Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VANGUARD INDEX FUNDS
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Apr. 27, 2016
Institutional Select | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of the overall stock market.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Select Shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 3% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	3.00%
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text]	rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates	The expense information shown in the table reflects estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund’s Institutional Select Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you invested $10,000 in the Fund’s shares. This example assumes that the Shares provide a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Total Market Index, which represents approximately 100% of the investable U.S. stock market and includes large-, mid-, small-, and micro-cap stocks regularly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds a broadly diversified collection of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key characteristics. These key characteristics include industry weightings and market capitalization, as well as certain financial measures, such as price/earnings ratio and dividend yield.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. You should expect the Fund’s share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund’s performance: • Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. In addition, the Fund’s target index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector. • Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund’s target index. Index sampling risk for the Fund should be low. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Annual Total Returns
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. Because the Fund’s Institutional Select Shares have not yet begun operations, the information presented in the bar chart and table reflects the performance of the Institutional Shares of Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund. (Institutional Shares are offered through a separate prospectus.) Performance of the Fund’s Institutional Select Shares would be substantially similar to that of the Institutional Shares because both share classes constitute an investment in the same portfolio of securities; their returns generally should differ only to the extent that the expenses of the two share classes differ. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund‘s Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund‘s target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced Total Stock Market Index reflects performance of the MSCI US Broad Market Index through June 2, 2013, and the CRSP US Total Market Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund‘s Institutional Shares has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Institutional Shares compare with those of the Fund‘s target index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.
Performance One Year or Less [Text]	rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess	Because the Fund’s Institutional Select Shares have not yet begun operations, the information presented in the bar chart and table reflects the performance of the Institutional Shares of Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	800-662-7447
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	vanguard.com/performance
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Institutional Shares
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 16.98% (quarter ended June 30, 2009), and the lowest return for a quarter was –22.69% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).
Bar Chart, Returns for Class Not Offered in Prospectus [Text]	rr_BarChartReturnsForClassNotOfferedInProspectus	Because the Fund’s Institutional Select Shares have not yet begun operations, the information presented in the bar chart and table reflects the performance of the Institutional Shares of Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund. (Institutional Shares are offered through a separate prospectus.) Performance of the Fund’s Institutional Select Shares would be substantially similar to that of the Institutional Shares because both share classes constitute an investment in the same portfolio of securities; their returns generally should differ only to the extent that the expenses of the two share classes differ.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2015
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.
Institutional Select | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund | Institutional Select Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Purchase Fee	rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	none	[1]
12b-1 Distribution Fee	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.01%	[2]
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 1
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	3
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	1
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	$ 3
Institutional Select | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	15.69%
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	5.56%
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(36.94%)
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	28.83%
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	17.23%
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	1.09%
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	16.42%
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	33.49%
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	12.56%
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	0.42%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	16.98%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(22.69%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.42%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.17%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.52%
Institutional Select | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.06%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.72%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.15%
Institutional Select | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.62%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.71%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.10%
Institutional Select | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund | MSCI US Broad Market Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.57%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.25%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.55%	[3]
Institutional Select | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund | Spliced Total Stock Market Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.40%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.18%	[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.51%	[3]
Institutional Select | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund | CRSP US Total Market Index
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.40%	[3]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05		[3]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10		[3]

[1] 0.00%

[2] The expense information shown in the table reflects estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

[3] Comparative Indexes (reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)