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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName GEORGE PUTNAM FUND OF BOSTON
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Nov. 30, 2013
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund summary
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Goal
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock George Putnam Balanced Fund seeks to provide a balanced investment composed of a well-diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds which produce both capital growth and current income.
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 $50,000 in 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 15 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 86%.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 86.00%
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 $50,000 in 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 15 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
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates Other expenses are based on expenses of class A shares for the fund's last fiscal year, adjusted to reflect the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class R5 and class R6 shares.
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 a combination of bonds and value stocks of large and midsized U.S. companies, with a greater focus on value stocks. Value stocks are those that we believe are currently undervalued by the market. If we are correct and other investors ultimately recognize the value of the company, the price of its stock may rise. We buy bonds of governments and private companies that are mostly investment-grade in quality with intermediate- to long-term maturities (three years or longer). We may consider, among other factors, a company's valuation, financial strength, growth potential, competitive position in its industry, projected future earnings, cash flows and dividends when deciding whether to buy or sell equity investments, and, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell fixed income investments. We may also use derivatives, such as futures, options, warrants and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes.
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 value of stocks and 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 company or industry. The value of bond investments is also affected by changing market perceptions of the risk of default. These risks are generally greater for small and midsize companies. Value stocks may fail to rebound, and the market may not favor value-style investing. The risks associated with bond investments include interest rate risk, which means the value of the fund's investments is likely to fall if interest rates rise. Bond investments are also subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the bond may default on payment of interest or principal. Interest rate risk is generally greater for longer term bonds. Our use of derivatives may increase these risks by increasing investment exposure or, in the case of many over-the-counter instruments, because of the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions and the potential failure of the other party to the instrument to meet its obligations.

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 9/30/13		 11.29%
Best calendar
quarter
Q2 2009		 12.57%
Worst calendar
quarter
Q4 2008		 -26.96%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year-to-date performance through
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Sep. 30, 2013
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 11.29%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best calendar quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 12.57%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst calendar quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (26.96%)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average annual total returns after sales charges
(for periods ending 12/31/12)
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 The George Putnam Blended Index is an unmanaged index administered by Putnam Management, 60% of which is the Russell 1000 Value Index and 40% of which is the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.

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.
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.75%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [1]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.53%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.01%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 672
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 878
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,101
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,740
2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 17.39%
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 8.32%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 4.04%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 12.25%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 0.92%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (40.30%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 25.80%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 11.15%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 2.71%
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 12.36%
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.90%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (1.91%)
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.13%
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED 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% [2]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.53%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.76%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 679
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 854
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,154
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,875
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 179
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 554
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 954
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,875
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.54%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (1.86%)
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.95%
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED 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% [3]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.53%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.76%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 279
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 554
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 954
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,073
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 179
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 554
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 954
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,073
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 10.58%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (1.49%)
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.97%
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND | Class M
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 3.50%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 0.65% [1]
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.53%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.75%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.51%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 498
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 810
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,145
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,088
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 7.87%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (1.94%)
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.86%
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND | Class R
  
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 0.53%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.50%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.26%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 128
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 400
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 692
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,523
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.11%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.97%)
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.50%
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND | Class R5
  
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 0.53%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets   
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.20% [4]
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.73%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 75
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 233
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 406
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 906
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.60% [5]
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.50%) [5]
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.00% [5]
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND | Class R6
  
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 0.53%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets   
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10% [4]
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.63%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 64
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 202
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 351
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 786
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.60% [5]
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.50%) [5]
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.00% [5]
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED 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 0.53%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets   
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.76%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 78
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 243
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 422
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 942
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.60%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.50%)
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.00%
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND | after taxes on distributions | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.65%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (2.43%)
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.15%
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND | after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.14%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (1.80%)
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.37%
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND | Russell 1000 Value Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 17.51%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.59%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.38%
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND | Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.22%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.95%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.18%
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND | George Putnam Blended Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.29%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.86%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.22%
[1] Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.
[2] This charge is phased out over six years.
[3] This charge is eliminated after one year.
[4] Other expenses are based on expenses of class A shares for the fund's last fiscal year, adjusted to reflect the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class R5 and class R6 shares.
[5] Class R5 and class R6 shares were not outstanding during the time periods shown. Performance shown for class R5 and class R6 shares is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares, and has not been adjusted for the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class R5 and class R6 shares; had it, returns would have been higher.