Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 31, 2014
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investors with total return while providing protection against inflation.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This 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 $50,000 in the Fund or in other Nuveen Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts, as well as eligibility requirements for each share class, is available from your financial advisor and in “What Share Classes We Offer” on page 65 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 68 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-103 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	October 31, 2015
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 48% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	48.00%
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block]	rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock	The contingent deferred sales charge on Class C shares applies only to redemptions within 12 months of purchase.
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts	You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund or in other Nuveen Mutual Funds.
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 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 either redeem or do not redeem your shares at the end of a period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same and that the contractual fee waivers currently in place are not renewed beyond October 31, 2015. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption	Redemption
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption	No Redemption
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in inflation protected debt securities. These securities will be issued by the U.S. and non-U.S. governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, and domestic and foreign corporations. The Fund’s investments in U.S. Government inflation protected securities will include U.S. Treasury inflation protected securities as well as inflation protected securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government. Securities issued by the U.S. Treasury are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Some securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Inflation protected debt securities are designed to provide protection against the negative effects of inflation. Unlike traditional debt securities, which pay regular fixed interest payments on a fixed principal amount, interest payments on inflation protected debt securities will vary with the rate of inflation. The U.S. Treasury uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as the inflation measure. Inflation protected debt securities issued by foreign governments and corporations are generally linked to a non-U.S. inflation rate. Inflation protected debt securities have two common structures. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. If the index measuring the rate of inflation rises, the principal value of the security will increase. Because interest payments will be calculated with respect to a larger principal amount, interest payments also will increase. Conversely, if the index measuring the rate of inflation falls, the principal value of the security will fall and interest payments will decrease. Other issuers adjust the interest rates payable on the security according to the rate of inflation, but the principal amount remains the same. In the event of sustained deflation, the U.S. Treasury has guaranteed that it will repay at maturity at least the original face value of the inflation protected securities that it issues. Other inflation protected debt securities that accrue inflation into their principal value may or may not provide a similar guarantee. For securities that do not provide such a guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the security repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal value. Up to 20% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in holdings that are not inflation protected, which may include: domestic and foreign corporate debt obligations; securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies and instrumentalities; debt obligations of foreign governments; residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities; asset-backed securities; and derivative instruments, as discussed below. When selecting securities for the Fund, the Fund’s sub-adviser uses a “top-down” approach, looking first at general economic factors and market conditions. The sub-adviser then selects securities that it believes have strong relative value based on an analysis of a security’s characteristics (such as principal value, coupon rate, maturity, duration and yield) in light of these general economic factors and market conditions. The sub-adviser will sell securities if the securities no longer meet these criteria, if other investments appear to be a better relative value, to manage the duration of the Fund, or to meet redemption requests. Up to 10% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in securities that are rated lower than investment grade at the time of purchase or that are unrated and of comparable quality (securities commonly referred to as “high-yield” securities or “junk” bonds). The Fund will not invest in securities rated lower than B at the time of purchase or in unrated securities of comparable quality as determined by the Fund’s sub-adviser. If the rating of a security is reduced or the credit quality of an unrated security declines after purchase, the Fund is not required to sell the security, but may consider doing so. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, and may invest without limitation in U.S. dollar denominated securities of foreign corporations and governments. The Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity, but expects to maintain, under normal market conditions, a weighted average effective maturity of between eight and fifteen years and an average effective duration of between four and ten years. The Fund’s weighted average effective maturity and average effective duration are measures of how the Fund may react to interest rate changes. The Fund may utilize the following derivatives: options; futures contracts; options on futures contracts; foreign currency contracts; options on foreign currencies; interest rate caps, collars, and floors; index- and other asset-linked notes; swap agreements, including swap agreements on interest rates, currency rates, security indexes and specific securities, and credit default swap agreements; and options on the foregoing types of swap agreements. The Fund may enter into standardized derivatives contracts traded on domestic or foreign securities exchanges, boards of trade, or similar entities, and non-standardized derivatives contracts traded in the over-the-counter market. The Fund may use these derivatives in an attempt to manage market risk, currency risk, credit risk and yield curve risk, to manage the effective maturity or duration of securities in the Fund’s portfolio or for speculative purposes in an effort to increase the Fund’s yield or to enhance returns. The Fund may also use derivatives to gain exposure to non-dollar denominated securities markets to the extent it does not do so through direct investments. The use of a derivative is speculative if the Fund is primarily seeking to enhance returns, rather than offset the risk of other positions. The Fund may not use any derivative to gain exposure to a security or type of security that it would be prohibited by its investment restrictions from purchasing directly.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	The value of your investment in this Fund will change daily. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. 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. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, listed alphabetically, include: Bond Market Liquidity Risk—Primary dealer inventories of bonds appear to be low relative to the size of the fixed income market. These inventories are a core indication of dealers’ capacity to “make a market” in fixed income securities. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential to decrease liquidity and increase price volatility in the fixed income markets in which the Fund invests, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. As a result of this decreased liquidity, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices. Call Risk—If an issuer calls higher-yielding debt instruments held by the Fund, performance could be adversely impacted. Credit Risk—Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability or willingness to make such payments. Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, interest earned from such securities, gains and losses realized on the sale of such securities, and derivative transactions tied to such securities. A strong U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies will adversely affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio. Derivatives Risk—The use of derivatives involves additional risks and transaction costs which could leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used these instruments. Derivative instruments can be used to acquire or to transfer the risk and returns of a security or other asset without buying or selling the security or asset. These instruments may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest. As a result, a small investment in derivatives can result in losses that greatly exceed the original investment. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value. A derivative transaction also involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the contract to make required payments. High Yield Securities Risk—High yield securities, which are rated below investment grade and commonly referred to as “junk” bonds, are high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for the Fund. They generally have greater credit risk, are less liquid and have more volatile prices than investment grade securities. Income Risk—The Fund’s income could decline during periods of falling interest rates. In addition, because the interest and/or principal payments on inflation protected securities are adjusted periodically for changes in inflation, the income distributed by the Fund may be irregular. In a period of sustained deflation, the inflation protected securities held by the Fund, and consequently the Fund itself, may not pay any income. Index Methodology Risk—There can be no assurance that the U.S. or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Inflation Risk—If the rate of inflation falls, the principal value of and/or interest payments on inflation protected debt securities held by the Fund will decrease. Interest Rate Risk—Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Fund’s portfolio will decline because of rising interest rates. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. Inflation protected securities may react differently from other debt securities to changes in interest rates. Generally, the value of an inflation protected security is affected by changes in “real” interest rates, which are stated interest rates reduced by the expected impact of inflation. Values of these securities normally fall when real interest rates rise and rise when real interest rates fall. Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk—These securities generally can be prepaid at any time, and prepayments that occur either more quickly or more slowly than expected can adversely impact the value of such securities. They are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that rising interest rates could cause mortgages or other obligations underlying the securities to be prepaid more slowly than expected, thereby lengthening the duration of such securities, increasing their sensitivity to interest rate changes and causing their prices to decline. A mortgage-backed security may be negatively affected by the quality of the mortgages underlying such security, the credit quality of its issuer or guarantor, and the nature and structure of its credit support. Non-U.S./Emerging Markets Risk—Non-U.S. issuers or U.S. issuers with significant non-U.S. operations may be subject to risks in addition to those of issuers located in or that principally operate in the United States as a result of, among other things, political, social and economic developments abroad and different legal, regulatory and tax environments. These additional risks may be heightened for securities of issuers located in, or with significant operations in, emerging market countries. Tax Consequences of Inflation Adjustments—Because inflation adjustments to the principal amount of an inflation protected security will be included in the Fund’s income, the Fund may have to make income distributions to shareholders that exceed the cash it receives.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	The value of your investment in this Fund will change daily. You could lose money by investing in the Fund.
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	Fund Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at www.nuveen.com/performance or by calling (800) 257-8787.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The bar chart below shows the variability of the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	(800) 257-8787
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	www.nuveen.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 the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Class A Annual Total Return
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block]	rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock	The bar chart below shows the variability of the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares. The bar chart and highest/lowest quarterly returns that follow do not reflect sales charges, and if these charges were reflected, the returns would be less than those shown.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	The bar chart and highest/lowest quarterly returns that follow do not reflect sales charges, and if these charges were reflected, the returns would be less than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the nine-year period ended December 31, 2013, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 5.25% and -6.88%, respectively, for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2013.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2013
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs or employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	The table below shows the variability of the Fund’s average annual returns and how they compare over the time periods indicated with those of a broad measure of market performance and an index of funds with similar investment objectives. All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Your own actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs or employer-sponsored retirement plans. Both the bar chart and the table assume that all distributions have been reinvested. Performance reflects fee waivers, if any, in effect during the periods presented. If any such waivers were not in place, returns would be reduced.
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	4.25%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none	[1]
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Exchange Fee	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	15	[2]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.42%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.19%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.86%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.03%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.83%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	506
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	685
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	879
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,438
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	506
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	685
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	879
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,438
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	2.19%	[4]
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	(0.06%)	[4]
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	9.42%	[4]
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(3.16%)	[4]
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	11.96%	[4]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	6.94%	[4]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	12.74%	[4]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	6.40%	[4]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	(8.21%)	[4]
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	year-to-date total return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2014
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	3.24%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2008
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	5.25%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2013
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(6.88%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(12.10%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.77%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	3.73%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 01, 2004
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities 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 the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	1.00%	[1]
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Exchange Fee	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	15	[2]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.42%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.19%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.61%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.03%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.58%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	161
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	505
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	873
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,909
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	161
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	505
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	873
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,909
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(8.63%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.99%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	3.47%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 01, 2004
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | Class R3
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 the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none	[1]
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Exchange Fee	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	none	[2]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.42%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.13%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.05%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.08%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	110
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	354
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	617
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,370
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	110
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	354
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	617
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,370
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(8.17%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.34%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	3.92%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 01, 2004
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | Class I
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none	[1]
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Exchange Fee	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	rr_MaximumAccountFee	15	[2]
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.42%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.19%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.61%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.03%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.58%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	59
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	192
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	337
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	759
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	59
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	192
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	337
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 759
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.67%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.03%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.51%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 01, 2004
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | (return after taxes on distributions) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(12.77%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.02%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	2.53%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 01, 2004
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(6.51%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.48%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	2.45%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 01, 2004
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | Barclays U.S. TIPs Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(8.61%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.63%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.68%
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | Lipper Inflation Protected Bond Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.55%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.93%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.14%

[1] The contingent deferred sales charge on Class C shares applies only to redemptions within 12 months of purchase.

[2] Fee applies to the following types of accounts under $1,000 held directly with the Fund: individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and accounts established pursuant to the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) or Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA).

[3] The Fund's investment adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through October 31, 2015 so that total annual fund operating expenses, after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements and excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, do not exceed 0.85%, 1.60%, 1.10% and 0.60% for Class A, Class C, Class R3 and Class I shares, respectively. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Fund's Board of Directors.

[4] Class A year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2014 was 3.24%. The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.