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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName PUTNAM ARIZONA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Sep. 30, 2012
Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund summaries

Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Goal
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund seeks as high a level of current income exempt from federal income tax and Arizona personal income tax as we believe is consistent with preservation of capital.
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 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 class A shares or $50,000 in class M shares of Putnam funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in How do I buy fund shares? beginning on page 38 of the fund’s prospectus and in How to buy shares beginning on page II-1 of the fund’s statement of additional information (SAI).
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 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-related costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or the above example, affect fund performance. The fund’s turnover rate in the most recent fiscal year was 11%.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 11.00%
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 class A shares or $50,000 in class M shares of Putnam funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in How do I buy fund shares? beginning on page 38 of the fund’s prospectus and in How to buy shares beginning on page II-1 of the fund’s statement of additional information (SAI).
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount 50,000
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock The following hypothetical example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds. It assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Investments
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock We invest mainly in bonds that pay interest that is exempt from federal income tax and Arizona personal income tax (but that may be subject to federal alternative minimum tax (AMT)), are investment-grade in quality, and have intermediate- to long-term maturities (three years or longer). We may consider, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell investments.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.

The prices of bonds in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including both general financial market conditions and factors related to a specific issuer. The risks associated with bond investments include interest rate risk, which means the prices of the fund’s investments are likely to fall if interest rates rise. Bond investments also are subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the issuers of the fund’s investments may default on payment of interest or principal. Since the fund invests in tax-exempt bonds, which, to be treated as tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code, may be issued only by limited types of issuers for limited types of projects, the fund’s investments may be focused in certain market segments. Consequently, the fund may be more vulnerable to fluctuations in the values of the securities it holds than a fund that invests more broadly. Interest rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds. Investments in a single state carry risks of vulnerability to common economic forces and other factors affecting the state’s tax-exempt investments, which may result in greater losses and volatility. Interest the fund receives might be taxable.

The fund may not achieve its goal, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time. The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower. Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results. Monthly performance figures for the fund are available at putnam.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress putnam.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Year-to-date
performance
through 6/30/12		 4.65%
Best calendar
quarter
Q3 2009		 7.95%
Worst calendar
quarter
Q3 2008		 -4.51%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year-to-date performance through
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Jun. 30, 2012
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 4.65%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best calendar quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 7.95%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst calendar quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (4.51%)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average annual total returns after sales charges
(for periods ending 12/31/11)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes. These after-tax returns do not apply if you hold your fund shares through a 401(k) plan, an IRA, or another tax-advantaged arrangement.

Class B share performance does not reflect conversion to class A shares.
Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 4.00%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [1]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.22% [2]
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.21%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.87%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 485
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 666
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 863
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,430
2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 8.07%
2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 5.23%
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 3.50%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 3.21%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 4.00%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 2.35%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (6.05%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 15.70%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 2.41%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 9.42%
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.01%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.66%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.22%
Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt 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 deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 5.00% [3]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.85%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.21%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.50%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 653
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 774
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,018
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,620
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 153
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 474
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 818
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,620
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.73%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.50%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.97%
Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt 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 deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [4]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.21%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.65%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 268
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 520
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 897
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,955
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 168
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 520
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 897
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,955
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 7.59%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.73%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.87%
Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Class M
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 3.25%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.50%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.21%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.15%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 438
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 678
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 937
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,677
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.60%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.53%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.01%
Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Class Y
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets   
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.21%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.65%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 66
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 208
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 362
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 810
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 9.64%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.71%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.75%
Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | after taxes on distributions | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.00%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.63%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.19%
Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.71%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.72%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.20%
Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund | Barclays Municipal Bond Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 10.70%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.22%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.38%
[1] Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.
[2] Represents a blended rate.
[3] This charge is phased out over six years.
[4] This charge is eliminated after one year.