB or lower by S&P and Ba or lower by Moody's, or similarly rated by another NRSRO.

The Fund may also invest up to 30% of its net assets in foreign securities, including up to 10% of its net assets in securities of issuers located in emerging markets. The Fund's total non-U.S. dollar currency exposure will be limited, in the aggregate, to no more than 10% of net assets.

The Fund may use a wide range of derivative instruments, typically including options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swaps. The Fund will use derivatives for both hedging and nonhedging purposes. For example, the Fund may invest in: futures and options to manage duration and for defensive purposes, such as to protect gains or hedge against potential losses in the portfolio without actually selling a security, or to stay fully invested; forward foreign currency contracts to manage foreign currency exposure; interest rate swaps to neutralize the impact of interest rate changes; credit default swaps to hedge against bond defaults, to manage credit exposure or to enhance total return; and index swaps to enhance return or to affect diversification. The Fund will not use derivatives for reasons inconsistent with its investment objective and will limit its investments in derivative instruments to 20% of net assets.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

What are the principal risks of investing in the Fund?

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

Investing in any mutual fund involves the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Over time, the value of your investment in the Fund will increase and decrease according to changes in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio. Principal risks include:

Investments not guaranteed by the Manager or its affiliates — Investments in the Fund are not and will not be deposits with or liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 and its holding companies, including their subsidiaries or related companies (Macquarie Group), and are subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and capital invested. No Macquarie Group company guarantees or will guarantee the performance of the Fund, the repayment of capital from the Fund, or any particular rate of return.

Market risk — The risk that all or a majority of the securities in a certain market — such as the stock or bond market — will decline in value because of factors such as adverse political or economic conditions, future expectations, investor confidence, or heavy institutional selling.

Interest rate risk — The risk that securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise. This risk is generally associated with bonds.

Credit risk — The risk that an issuer of a debt security, including a governmental issuer, may be unable to make interest payments and repay principal in a timely manner.

High yield (junk bond) risk — The risk that high yield securities, commonly known as "junk bonds," are subject to reduced creditworthiness of issuers; increased risk of default and a more limited and less liquid secondary market; and greater price volatility and risk of loss of income and principal than are higher rated securities.

Prepayment risk — The risk that the principal on a bond that is held by a portfolio will be prepaid prior to maturity at a time when interest rates are lower than what that bond was paying. A portfolio may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.

Liquidity risk — The possibility that securities cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a fund has valued them.

Derivatives risk — Derivative contracts, such as options, futures, and swaps, may involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums) and are subject to significant loss if a security, or a securities index to which a derivative contract is associated, moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated. Derivative contracts are also subject to the risk that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the contract due to financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization).

Foreign risk — The risk that foreign securities (particularly in emerging markets) may be adversely affected by political instability; changes in currency exchange rates; inefficient markets and higher transaction costs; foreign economic conditions; or inadequate or different regulatory and accounting standards.

Bank loans and other indebtedness risk — The risk that the portfolio will not receive payment of principal, interest, and other amounts due in connection with these investments and will depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower and the lending institution.

Valuation risk — The risk that a less liquid secondary market may make it more difficult for a fund to obtain precise valuations of certain securities in its portfolio.

Government and regulatory risk — The risk that governments or regulatory authorities have, from time to time, taken or considered actions that could adversely affect various sectors of the securities markets.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

Investing in any mutual fund involves the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Over time, the value of your investment in the Fund will increase and decrease according to changes in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

How has Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund performed?

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. The returns reflect expense caps in effect during these periods. The returns would be lower without the expense caps. You may obtain the Fund's most recently available month-end performance by calling 800 523-1918 or by visiting our website at www.delawareinvestments.com/performance.

Effective November 30, 2007, the Fund's investment objective, strategies, and policies were changed to permit the Fund to invest in a diversified portfolio of limited-term fixed income securities. These changes allowed the Fund to invest in a broader range of fixed income securities, including U.S. government securities, foreign government securities, and corporate and high yield securities of domestic and foreign issuers. Prior to November 30, 2007, the Fund invested primarily in U.S. government securities. The returns prior to this time reflect the Fund's prior investment objective, strategies, and policies and may not be indicative of future returns.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

800 523-1918

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.delawareinvestments.com/performance

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 it will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Year-by-year total return (Institutional Class)

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the periods illustrated in this bar chart, the Institutional Class' highest quarterly return was 4.80% for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 and its lowest quarterly return was -1.29% for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2011

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the periods presented and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's individual tax situation and may differ from the returns shown. After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the periods presented and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

(Institutional) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) | Barclays Capital 1–3 Year Government/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.59%

5 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.99%

10 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.63%

(Institutional) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) | Institutional Class | return after taxes on distributions

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.62%

5 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.22%

10 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.07%

(Institutional) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) | Institutional Class | return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

2.02%

5 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.02%

10 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.03%

(Retail) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

What is the Fund's investment objective?

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund seeks maximum total return, consistent with reasonable risk.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

What are the Fund's fees and expenses?

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

The following 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 $100,000 in Delaware Investments® Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor, in this prospectus under the section entitled "About your account," and in the Fund's statement of additional information under the section entitled "Purchasing shares."

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 333% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

333.00%

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 $100,000 in Delaware Investments® Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor, in this prospectus under the section entitled "About your account," and in the Fund's statement of additional information under the section entitled "Purchasing shares."

Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount

100,000

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. 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 reflects the applicable Distributor's expense waivers for the 1-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without waivers for years 2 through 10. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

What are the Fund's principal investment strategies?

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in investment grade fixed income securities, including, but not limited to, fixed income securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, and by U.S. corporations. Investment grade fixed income securities are securities rated BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor's (S&P), Baa3 or higher by Moody's Investors Service (Moody's), or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO), or those that are deemed to be of comparable quality. The Fund will maintain an average effective duration from one to three years. The Fund's investment manager, Delaware Management Company (Manager or we), will determine how much of the Fund's assets to allocate among the different types of fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest based on our evaluation of economic and market conditions and our assessment of the returns and potential for appreciation that can be achieved from various sectors of the fixed income market.

The corporate debt obligations in which the Fund may invest include bonds, notes, debentures, and commercial paper of U.S. companies and, subject to the limitations described below, non-U.S. companies. The Fund may also invest in a variety of securities that are issued or guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the U.S. government, and by various agencies or instrumentalities, which have been established or are sponsored by the U.S. government, and, subject to the limitations described below, securities issued by foreign governments.

Additionally, the Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, government-sponsored corporations, and mortgage-backed securities issued by certain private, nongovernment entities. The Fund may also invest in securities that are backed by assets such as receivables on home equity and credit card loans, automobile, mobile home, recreational vehicle and other loans, wholesale dealer floor plans, and leases.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in below-investment-grade securities (also known as high yield or "junk" bonds). In general, the below-investment-grade securities that the Fund may purchase in this sector will generally be rated BB or lower by S&P and Ba or lower by Moody's, or similarly rated by another NRSRO.

The Fund may also invest up to 30% of its net assets in foreign securities, including up to 10% of its net assets in securities of issuers located in emerging markets. The Fund's total non-U.S. dollar currency exposure will be limited, in the aggregate, to no more than 10% of net assets.

The Fund may use a wide range of derivative instruments, typically including options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swaps. The Fund will use derivatives for both hedging and nonhedging purposes. For example, the Fund may invest in: futures and options to manage duration and for defensive purposes, such as to protect gains or hedge against potential losses in the portfolio without actually selling a security, or to stay fully invested; forward foreign currency contracts to manage foreign currency exposure; interest rate swaps to neutralize the impact of interest rate changes; credit default swaps to hedge against bond defaults, to manage credit exposure or to enhance total return; and index swaps to enhance return or to affect diversification. The Fund will not use derivatives for reasons inconsistent with its investment objective and will limit its investments in derivative instruments to 20% of net assets.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

What are the principal risks of investing in the Fund?

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

Investing in any mutual fund involves the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Over time, the value of your investment in the Fund will increase and decrease according to changes in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio. Principal risks include:

Investments not guaranteed by the Manager or its affiliates — Investments in the Fund are not and will not be deposits with or liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 and its holding companies, including their subsidiaries or related companies (Macquarie Group), and are subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and capital invested. No Macquarie Group company guarantees or will guarantee the performance of the Fund, the repayment of capital from the Fund, or any particular rate of return.

Market risk — The risk that all or a majority of the securities in a certain market — such as the stock or bond market — will decline in value because of factors such as adverse political or economic conditions, future expectations, investor confidence, or heavy institutional selling.

Interest rate risk — The risk that securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise. This risk is generally associated with bonds.

Credit risk — The risk that an issuer of a debt security, including a governmental issuer, may be unable to make interest payments and repay principal in a timely manner.

High yield (junk bond) risk — The risk that high yield securities, commonly known as "junk bonds," are subject to reduced creditworthiness of issuers; increased risk of default and a more limited and less liquid secondary market; and greater price volatility and risk of loss of income and principal than are higher rated securities.

Prepayment risk — The risk that the principal on a bond that is held by a portfolio will be prepaid prior to maturity at a time when interest rates are lower than what that bond was paying. A portfolio may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.

Liquidity risk — The possibility that securities cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a fund has valued them.

Derivatives risk — Derivative contracts, such as options, futures, and swaps, may involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums) and are subject to significant loss if a security, or a securities index to which a derivative contract is associated, moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated. Derivative contracts are also subject to the risk that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the contract due to financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization).

Foreign risk — The risk that foreign securities (particularly in emerging markets) may be adversely affected by political instability; changes in currency exchange rates; inefficient markets and higher transaction costs; foreign economic conditions; or inadequate or different regulatory and accounting standards.

Bank loans and other indebtedness risk — The risk that the portfolio will not receive payment of principal, interest, and other amounts due in connection with these investments and will depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower and the lending institution.

Valuation risk — The risk that a less liquid secondary market may make it more difficult for a fund to obtain precise valuations of certain securities in its portfolio.

Government and regulatory risk — The risk that governments or regulatory authorities have, from time to time, taken or considered actions that could adversely affect various sectors of the securities markets.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

Investing in any mutual fund involves the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Over time, the value of your investment in the Fund will increase and decrease according to changes in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

How has Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund performed?

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the 1-, 5-, and 10-year or lifetime periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. The returns reflect expense caps in effect during certain of these periods. The returns would be lower without the expense caps. You may obtain the Fund's most recently available month-end performance by calling 800 523-1918 or by visiting our website at www.delawareinvestments.com/performance.

Effective November 30, 2007, the Fund's investment objective, strategies, and policies were changed to permit the Fund to invest in a diversified portfolio of limited-term fixed income securities. These changes allowed the Fund to invest in a broader range of fixed income securities, including U.S. government securities, foreign government securities, and corporate and high yield securities of domestic and foreign issuers. Prior to November 30, 2007, the Fund invested primarily in U.S. government securities. The returns prior to this time reflect the Fund's prior investment objective, strategies, and policies and may not be indicative of future returns.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

800 523-1918

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.delawareinvestments.com/performance

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 it will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Year-by-year total return (Class A)

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the periods illustrated in this bar chart, Class A's highest quarterly return was 4.76% for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 and its lowest quarterly return was -1.33% for the quarter ended June 30, 2004. The maximum Class A sales charge of 5.75%, which is normally deducted when you purchase shares, is not reflected in the highest/lowest quarterly returns or in the bar chart. If this sales charge were included, the returns would be less than those shown. The average annual returns in the table below do include the sales charge.

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2011

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the periods presented and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]

rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown

After-tax performance is presented only for Class A shares of the Fund.

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

After-tax performance is presented only for Class A shares of the Fund. The after-tax returns for other Fund classes may vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's individual tax situation and may differ from the returns shown. After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the periods presented and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

(Retail) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) | Barclays Capital 1–3 Year Government/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.59%

5 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.99%

10 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.63%

(Retail) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

2.75%

Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice

none

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.47%

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.20%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.97%

Fee waivers and expense reimbursements

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.15%)

^[2]

Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.82%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

356

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

561

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

782

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,419

Annual Return 2002

rr_AnnualReturn2002

7.08%

Annual Return 2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

2.12%

Annual Return 2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

2.31%

Annual Return 2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

1.76%

Annual Return 2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

3.76%

Annual Return 2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

6.36%

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

2.21%

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

12.89%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

3.70%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

2.78%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

highest quarterly return was 4.76% for the quarter ended June 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

4.76%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

lowest quarterly return was -1.33% for the quarter ended June 30, 2004

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2004

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(1.33%)

1 year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(0.02%)

5 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.93%

10 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.16%

(Retail) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) | Class A | return after taxes on distributions

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(1.25%)

5 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.54%

10 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

2.68%

(Retail) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) | Class A | return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

0.09%

5 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.42%

10 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

2.67%

(Retail) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) | Class B

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice

2.00%

^[1]

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.47%

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.20%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.67%

Fee waivers and expense reimbursements

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

none

Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.67%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

370

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

626

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

907

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,539

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

170

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

526

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

907

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

1,539

1 year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(0.06%)

5 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.63%

10 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.00%

(Retail) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) | Class C

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice

1.00%

^[1]

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.47%

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.20%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.67%

Fee waivers and expense reimbursements

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

none

Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.67%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

270

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

526

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

907

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,976

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

170

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

526

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

907

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

1,976

1 year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.04%

5 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.62%

10 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.56%

(Retail) | (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund) | Class R

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice

none

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.47%

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.60%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.20%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.27%

Fee waivers and expense reimbursements

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.10%)

^[2]

Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.17%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

119

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

393

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

687

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,525

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

(lifetime: 6/2/03-12/31/11)

1 year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

2.42%

5 years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

5.12%

Lifetime

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

3.75%

[1] If you redeem Class B shares during the first year after you buy them, you will pay a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 2.00%, which declines to 1.00% during the second and third years, and 0% thereafter. Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a 1.00% CDSC.

[2] The Fund's distributor, Delaware Distributors, L.P. (Distributor), has contracted to limit the Fund's Class A and Class R shares' 12b-1 fees to no more than 0.15% and 0.50% of average daily net assets, respectively, from April 27, 2012 through April 30, 2013. The waiver may be terminated only by agreement of the Distributor and the Fund.

XML

Shareholder Fees ((Retail), (Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund))	0 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2012
Class A
Shareholder Fees:
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price	2.75%
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower	none
Class B
Shareholder Fees:
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price	none
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower	2.00%	[1]
Class C
Shareholder Fees:
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price	none
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower	1.00%	[1]
Class R
Shareholder Fees:
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price	none
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower	none

[1] If you redeem Class B shares during the first year after you buy them, you will pay a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 2.00%, which declines to 1.00% during the second and third years, and 0% thereafter. Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a 1.00% CDSC.

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Annual Total Returns ((Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund))	0 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2012
Institutional Class
Bar Chart Table:
Annual Return 2002	7.27%
Annual Return 2003	2.27%
Annual Return 2004	2.46%
Annual Return 2005	1.91%
Annual Return 2006	3.92%
Annual Return 2007	6.52%
Annual Return 2008	2.37%
Annual Return 2009	12.93%
Annual Return 2010	3.97%
Annual Return 2011	2.94%
(Retail) | Class A
Bar Chart Table:
Annual Return 2002	7.08%
Annual Return 2003	2.12%
Annual Return 2004	2.31%
Annual Return 2005	1.76%
Annual Return 2006	3.76%
Annual Return 2007	6.36%
Annual Return 2008	2.21%
Annual Return 2009	12.89%
Annual Return 2010	3.70%
Annual Return 2011	2.78%

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Average Annual Total Returns ((Delaware Limited-Term Diversified Income Fund))	0 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2012
Institutional Class
Average Annual Return:
1 year	2.94%
5 years	5.68%
10 years	4.61%
(Institutional) | Barclays Capital 1–3 Year Government/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
Average Annual Return:
1 year	1.59%
5 years	3.99%
10 years	3.63%
(Institutional) | Institutional Class | return after taxes on distributions
Average Annual Return:
1 year	1.62%
5 years	4.22%
10 years	3.07%
(Institutional) | Institutional Class | return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares
Average Annual Return:
1 year	2.02%
5 years	4.02%
10 years	3.03%
(Retail) | Barclays Capital 1–3 Year Government/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
Average Annual Return:
1 year	1.59%
5 years	3.99%
10 years	3.63%
(Retail) | Class A
Average Annual Return:
1 year	(0.02%)
5 years	4.93%
10 years	4.16%
(Retail) | Class A | return after taxes on distributions
Average Annual Return:
1 year	(1.25%)
5 years	3.54%
10 years	2.68%
(Retail) | Class A | return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares
Average Annual Return:
1 year	0.09%
5 years	3.42%
10 years	2.67%
(Retail) | Class B
Average Annual Return:
1 year	(0.06%)
5 years	4.63%
10 years	4.00%
(Retail) | Class C
Average Annual Return:
1 year	1.04%
5 years	4.62%
10 years	3.56%
(Retail) | Class R
Average Annual Return:
Label	(lifetime: 6/2/03-12/31/11)
1 year	2.42%
5 years	5.12%
Lifetime	3.75%