485BPOS

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2015

1933 Act Registration No. 033-16905

1940 Act Registration No. 811-05309

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933	¨
Pre-Effective Amendment No.	¨
Post-Effective Amendment No. 172	þ
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Amendment No. 172	þ

Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(312) 917-7700

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code):

Kevin J. McCarthy Vice President and Secretary 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606
(Name and Address of Agent for Service) Copies to: Eric F. Fess Chapman and Cutler LLP 111 West Monroe Street Chicago, Illinois 60603

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after effectiveness.

Title of Securities Being Registered: Common Stock.

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 (a)(1)
¨	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)	¨	75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
¨	60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)	¨	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.

This filing relates solely to the following Funds, each a series of the Registrant:

Nuveen Dividend Value Fund

Nuveen Equity Index Fund

Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund

Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund

Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund

Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund

Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund

Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, 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, as amended, and has duly caused this post-effective amendment to its registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois, on the 19th day of March, 2015.

NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.
By:	/s/    KEVIN J. MCCARTHY
	Kevin J. McCarthy
	Vice President and Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this post-effective amendment to the registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature	Title			Date
/s/    STEPHEN D. FOY         STEPHEN D. FOY	Vice President and Controller (principal financial and accounting officer)			March 19, 2015
/s/    GIFFORD R. ZIMMERMAN         GIFFORD R. ZIMMERMAN	Chief Administrative Officer (principal executive officer)			March 19, 2015
WILLIAM J. SCHNEIDER*	Chairman of the Board and Director	ü ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï þ ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï ï þ	By:	/S/    KEVIN J. MCCARTHY KEVIN J. MCCARTHY Attorney-in-Fact March 19, 2015
WILLIAM ADAMS IV*	Director
JACK B. EVANS*	Director
WILLIAM C. HUNTER*	Director
DAVID J. KUNDERT*	Director
JOHN K. NELSON*	Director
THOMAS S. SCHREIER, JR.*	Director
JUDITH M. STOCKDALE*	Director
CAROLE E. STONE*	Director
VIRGINIA L. STRINGER*	Director
TERENCE J. TOTH*	Director

* An original power of attorney authorizing, among others, Kevin J. McCarthy and Gifford R. Zimmerman to execute this registration statement, and amendments thereto, for each of the directors of the Registrant on whose behalf this registration statement is filed, has been executed and has previously been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference herein.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number		Exhibit
	101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
	101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
	101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
	101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
	101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
	101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the Fund is capital appreciation.
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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 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	September 30, 2016
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 154% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	154.00%
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 September 30, 2016. 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 common stocks of large-capitalization companies, defined as companies that have market capitalizations of $5 billion or greater. The sub-adviser will select companies based on a combination of value and growth objectives, seeking companies that meet at least two of the following criteria: Attractively valued relative to other companies in the same industry or market. Strong or improving cash flows, revenue and earnings growth, or other fundamentals. Strong competitive position. An identifiable catalyst that could increase the value of the company’s stock over the next one or two years. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers. The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.
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: Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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. Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market. Large-Cap Stock Risk—Because it invests primarily in large-capitalization stocks, the Fund may underperform funds that invest primarily in stocks of smaller capitalization companies during periods when the stocks of such companies are in favor. 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.
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 ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 17.42% and -23.26%, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Nuveen Large Cap Select 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 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	0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.31%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.31%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.01%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.30%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	700
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	965
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,250
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,062
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	700
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	965
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,250
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,062
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	8.91%	[4]
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	11.21%	[4]
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	5.33%	[4]
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(41.21%)	[4]
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	31.75%	[4]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	19.21%	[4]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(8.49%)	[4]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	18.26%	[4]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	37.59%	[4]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	10.03%	[4]
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	17.42%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(23.26%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.69%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.98%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.16%
Nuveen Large Cap Select 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	0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.32%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	2.07%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.02%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	2.05%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	208
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	646
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,111
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,397
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	208
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	646
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,111
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,397
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.21%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.47%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.97%
Nuveen Large Cap Select 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	0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.31%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.06%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.01%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.05%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	107
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	336
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	583
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,293
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	107
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	336
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	583
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,293
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	10.28%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.60%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.07%
Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund | (return after taxes on distributions) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.60%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.93%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.58%
Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund | (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.16%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.41%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.79%
Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund | S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	13.69%	[5]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.45%	[5]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.67%	[5]
Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund | Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	11.32%	[6]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.90%	[6]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.04%	[6]

[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 agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.05% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. 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] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[5] An unmanaged index generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market.

[6] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Classification.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investment results that correspond to the performance of the Russell 2000® Index (Russell 2000 Index).
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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 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	September 30, 2016
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 12% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	12.00%
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 September 30, 2016. 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 90% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in common stocks included in the Russell 2000 Index. This index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index (which is made up of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization). Reconstitution of the index occurs annually. As of January 31, 2015, market capitalizations of companies in the Russell 2000 Index ranged from approximately $16.0 million to $10.6 billion. The Fund’s sub-adviser believes that the Fund’s objective can best be achieved by investing in common stocks of at least 90% of the issues included in the Russell 2000 Index, depending on the size of the Fund. A computer program is used to identify which stocks should be purchased or sold in order to replicate, as closely as practicable, the composition of the Russell 2000 Index. Because the Fund may not always hold all of the stocks included in the Russell 2000 Index, and because the Fund has expenses and the index does not, the Fund will not duplicate the index’s performance precisely. However, the Fund’s sub-adviser believes there should be a close correlation between the Fund’s performance and that of the Russell 2000 Index in both rising and falling markets. The Fund will attempt to achieve a correlation between the performance of its portfolio and that of the Russell 2000 Index of at least 95%, without taking into account expenses of the Fund. A perfect correlation would be indicated by a figure of 100%, which would be achieved if the Fund’s net asset value, including the value of its dividends and capital gains distributions, increased or decreased in exact proportion to changes in the Russell 2000 Index. If the Fund is unable to achieve a correlation of 95% over time, the Fund’s board of directors will consider alternative strategies for the Fund. The Fund may invest in stock index futures contracts, options on stock indices, and options on stock index futures (“derivatives”) on the Russell 2000 Index. The Fund makes these investments to maintain the liquidity needed to meet redemption requests, to increase the level of Fund assets devoted to replicating the composition of the Russell 2000 Index, and to reduce transaction costs.
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: 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. Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market. Failure to Match Index Performance—The Fund may not replicate the performance of the Russell 2000 Index. Small-Cap Stock Risk—Small-cap stocks involve substantial risk. Prices of small-cap stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements, and to wider fluctuations, than stock prices of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. It may be difficult to sell small-cap stocks at the desired time and price.
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.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 20.68% and -25.79%, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund | Class A
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	0.33%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.45%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.09%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.22%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.87%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	89
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	311
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	567
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,297
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	89
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	311
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	567
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,297
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	3.49%	[4]
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	17.49%	[4]
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	(2.08%)	[4]
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(33.78%)	[4]
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	26.85%	[4]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	26.20%	[4]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(4.75%)	[4]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	15.74%	[4]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	38.02%	[4]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	4.30%	[4]
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	20.68%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(25.79%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.30%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.90%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.19%
Nuveen Small Cap Index 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	0.33%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.45%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.84%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.22%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.62%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	165
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	544
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	963
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,130
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	165
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	544
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	963
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,130
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.50%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.03%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.39%
Nuveen Small Cap Index 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	0.33%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.45%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.34%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.22%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.12%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	114
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	390
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	700
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,582
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	114
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	390
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	700
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,582
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.07%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.61%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.93%
Nuveen Small Cap Index 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	0.33%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.45%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.84%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.22%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.62%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	63
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	233
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	431
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,004
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	63
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	233
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	431
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,004
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.54%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.17%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.46%
Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund | (return after taxes on distributions) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.51%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.94%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.95%
Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund | (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.41%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.89%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.68%
Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund | Russell 2000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.89%	[5]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.55%	[5]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.77%	[5]
Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund | Lipper Small-Cap Core Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.85%	[6]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.41%	[6]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.69%	[6]

[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 agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.58% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. 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] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[5] An index that measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000® is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership.

[6] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Small-Cap Core Funds Classification.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the Fund is capital appreciation.
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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 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	September 30, 2016
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 55% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	55.00%
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
Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text]	rr_ExpensesRestatedToReflectCurrent	Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements have been restated to reflect current contractual fees.
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 September 30, 2016. 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 common stocks of small-capitalization companies. Small-capitalization companies are defined as companies that have market capitalizations within the market capitalization range of the companies in the Russell 2000 Index on the last business day of the month in which its most recent reconstitution was completed. Reconstitution of the index currently is completed in June of each year. On June 30, 2014, the range was $143 million to $4.51 billion. In selecting stocks, the Fund’s sub-adviser invests in companies that it believes meet at least two of the following criteria: Undervalued relative to other companies in the same industry or market; Good or improving fundamentals; and An identifiable catalyst that could close the gap between market value and fair value over the next one to two years. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers. The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.
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: Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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. Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market. 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. Small-Cap Stock Risk—Small-cap stocks involve substantial risk. Prices of small-cap stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements, and to wider fluctuations, than stock prices of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. It may be difficult to sell small-cap stocks at the desired time and price. Value Stock Risk—The intrinsic value of a stock with value characteristics may not be fully recognized by the market for a long time or a stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced at a low level.
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 ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 19.73% and -22.12%, respectively, for the quarters ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2008.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Nuveen Small Cap Value 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 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	0.89%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.33%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.09%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.56%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.08%)	[3],[4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.48%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	717
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	1,027
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,365
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,314
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	717
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	1,027
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,365
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,314
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	6.93%	[5]
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	17.72%	[5]
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	(6.00%)	[5]
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(29.90%)	[5]
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	18.27%	[5]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	28.22%	[5]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(0.09%)	[5]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	14.16%	[5]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	38.67%	[5]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	4.86%	[5]
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2011
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	19.73%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(22.12%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.19%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.92%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.00%
Nuveen Small Cap Value 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	0.89%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.32%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.09%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	2.30%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.07%)	[3],[4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	2.23%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	226
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	708
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,220
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,627
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	226
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	708
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,220
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,627
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.05%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.42%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.84%
Nuveen Small Cap Value 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	0.89%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.33%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.09%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.81%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.08%)	[3],[4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.73%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	176
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	557
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	968
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,116
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	176
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	557
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	968
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,116
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.57%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	16.00%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.38%
Nuveen Small Cap Value 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	0.89%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.33%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.09%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.31%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.08%)	[3],[4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.23%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	125
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	403
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	706
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,568
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	125
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	403
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	706
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,568
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.13%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	16.55%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.89%
Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund | (return after taxes on distributions) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.28%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.87%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.91%
Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund | (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.60%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.04%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.44%
Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund | Russell 2000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.22%	[6]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.26%	[6]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.89%	[6]
Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund | Lipper Small-Cap Value Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.49%	[7]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.45%	[7]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.45%	[7]

[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 agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.15% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. 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] Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements have been restated to reflect current contractual fees.

[5] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[6] An index that measures the performance of those Russell 2000® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

[7] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Small-Cap Value Funds Classification.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the Fund is capital appreciation.
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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 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	September 30, 2016
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 127% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	127.00%
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 September 30, 2016. 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 common stocks of mid-capitalization companies. Mid-capitalization companies are defined as companies that have market capitalizations within the market capitalization range of the companies in the Russell Midcap® Index on the last business day of the month in which its most recent reconstitution was completed. Reconstitution of the index currently is completed in June of each year. On June 30, 2014, the range was $1.6 billion to $29.9 billion. In selecting stocks, the Fund’s sub-adviser invests in companies that it believes are undervalued relative to other companies in the same industry or market, exhibit good or improving fundamentals, and exhibit an identifiable catalyst that could close the gap between market value and fair value over the next one to two years. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers. The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.
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: Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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. Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market. Mid-Cap Stock Risk—Stocks of mid-cap companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than those of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. 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. Value Stock Risk—The intrinsic value of a stock with value characteristics may not be fully recognized by the market for a long time or a stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced at a low level.
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 ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 18.57% and -21.15%, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2011.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Nuveen Mid Cap Value 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 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	0.90%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.27%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.42%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.08%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.34%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	704
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	987
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,295
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,169
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	704
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	987
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,295
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,169
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	12.33%	[4]
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	14.72%	[4]
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	4.41%	[4]
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(36.50%)	[4]
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	28.53%	[4]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	20.47%	[4]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(7.42%)	[4]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	9.93%	[4]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	38.68%	[4]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	9.43%	[4]
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	18.57%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(21.15%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.15%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.89%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.77%
Nuveen Mid Cap Value 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	0.90%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.27%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	2.17%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.08%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	2.09%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	212
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	667
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,153
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,493
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	212
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	667
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,153
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,493
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.64%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.37%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.60%
Nuveen Mid Cap Value 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	0.90%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.27%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.67%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.08%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.59%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	162
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	514
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	895
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,965
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	162
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	514
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	895
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,965
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.18%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.95%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.14%
Nuveen Mid Cap Value 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	0.90%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.27%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.17%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.08%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.09%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	111
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	359
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	631
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,409
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	111
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	359
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	631
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,409
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.74%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.49%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.67%
Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund | (return after taxes on distributions) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.91%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.71%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.26%
Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund | (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.91%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.49%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.42%
Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund | Russell Midcap® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	14.75%	[5]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	17.43%	[5]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.43%	[5]
Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund | Lipper Mid-Cap Value Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.59%	[6]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.33%	[6]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.98%	[6]

[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 agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.09% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. 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] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[5] An index that measures the performance of the mid-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell Midcap® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

[6] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Mid-Cap Value Funds Classification.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the Fund is capital appreciation.
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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 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)
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 90% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	90.00%
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 and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. 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 common stocks of small-capitalization companies. Small-capitalization companies are defined as companies that have market capitalizations within the market capitalization range of the companies in the Russell 2000 Index on the last business day of the month in which its most recent reconstitution was completed. Reconstitution of the index currently is completed in June of each year. On June 30, 2014, the range was $143 million to $4.51 billion. In selecting stocks, the Fund’s sub-adviser invests in companies that it believes meet one or more of the following criteria: Attractively valued relative to other companies in the same industry or market. Strong or improving cash flows, revenue and earnings growth, or other fundamentals. Strong competitive position. Strong management teams. An identifiable catalyst that could increase the value of the company’s stock over the next one or two years. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers. The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.
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: Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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. Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market. 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. Small-Cap Stock Risk—Small-cap stocks involve substantial risk. Prices of small-cap stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements, and to wider fluctuations, than stock prices of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. It may be difficult to sell small-cap stocks at the desired time and price.
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 ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 21.20% and -23.68%, respectively, for the quarters ended December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Nuveen Small Cap Select 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 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	0.89%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.29%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.12%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.55%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	724
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	1,036
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,371
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,314
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	724
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	1,036
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,371
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,314
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	8.47%	[3]
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	19.07%	[3]
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	(5.46%)	[3]
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(34.31%)	[3]
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	37.52%	[3]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	22.91%	[3]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(2.03%)	[3]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	12.07%	[3]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	31.92%	[3]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	5.44%	[3]
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2011
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	21.20%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(23.68%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.61%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.08%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.91%
Nuveen Small Cap Select 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	0.89%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.30%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.12%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	2.31%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	234
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	721
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,235
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,646
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	234
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	721
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,235
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,646
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.64%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.57%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.74%
Nuveen Small Cap Select 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	0.89%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.29%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.12%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.80%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	183
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	566
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	975
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,116
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	183
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	566
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	975
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,116
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.13%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.13%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.28%
Nuveen Small Cap Select 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	0.89%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.29%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.12%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.30%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	132
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	412
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	713
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,568
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	132
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	412
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	713
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,568
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.65%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.69%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.80%
Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund | (return after taxes on distributions) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(8.10%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.08%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.59%
Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund | (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.30%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.23%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.16%
Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund | Russell 2000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.89%	[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.55%	[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.77%	[4]
Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund | Lipper Small-Cap Core Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.85%	[5]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.41%	[5]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.69%	[5]

[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 performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[4] An index that measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000® is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership.

[5] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Small-Cap Core Funds Classification.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the Fund is long-term growth of capital.
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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 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)
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 66% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	66.00%
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 and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. 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 common stocks of large-capitalization companies, defined as companies that have market capitalizations of $5 billion or greater. In selecting stocks, the Fund’s sub-adviser invests in companies that it believes exhibit the potential for superior growth based on factors such as above average growth in revenue and earnings, strong competitive position, strong management, and sound financial condition. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers. The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.
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: Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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. Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market. Growth Stock Risk—Growth stocks tend to be more volatile than certain other types of stocks and their prices usually fluctuate more dramatically than the overall stock market. A stock with growth characteristics can have sharp price declines due to decreases in current or expected earnings and may lack dividends that can help cushion its share price in a declining market. 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.
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 ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 18.58% and -21.12%, respectively, for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2008.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities 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 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	0.82%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.18%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.25%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	695
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	949
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,222
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,999
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	695
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	949
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,222
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,999
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	6.83%	[3]
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	4.12%	[3]
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	17.29%	[3]
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(37.43%)	[3]
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	33.42%	[3]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	22.13%	[3]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(2.91%)	[3]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	14.17%	[3]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	33.29%	[3]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	7.29%	[3]
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2012
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	18.58%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(21.12%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.12%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.79%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.11%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Jan. 09, 1995
Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities 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	0.82%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.18%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	2.00%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	203
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	627
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,078
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,327
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	203
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	627
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,078
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,327
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	6.50%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.28%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.94%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 24, 2001
Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities 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	0.82%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.18%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.50%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	153
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	474
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	818
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,791
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	153
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	474
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	818
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,791
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.01%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.84%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.48%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 27, 2000
Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities 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 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	0.82%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.08%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.90%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	92
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	287
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	498
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,108
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	92
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	287
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	498
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,108
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.67%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	18.85%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Feb. 28, 2013
Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities 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	0.82%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.18%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.00%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	102
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	318
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	552
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,225
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	102
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	318
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	552
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,225
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.53%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.41%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.02%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Dec. 29, 1992
Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | (return after taxes on distributions) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.98%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.81%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.99%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Jan. 09, 1995
Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.84%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.10%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.70%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Jan. 09, 1995
Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | Russell 1000® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	13.05%	[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.81%	[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.49%	[4]
Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | Russell 1000® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class R6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	21.39%	[4]
Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	10.49%	[5]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.10%	[5]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.61%	[5]
Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads) | Class R6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	20.52%	[5]

[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 performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[4] An index that measures the performance of those Russell 1000® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

[5] Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds Classification.

XML

Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund

Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund (USD $)		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)		5.75%	none	none	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	[1]	none	1.00%	none	none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none	none	none
Exchange Fee		none	none	none	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	[2]	15	15	none	15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Management Fees		0.90%	0.90%	0.90%	0.90%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.25%	1.00%	0.50%	none
Other Expenses		0.27%	0.27%	0.27%	0.27%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		1.42%	2.17%	1.67%	1.17%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	(0.08%)	(0.08%)	(0.08%)	(0.08%)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements		1.34%	2.09%	1.59%	1.09%

Example

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 September 30, 2016. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Redemption

Expense Example Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	704	212	162	111
3 Years	987	667	514	359
5 Years	1,295	1,153	895	631
10 Years	2,169	2,493	1,965	1,409

No Redemption

Expense Example, No Redemption Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	704	212	162	111
3 Years	987	667	514	359
5 Years	1,295	1,153	895	631
10 Years	2,169	2,493	1,965	1,409

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 127% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

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 common stocks of mid-capitalization companies. Mid-capitalization companies are defined as companies that have market capitalizations within the market capitalization range of the companies in the Russell Midcap^® Index on the last business day of the month in which its most recent reconstitution was completed. Reconstitution of the index currently is completed in June of each year. On June 30, 2014, the range was $1.6 billion to $29.9 billion.

In selecting stocks, the Fund’s sub-adviser invests in companies that it believes are undervalued relative to other companies in the same industry or market, exhibit good or improving fundamentals, and exhibit an identifiable catalyst that could close the gap between market value and fair value over the next one to two years. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers.

The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.

Principal Risks

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:

Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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.

Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market.

Mid-Cap Stock Risk—Stocks of mid-cap companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than those of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general.

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.

Value Stock Risk—The intrinsic value of a stock with value characteristics may not be fully recognized by the market for a long time or a stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced at a low level.

Fund Performance

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.

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.

Class A Annual Total Return

During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 18.57% and -21.15%, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2011.

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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.

Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended
December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A		3.15%	11.89%	6.77%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions)		2.91%	11.71%	6.26%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares)		1.91%	9.49%	5.42%
Class C		8.64%	12.37%	6.60%
Class R3		9.18%	12.95%	7.14%
Class I		9.74%	13.49%	7.67%
Russell Midcap® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]	14.75%	17.43%	9.43%
Lipper Mid-Cap Value Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]	9.59%	15.33%	7.98%

[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).

[1] The Fund’s investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.09% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Fund’s Board of Directors.

[1] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[1] An index that measures the performance of the mid-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell Midcap® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

[2] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Mid-Cap Value Funds Classification.

XML

Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund

Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investment results that correspond to the performance of the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400^® Index (S&P MidCap 400 Index).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund (USD $)		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)		none	none	none	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	[1]	none	1.00%	none	none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none	none	none
Exchange Fee		none	none	none	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	[2]	15	15	none	15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Management Fees		0.31%	0.31%	0.31%	0.31%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.25%	1.00%	0.50%	none
Other Expenses		0.24%	0.24%	0.24%	0.24%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses		0.01%	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		0.81%	1.56%	1.06%	0.56%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	(0.07%)	(0.07%)	(0.07%)	(0.07%)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements		0.74%	1.49%	0.99%	0.49%

Example

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 September 30, 2016. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Redemption

Expense Example Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	76	152	101	50
3 Years	247	482	326	168
5 Years	439	839	574	302
10 Years	991	1,847	1,284	691

No Redemption

Expense Example, No Redemption Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	76	152	101	50
3 Years	247	482	326	168
5 Years	439	839	574	302
10 Years	991	1,847	1,284	691

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 10% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 90% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in common stocks included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index. This index is an unmanaged market-value weighted index consisting of 400 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, sector representation and other factors that represents the mid range sector of the U.S. stock market. Reconstitution of the index occurs both on a quarterly and ongoing basis. As of January 30, 2015, market capitalizations of companies in the S&P MidCap 400 Index ranged from approximately $757.0 million to $15.8 billion.

The Fund’s sub-adviser believes that the Fund’s objective can best be achieved by investing in common stocks of 90% to 100% of the issues included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index, depending on the size of the Fund. A computer program is used to identify which stocks should be purchased or sold in order to replicate, as closely as practicable, the composition of the S&P MidCap 400 Index.

Because the Fund may not always hold all of the stocks included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index, and because the Fund has expenses and the index does not, the Fund will not duplicate the index’s performance precisely. However, the Fund’s sub-adviser believes there should be a close correlation between the Fund’s performance and that of the S&P MidCap 400 Index in both rising and falling markets. The Fund will attempt to achieve a correlation between the performance of its portfolio and that of the S&P MidCap 400 Index of at least 95%, without taking into account expenses of the Fund. A perfect correlation would be indicated by a figure of 100%, which would be achieved if the Fund’s net asset value, including the value of its dividends and capital gains distributions, increased or decreased in exact proportion to changes in the S&P MidCap 400 Index. If the Fund is unable to achieve a correlation of 95% over time, the Fund’s board of directors will consider alternative strategies for the Fund.

The Fund may invest in stock index futures contracts, options on stock indices, and options on stock index futures (“derivatives”) on the S&P MidCap 400 Index. The Fund makes these investments to maintain the liquidity needed to meet redemption requests, to increase the level of Fund assets devoted to replicating the composition of the S&P MidCap 400 Index, and to reduce transaction costs.

Principal Risks

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:

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.

Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market.

Failure to Match Index Performance—The Fund may not replicate the performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Index.

Mid-Cap Stock Risk—Stocks of mid-cap companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than those of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general.

Fund Performance

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.

The bar chart below shows the variability of the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.

Class A Annual Total Return

During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 19.81% and -25.52%, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.

Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended
December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A		9.03%	15.82%	9.12%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions)		7.43%	14.88%	8.10%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares)		6.09%	12.69%	7.35%
Class C		8.18%	14.94%	8.30%
Class R3		8.69%	15.52%	8.84%
Class I		9.28%	16.09%	9.38%
S&P MidCap 400® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]	9.77%	16.54%	9.71%
Lipper Mid-Cap Core Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]	8.26%	14.62%	8.05%

[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).

[1] The Fund’s investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.50% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Fund’s Board of Directors.

[1] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[1] An unmanaged, market value-weighted index of 400 mid-cap companies.

[2] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Mid-Cap Core Funds Classification.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Nuveen Dividend Value Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Nuveen Dividend Value Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the Fund is long-term growth of capital and income.
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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 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)
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 27% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	27.00%
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 and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. 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 equity securities. In selecting securities, the Fund’s sub-adviser will invest in companies that it believes have the ability to pay above average dividends and finance expected growth and are trading at attractive valuations. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a security if the security is no longer expected to meet the sub-adviser’s dividend or growth expectations or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace. The Fund will attempt to maintain a dividend that will grow over time. As a result, higher-yielding equity securities will generally represent the core holdings of the Fund. However, the Fund also may invest in lower-yielding, higher-growth equity securities if the sub-adviser believes they will help balance the portfolio. The Fund’s equity securities include common stocks, convertible preferred stocks, and corporate debt securities that are convertible into common stocks. All such equity securities will provide current income at the time of purchase. The Fund invests in convertible securities in pursuit of both long-term growth of capital and income. The securities’ conversion features provide long-term growth potential, while interest payments on the securities provide income. The Fund may invest in convertible securities without regard to their ratings, and therefore may hold convertible securities which are rated lower than investment grade. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers. The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.
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: Convertible Security Risk—The value of the Fund’s convertible securities may decline in response to such factors as rising interest rates and fluctuations in the market price of the common stock underlying the convertible securities. 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, the value of dividends and 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. Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market. 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. 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. When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-duration debt securities. 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.
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 ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 14.18% and -17.11%, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Nuveen Dividend Value 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 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	0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.15%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.15%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	685
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	919
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,172
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,892
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	685
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	919
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,172
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,892
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	4.65%	[3]
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	19.61%	[3]
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	6.53%	[3]
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(32.30%)	[3]
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	24.05%	[3]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	17.03%	[3]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	2.14%	[3]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	14.32%	[3]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	30.37%	[3]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	8.41%	[3]
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	14.18%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(17.11%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.16%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.72%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.38%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Dec. 18, 1992
Nuveen Dividend Value 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	0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.15%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.90%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	193
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	597
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,026
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,222
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	193
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	597
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,026
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,222
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.70%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.24%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.22%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Feb. 01, 1999
Nuveen Dividend Value 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	0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.15%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.40%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	143
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	443
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	766
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,680
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	143
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	443
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	766
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,680
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.16%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.80%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.74%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 24, 2001
Nuveen Dividend Value 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 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	0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.81%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	83
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	259
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	450
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,002
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	83
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	259
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	450
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,002
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.81%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	17.45%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Feb. 28, 2013
Nuveen Dividend Value 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	0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.15%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.90%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	92
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	287
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	498
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,108
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	92
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	287
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	498
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,108
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.75%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.36%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.29%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Aug. 02, 1994
Nuveen Dividend Value Fund | (return after taxes on distributions) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.01%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.30%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.26%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Dec. 18, 1992
Nuveen Dividend Value Fund | (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.90%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.13%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.95%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Dec. 18, 1992
Nuveen Dividend Value Fund | Russell 1000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	13.45%	[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.42%	[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.30%	[4]
Nuveen Dividend Value Fund | Russell 1000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class R6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	19.61%	[4]
Nuveen Dividend Value Fund | Lipper Equity Income Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.76%	[5]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.28%	[5]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.23%	[5]
Nuveen Dividend Value Fund | Lipper Equity Income Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads) | Class R6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	7.23%	[5]

[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 performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[4] An index that measures the performance of those Russell 1000® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

[5] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Equity Income Funds Classification.

XML

Nuveen Dividend Value Fund

Nuveen Dividend Value Fund

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is long-term growth of capital and income.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Nuveen Dividend Value Fund (USD $)		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class R6	Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)		5.75%	none	none	none	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	[1]	none	1.00%	none	none	none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none	none	none	none
Exchange Fee		none	none	none	none	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	[2]	15	15	none	none	15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Nuveen Dividend Value Fund	Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class R6	Class I
Management Fees	0.75%	0.75%	0.75%	0.75%	0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	0.25%	1.00%	0.50%	none	none
Other Expenses	0.15%	0.15%	0.15%	0.06%	0.15%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	1.15%	1.90%	1.40%	0.81%	0.90%

Example

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 and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Redemption

Expense Example Nuveen Dividend Value Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	R6	I
1 Year	685	193	143	83	92
3 Years	919	597	443	259	287
5 Years	1,172	1,026	766	450	498
10 Years	1,892	2,222	1,680	1,002	1,108

No Redemption

Expense Example, No Redemption Nuveen Dividend Value Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	R6	I
1 Year	685	193	143	83	92
3 Years	919	597	443	259	287
5 Years	1,172	1,026	766	450	498
10 Years	1,892	2,222	1,680	1,002	1,108

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 27% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

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 equity securities. In selecting securities, the Fund’s sub-adviser will invest in companies that it believes have the ability to pay above average dividends and finance expected growth and are trading at attractive valuations. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a security if the security is no longer expected to meet the sub-adviser’s dividend or growth expectations or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace.

The Fund will attempt to maintain a dividend that will grow over time. As a result, higher-yielding equity securities will generally represent the core holdings of the Fund. However, the Fund also may invest in lower-yielding, higher-growth equity securities if the sub-adviser believes they will help balance the portfolio. The Fund’s equity securities include common stocks, convertible preferred stocks, and corporate debt securities that are convertible into common stocks. All such equity securities will provide current income at the time of purchase.

The Fund invests in convertible securities in pursuit of both long-term growth of capital and income. The securities’ conversion features provide long-term growth potential, while interest payments on the securities provide income. The Fund may invest in convertible securities without regard to their ratings, and therefore may hold convertible securities which are rated lower than investment grade.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers.

The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.

Principal Risks

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:

Convertible Security Risk—The value of the Fund’s convertible securities may decline in response to such factors as rising interest rates and fluctuations in the market price of the common stock underlying the convertible securities.

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, the value of dividends and 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.

Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market.

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.

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. When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-duration debt securities.

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.

Fund Performance

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.

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.

Class A Annual Total Return

During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 14.18% and -17.11%, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.

Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended
December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns Nuveen Dividend Value Fund		Inception Date	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception
Class A		Dec. 18, 1992	2.16%	12.72%	7.38%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions)		Dec. 18, 1992	(0.01%)	11.30%	6.26%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares)		Dec. 18, 1992	2.90%	10.13%	5.95%
Class C		Feb. 01, 1999	7.70%	13.24%	7.22%
Class R3		Sep. 24, 2001	8.16%	13.80%	7.74%
Class R6		Feb. 28, 2013	8.81%			17.45%
Class R6 Russell 1000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]					19.61%
Class R6 Lipper Equity Income Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]					7.23%
Class I		Aug. 02, 1994	8.75%	14.36%	8.29%
Russell 1000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]		13.45%	15.42%	7.30%
Lipper Equity Income Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]		9.76%	13.28%	7.23%

[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).

[1] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[1] An index that measures the performance of those Russell 1000® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

[2] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Equity Income Funds Classification.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the Fund is growth of capital.
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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 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	September 30, 2016.
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 125% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	125.00%
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 September 30, 2016. 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 common stocks of small-capitalization companies. Small-capitalization companies are defined as companies that have market capitalizations within the market capitalization range of the companies in the Russell 2000 Index on the last business day of the month in which its most recent reconstitution was completed. Reconstitution of the index currently is completed in June of each year. On June 30, 2014, the range was $143 million to $4.51 billion. In selecting stocks, the Fund’s sub-adviser invests in companies that it believes exhibit the potential for superior growth based on factors such as above-average growth in revenue and earnings, strong competitive position, strong management, and sound financial condition. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers. The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.
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: Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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. Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market. Growth Stock Risk—Growth stocks tend to be more volatile than certain other types of stocks and their prices usually fluctuate more dramatically than the overall stock market. A stock with growth characteristics can have sharp price declines due to decreases in current or expected earnings and may lack dividends that can help cushion its share price in a declining market. 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. Small-Cap Stock Risk—Small-cap stocks involve substantial risk. Prices of small-cap stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements, and to wider fluctuations, than stock prices of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. It may be difficult to sell small-cap stocks at the desired time and price.
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 ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 27.78% and -28.23%, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities 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 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	1.00%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.32%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.57%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.10%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.47%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	716
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	1,027
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,367
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,322
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	716
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	1,027
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,367
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,322
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	9.42%	[4]
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	4.78%	[4]
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	3.19%	[4]
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(40.35%)	[4]
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	49.37%	[4]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	31.05%	[4]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(5.16%)	[4]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	10.99%	[4]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	40.66%	[4]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	6.67%	[4]
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	27.78%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(28.23%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.53%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.30%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.48%
Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities 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	1.00%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.32%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	2.32%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.10%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	2.22%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	225
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	709
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,226
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,644
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	225
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	709
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,226
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,644
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.89%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.81%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.31%
Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities 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	1.00%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.32%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.82%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.10%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.72%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	175
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	557
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	970
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,124
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	175
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	557
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	970
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,124
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	6.46%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.37%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.86%
Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities 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	1.00%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.32%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.32%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.10%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.22%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	124
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	402
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	708
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,576
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	124
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	402
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	708
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,576
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	6.97%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.95%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.38%
Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | (return after taxes on distributions) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.08%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.70%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.14%
Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.83%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	10.77%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.14%
Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | Russell 2000® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.60%	[5]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	16.80%	[5]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.54%	[5]
Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | Lipper Small-Cap Growth Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.23%	[6]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.75%	[6]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.91%	[6]

[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 agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.22% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. 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] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[5] An index that measures the performance of those Russell 2000® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

[6] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Small-Cap Growth Funds Classification.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Nuveen Equity Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Nuveen Equity Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investment results that correspond to the performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index (S&P 500 Index).
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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 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	September 30, 2016
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 2% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	2.00%
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 September 30, 2016. 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 90% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in common stocks included in the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged market-value weighted index consisting of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, sector performance and other factors. The index tracks the performance of the large cap U.S. equity market. Reconstitution of the index occurs both on a quarterly and ongoing basis. As of January 30, 2015, market capitalizations of companies in the S&P 500 Index ranged from approximately $2.4 billion to $687.1 billion. The Fund’s sub-adviser believes that the Fund’s objective can best be achieved by investing in common stocks of 90% to 100% of the issues included in the S&P 500 Index, depending on the size of the Fund. A computer program is used to identify which stocks should be purchased or sold in order to replicate, as closely as possible, the composition of the S&P 500 Index. Because the Fund may not always hold all of the stocks included in the S&P 500 Index, and because the Fund has expenses and the index does not, the Fund will not duplicate the index’s performance precisely. However, the Fund’s sub-adviser believes there should be a close correlation between the Fund’s performance and that of the S&P 500 Index in both rising and falling markets. The Fund will attempt to achieve a correlation between the performance of its portfolio and that of the S&P 500 Index of at least 95%, without taking into account expenses of the Fund. A perfect correlation would be indicated by a figure of 100%, which would be achieved if the Fund’s net asset value, including the value of its dividends and capital gains distributions, increased or decreased in exact proportion to changes in the S&P 500 Index. If the Fund is unable to achieve a correlation of 95% over time, the Fund’s board of directors will consider alternative strategies for the Fund. The Fund may invest in stock index futures contracts, options on stock indices, and options on stock index futures (“derivatives”) on the S&P 500 Index. The Fund makes these investments to maintain the liquidity needed to meet redemption requests, to increase the level of Fund assets devoted to replicating the composition of the S&P 500 Index, and to reduce transaction costs.
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: 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. Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market. Failure to Match Index Performance—The Fund may not replicate the performance of the S&P 500 Index.
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.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 15.79% and -22.00%, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Nuveen Equity Index Fund | Class A
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	0.27%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.73%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.11%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.62%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	63
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	216
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	389
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	890
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	63
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	216
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	389
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	890
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	4.38%	[4]
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	15.23%	[4]
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	4.94%	[4]
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(37.18%)	[4]
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	25.99%	[4]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	14.40%	[4]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	1.56%	[4]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	15.29%	[4]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	31.44%	[4]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	13.04%	[4]
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	15.79%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(22.00%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	13.04%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.76%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.11%
Nuveen Equity Index 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	0.27%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.48%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.11%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.37%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	139
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	451
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	791
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,753
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	139
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	451
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	791
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,753
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	12.15%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.90%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.32%
Nuveen Equity Index 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	0.27%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.98%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.11%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.87%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	89
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	295
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	524
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,185
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	89
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	295
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	524
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,185
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	12.72%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.47%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.85%
Nuveen Equity Index 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	0.27%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.48%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.11%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.37%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	38
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	136
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	251
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	587
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	38
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	136
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	251
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	587
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	13.28%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.04%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.38%
Nuveen Equity Index Fund | (return after taxes on distributions) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	11.41%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	13.24%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.23%
Nuveen Equity Index Fund | (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.64%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.84%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.74%
Nuveen Equity Index Fund | S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	13.69%	[5]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.45%	[5]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.67%	[5]
Nuveen Equity Index Fund | Lipper S&P 500® Index Objective Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	13.07%	[6]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.79%	[6]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.16%	[6]

[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 agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.37% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. 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] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[5] An unmanaged index generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market.

[6] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper S&P 500® Index Objective Funds Classification.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Document Type	dei_DocumentType	485BPOS
Document Period End Date	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate	Oct. 31, 2014
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Central Index Key	dei_EntityCentralIndexKey	0000820892
Amendment Flag	dei_AmendmentFlag	false
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Document Effective Date	dei_DocumentEffectiveDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015

XML

Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund (USD $)		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class R6	Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)		5.75%	none	none	none	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	[1]	none	1.00%	none	none	none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none	none	none	none
Exchange Fee		none	none	none	none	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	[2]	15	15	none	none	15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund	Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class R6	Class I
Management Fees	0.82%	0.82%	0.82%	0.82%	0.82%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	0.25%	1.00%	0.50%	none	none
Other Expenses	0.18%	0.18%	0.18%	0.08%	0.18%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	1.25%	2.00%	1.50%	0.90%	1.00%

Example

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 and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Redemption

Expense Example Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	R6	I
1 Year	695	203	153	92	102
3 Years	949	627	474	287	318
5 Years	1,222	1,078	818	498	552
10 Years	1,999	2,327	1,791	1,108	1,225

No Redemption

Expense Example, No Redemption Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	R6	I
1 Year	695	203	153	92	102
3 Years	949	627	474	287	318
5 Years	1,222	1,078	818	498	552
10 Years	1,999	2,327	1,791	1,108	1,225

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 66% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

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 common stocks of large-capitalization companies, defined as companies that have market capitalizations of $5 billion or greater.

In selecting stocks, the Fund’s sub-adviser invests in companies that it believes exhibit the potential for superior growth based on factors such as above average growth in revenue and earnings, strong competitive position, strong management, and sound financial condition. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers.

The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.

Principal Risks

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:

Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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.

Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market.

Growth Stock Risk—Growth stocks tend to be more volatile than certain other types of stocks and their prices usually fluctuate more dramatically than the overall stock market. A stock with growth characteristics can have sharp price declines due to decreases in current or expected earnings and may lack dividends that can help cushion its share price in a declining market.

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.

Fund Performance

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.

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.

Class A Annual Total Return

During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 18.58% and -21.12%, respectively, for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2008.

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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.

Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended
December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund		Inception Date	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception
Class A		Jan. 09, 1995	1.12%	12.79%	7.11%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions)		Jan. 09, 1995	(2.98%)	10.81%	5.99%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares)		Jan. 09, 1995	3.84%	10.10%	5.70%
Class C		Sep. 24, 2001	6.50%	13.28%	6.94%
Class R3		Nov. 27, 2000	7.01%	13.84%	7.48%
Class R6		Feb. 28, 2013	7.67%			18.85%
Class R6 Russell 1000® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]					21.39%
Class R6 Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]					20.52%
Class I		Dec. 29, 1992	7.53%	14.41%	8.02%
Russell 1000® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]		13.05%	15.81%	8.49%
Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]		10.49%	14.10%	7.61%

[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).

[1] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[1] An index that measures the performance of those Russell 1000® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

[2] Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds Classification.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Feb. 27, 2015

XML

Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund

Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investment results that correspond to the performance of the Russell 2000^® Index (Russell 2000 Index).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund (USD $)		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)		none	none	none	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	[1]	none	1.00%	none	none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none	none	none
Exchange Fee		none	none	none	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	[2]	15	15	none	15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Management Fees		0.33%	0.33%	0.33%	0.33%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.25%	1.00%	0.50%	none
Other Expenses		0.45%	0.45%	0.45%	0.45%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses		0.06%	0.06%	0.06%	0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		1.09%	1.84%	1.34%	0.84%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	(0.22%)	(0.22%)	(0.22%)	(0.22%)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements		0.87%	1.62%	1.12%	0.62%

Example

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 September 30, 2016. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Redemption

Expense Example Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	89	165	114	63
3 Years	311	544	390	233
5 Years	567	963	700	431
10 Years	1,297	2,130	1,582	1,004

No Redemption

Expense Example, No Redemption Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	89	165	114	63
3 Years	311	544	390	233
5 Years	567	963	700	431
10 Years	1,297	2,130	1,582	1,004

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 12% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 90% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in common stocks included in the Russell 2000 Index. This index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index (which is made up of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization). Reconstitution of the index occurs annually. As of January 31, 2015, market capitalizations of companies in the Russell 2000 Index ranged from approximately $16.0 million to $10.6 billion.

The Fund’s sub-adviser believes that the Fund’s objective can best be achieved by investing in common stocks of at least 90% of the issues included in the Russell 2000 Index, depending on the size of the Fund. A computer program is used to identify which stocks should be purchased or sold in order to replicate, as closely as practicable, the composition of the Russell 2000 Index.

Because the Fund may not always hold all of the stocks included in the Russell 2000 Index, and because the Fund has expenses and the index does not, the Fund will not duplicate the index’s performance precisely. However, the Fund’s sub-adviser believes there should be a close correlation between the Fund’s performance and that of the Russell 2000 Index in both rising and falling markets. The Fund will attempt to achieve a correlation between the performance of its portfolio and that of the Russell 2000 Index of at least 95%, without taking into account expenses of the Fund. A perfect correlation would be indicated by a figure of 100%, which would be achieved if the Fund’s net asset value, including the value of its dividends and capital gains distributions, increased or decreased in exact proportion to changes in the Russell 2000 Index. If the Fund is unable to achieve a correlation of 95% over time, the Fund’s board of directors will consider alternative strategies for the Fund.

The Fund may invest in stock index futures contracts, options on stock indices, and options on stock index futures (“derivatives”) on the Russell 2000 Index. The Fund makes these investments to maintain the liquidity needed to meet redemption requests, to increase the level of Fund assets devoted to replicating the composition of the Russell 2000 Index, and to reduce transaction costs.

Principal Risks

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:

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.

Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market.

Failure to Match Index Performance—The Fund may not replicate the performance of the Russell 2000 Index.

Small-Cap Stock Risk—Small-cap stocks involve substantial risk. Prices of small-cap stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements, and to wider fluctuations, than stock prices of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. It may be difficult to sell small-cap stocks at the desired time and price.

Fund Performance

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.

The bar chart below shows the variability of the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.

Class A Annual Total Return

During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 20.68% and -25.79%, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.

Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended
December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns Nuveen Small Cap Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A		4.30%	14.90%	7.19%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions)		2.51%	13.94%	5.95%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares)		3.41%	11.89%	5.68%
Class C		3.50%	14.03%	6.39%
Class R3		4.07%	14.61%	6.93%
Class I		4.54%	15.17%	7.46%
Russell 2000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]	4.89%	15.55%	7.77%
Lipper Small-Cap Core Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]	3.85%	14.41%	7.69%

[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).

[1] The Fund's investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.58% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Fund's Board of Directors.

[1] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[1] An index that measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000® is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership.

[2] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Small-Cap Core Funds Classification.

XML

Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund (USD $)		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class R6	Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)		5.75%	none	none	none	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	[1]	none	1.00%	none	none	none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none	none	none	none
Exchange Fee		none	none	none	none	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	[2]	15	15	none	none	15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund	Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class R6	Class I
Management Fees	0.86%	0.86%	0.86%	0.86%	0.86%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	0.25%	1.00%	0.50%	none	none
Other Expenses	0.19%	0.19%	0.19%	0.06%	0.19%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	1.30%	2.05%	1.55%	0.92%	1.05%

Example

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 and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Redemption

Expense Example Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	R6	I
1 Year	700	208	158	94	107
3 Years	963	643	490	293	334
5 Years	1,247	1,103	845	509	579
10 Years	2,053	2,379	1,845	1,131	1,283

No Redemption

Expense Example, No Redemption Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	R6	I
1 Year	700	208	158	94	107
3 Years	963	643	490	293	334
5 Years	1,247	1,103	845	509	579
10 Years	2,053	2,379	1,845	1,131	1,283

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 106% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

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 common stocks of mid-capitalization companies. Mid-capitalization companies are defined as companies that have market capitalizations within the market capitalization range of the companies in the Russell Midcap^® Index on the last business day of the month in which its most recent reconstitution was completed. Reconstitution of the index currently is completed in June of each year. On June 30, 2014, the range was $1.6 billion to $29.9 billion.

In selecting stocks, the Fund’s sub-adviser invests in companies that it believes exhibit the potential for superior growth based on factors such as above-average growth in revenue and earnings, strong competitive position, strong management, and sound financial condition. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers.

The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.

Principal Risks

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:

Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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.

Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market.

Growth Stock Risk—Growth stocks tend to be more volatile than certain other types of stocks and their prices usually fluctuate more dramatically than the overall stock market. A stock with growth characteristics can have sharp price declines due to decreases in current or expected earnings and may lack dividends that can help cushion its share price in a declining market.

Mid-Cap Stock Risk—Stocks of mid-cap companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than those of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general.

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.

Fund Performance

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.

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.

Class A Annual Total Return

During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 18.22% and -25.45%, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2008.

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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.

Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended
December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund		Inception Date	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception
Class A		Jan. 09, 1995	2.09%	14.66%	8.40%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions)		Jan. 09, 1995	(2.70%)	12.18%	6.66%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares)		Jan. 09, 1995	3.83%	11.54%	6.64%
Class C		Sep. 24, 2001	7.47%	15.15%	8.23%
Class R3		Dec. 11, 2000	8.04%	15.73%	8.77%
Class R6		Feb. 28, 2013	8.72%			20.26%
Class R6 Russell Midcap® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]					20.92%
Class R6 Lipper Mid-Cap Growth Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]					18.03%
Class I		Dec. 28, 1989	8.57%	16.31%	9.31%
Russell Midcap® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]		11.90%	16.94%	9.43%
Lipper Mid-Cap Growth Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]		7.00%	15.14%	8.42%

[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).

[1] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[1] An index that measures the performance of the mid-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell Midcap® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

[2] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Mid-Cap Growth Funds Classification.

XML

Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund

Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund (USD $)		Class A	Class C	Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)		5.75%	none	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	[1]	none	1.00%	none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none	none
Exchange Fee		none	none	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	[2]	15	15	15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund		Class A	Class C	Class I
Management Fees		0.75%	0.75%	0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.25%	1.00%	none
Other Expenses		0.31%	0.32%	0.31%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		1.31%	2.07%	1.06%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	(0.01%)	(0.02%)	(0.01%)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements		1.30%	2.05%	1.05%

Example

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 September 30, 2016. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Redemption

Expense Example Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund (USD $)	A	C	I
1 Year	700	208	107
3 Years	965	646	336
5 Years	1,250	1,111	583
10 Years	2,062	2,397	1,293

No Redemption

Expense Example, No Redemption Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund (USD $)	A	C	I
1 Year	700	208	107
3 Years	965	646	336
5 Years	1,250	1,111	583
10 Years	2,062	2,397	1,293

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 154% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

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 common stocks of large-capitalization companies, defined as companies that have market capitalizations of $5 billion or greater.

The sub-adviser will select companies based on a combination of value and growth objectives, seeking companies that meet at least two of the following criteria:

• Attractively valued relative to other companies in the same industry or market.
• Strong or improving cash flows, revenue and earnings growth, or other fundamentals.
• Strong competitive position.
• An identifiable catalyst that could increase the value of the company’s stock over the next one or two years.

The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers.

The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.

Principal Risks

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:

Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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.

Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market.

Large-Cap Stock Risk—Because it invests primarily in large-capitalization stocks, the Fund may underperform funds that invest primarily in stocks of smaller capitalization companies during periods when the stocks of such companies are in favor.

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.

Fund Performance

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.

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.

Class A Annual Total Return

During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 17.42% and -23.26%, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.

Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended
December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A		3.69%	12.98%	6.16%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions)		3.60%	12.93%	5.58%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares)		2.16%	10.41%	4.79%
Class C		9.21%	13.47%	5.97%
Class I		10.28%	14.60%	7.07%
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]	13.69%	15.45%	7.67%
Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]	11.32%	13.90%	7.04%

[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).

[1] The Fund’s investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.05% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Fund’s Board of Directors.

[1] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[1] An unmanaged index generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market.

[2] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Classification.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investment results that correspond to the performance of the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400® Index (S&P MidCap 400 Index).
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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 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	September 30, 2016
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 10% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	10.00%
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 September 30, 2016. 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 90% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in common stocks included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index. This index is an unmanaged market-value weighted index consisting of 400 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, sector representation and other factors that represents the mid range sector of the U.S. stock market. Reconstitution of the index occurs both on a quarterly and ongoing basis. As of January 30, 2015, market capitalizations of companies in the S&P MidCap 400 Index ranged from approximately $757.0 million to $15.8 billion. The Fund’s sub-adviser believes that the Fund’s objective can best be achieved by investing in common stocks of 90% to 100% of the issues included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index, depending on the size of the Fund. A computer program is used to identify which stocks should be purchased or sold in order to replicate, as closely as practicable, the composition of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. Because the Fund may not always hold all of the stocks included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index, and because the Fund has expenses and the index does not, the Fund will not duplicate the index’s performance precisely. However, the Fund’s sub-adviser believes there should be a close correlation between the Fund’s performance and that of the S&P MidCap 400 Index in both rising and falling markets. The Fund will attempt to achieve a correlation between the performance of its portfolio and that of the S&P MidCap 400 Index of at least 95%, without taking into account expenses of the Fund. A perfect correlation would be indicated by a figure of 100%, which would be achieved if the Fund’s net asset value, including the value of its dividends and capital gains distributions, increased or decreased in exact proportion to changes in the S&P MidCap 400 Index. If the Fund is unable to achieve a correlation of 95% over time, the Fund’s board of directors will consider alternative strategies for the Fund. The Fund may invest in stock index futures contracts, options on stock indices, and options on stock index futures (“derivatives”) on the S&P MidCap 400 Index. The Fund makes these investments to maintain the liquidity needed to meet redemption requests, to increase the level of Fund assets devoted to replicating the composition of the S&P MidCap 400 Index, and to reduce transaction costs.
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: 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. Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market. Failure to Match Index Performance—The Fund may not replicate the performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. Mid-Cap Stock Risk—Stocks of mid-cap companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than those of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general.
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.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 19.81% and -25.52%, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund | Class A
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	0.31%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.24%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.81%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.07%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.74%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	76
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	247
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	439
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	991
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	76
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	247
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	439
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	991
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	11.97%	[4]
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	9.66%	[4]
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	7.36%	[4]
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(36.22%)	[4]
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	36.61%	[4]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	25.75%	[4]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(2.20%)	[4]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	17.26%	[4]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	32.55%	[4]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	9.03%	[4]
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	19.81%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(25.52%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.03%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.82%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.12%
Nuveen Mid Cap Index 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	0.31%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.24%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.56%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.07%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.49%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	152
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	482
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	839
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,847
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	152
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	482
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	839
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,847
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.18%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.94%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.30%
Nuveen Mid Cap Index 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	0.31%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.24%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.06%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.07%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.99%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	101
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	326
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	574
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,284
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	101
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	326
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	574
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,284
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.69%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.52%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.84%
Nuveen Mid Cap Index 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	0.31%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.24%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.56%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.07%)	[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.49%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	50
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	168
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	302
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	691
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	50
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	168
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	302
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	691
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.28%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	16.09%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.38%
Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund | (return after taxes on distributions) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.43%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.88%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.10%
Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund | (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	6.09%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.69%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.35%
Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund | S&P MidCap 400® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.77%	[5]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	16.54%	[5]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.71%	[5]
Nuveen Mid Cap Index Fund | Lipper Mid-Cap Core Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.26%	[6]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.62%	[6]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.05%	[6]

[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 agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.50% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. 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] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[5] An unmanaged, market value-weighted index of 400 mid-cap companies.

[6] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Mid-Cap Core Funds Classification.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Feb. 27, 2015
Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the Fund is capital appreciation.
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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 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)
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 106% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	106.00%
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 and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. 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 common stocks of mid-capitalization companies. Mid-capitalization companies are defined as companies that have market capitalizations within the market capitalization range of the companies in the Russell Midcap® Index on the last business day of the month in which its most recent reconstitution was completed. Reconstitution of the index currently is completed in June of each year. On June 30, 2014, the range was $1.6 billion to $29.9 billion. In selecting stocks, the Fund’s sub-adviser invests in companies that it believes exhibit the potential for superior growth based on factors such as above-average growth in revenue and earnings, strong competitive position, strong management, and sound financial condition. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers. The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.
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: Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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. Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market. Growth Stock Risk—Growth stocks tend to be more volatile than certain other types of stocks and their prices usually fluctuate more dramatically than the overall stock market. A stock with growth characteristics can have sharp price declines due to decreases in current or expected earnings and may lack dividends that can help cushion its share price in a declining market. Mid-Cap Stock Risk—Stocks of mid-cap companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than those of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. 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.
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 ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 18.22% and -25.45%, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2008.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities 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 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	0.86%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.19%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.30%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	700
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	963
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,247
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,053
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	700
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	963
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,247
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,053
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	12.25%	[3]
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	9.38%	[3]
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	16.77%	[3]
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(45.79%)	[3]
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	45.46%	[3]
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	27.58%	[3]
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(2.95%)	[3]
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	14.83%	[3]
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	36.52%	[3]
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	8.32%	[3]
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2010
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	18.22%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(25.45%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.09%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.66%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.40%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Jan. 09, 1995
Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities 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	0.86%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.19%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	2.05%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	208
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	643
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,103
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,379
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	208
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	643
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,103
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,379
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.47%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.15%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.23%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 24, 2001
Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities 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	0.86%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.19%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.55%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	158
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	490
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	845
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,845
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	158
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	490
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	845
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,845
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.04%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.73%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.77%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Dec. 11, 2000
Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities 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 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	0.86%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.92%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	94
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	293
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	509
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,131
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	94
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	293
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	509
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,131
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.72%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	20.26%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Feb. 28, 2013
Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities 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	0.86%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.19%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.05%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	107
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	334
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	579
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,283
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	107
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	334
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	579
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,283
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.57%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	16.31%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.31%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Dec. 28, 1989
Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | (return after taxes on distributions) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.70%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.18%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.66%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Jan. 09, 1995
Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | Class A
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.83%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	11.54%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.64%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Jan. 09, 1995
Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | Russell Midcap® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	11.90%	[4]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	16.94%	[4]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.43%	[4]
Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | Russell Midcap® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class R6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	20.92%	[4]
Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | Lipper Mid-Cap Growth Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.00%	[5]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.14%	[5]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	8.42%	[5]
Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund | Lipper Mid-Cap Growth Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads) | Class R6
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	18.03%	[5]

[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 performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[4] An index that measures the performance of the mid-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell Midcap® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

[5] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Mid-Cap Growth Funds Classification.

XML

Nuveen Equity Index Fund

Nuveen Equity Index Fund

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investment results that correspond to the performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500^® Index (S&P 500 Index).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Nuveen Equity Index Fund (USD $)		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)		none	none	none	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	[1]	none	1.00%	none	none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none	none	none
Exchange Fee		none	none	none	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	[2]	15	15	none	15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Nuveen Equity Index Fund		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Management Fees		0.27%	0.27%	0.27%	0.27%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.25%	1.00%	0.50%	none
Other Expenses		0.21%	0.21%	0.21%	0.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		0.73%	1.48%	0.98%	0.48%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	(0.11%)	(0.11%)	(0.11%)	(0.11%)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements		0.62%	1.37%	0.87%	0.37%

Example

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 September 30, 2016. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Redemption

Expense Example Nuveen Equity Index Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	63	139	89	38
3 Years	216	451	295	136
5 Years	389	791	524	251
10 Years	890	1,753	1,185	587

No Redemption

Expense Example, No Redemption Nuveen Equity Index Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	63	139	89	38
3 Years	216	451	295	136
5 Years	389	791	524	251
10 Years	890	1,753	1,185	587

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 2% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 90% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in common stocks included in the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged market-value weighted index consisting of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, sector performance and other factors. The index tracks the performance of the large cap U.S. equity market. Reconstitution of the index occurs both on a quarterly and ongoing basis. As of January 30, 2015, market capitalizations of companies in the S&P 500 Index ranged from approximately $2.4 billion to $687.1 billion.

The Fund’s sub-adviser believes that the Fund’s objective can best be achieved by investing in common stocks of 90% to 100% of the issues included in the S&P 500 Index, depending on the size of the Fund. A computer program is used to identify which stocks should be purchased or sold in order to replicate, as closely as possible, the composition of the S&P 500 Index.

Because the Fund may not always hold all of the stocks included in the S&P 500 Index, and because the Fund has expenses and the index does not, the Fund will not duplicate the index’s performance precisely. However, the Fund’s sub-adviser believes there should be a close correlation between the Fund’s performance and that of the S&P 500 Index in both rising and falling markets. The Fund will attempt to achieve a correlation between the performance of its portfolio and that of the S&P 500 Index of at least 95%, without taking into account expenses of the Fund. A perfect correlation would be indicated by a figure of 100%, which would be achieved if the Fund’s net asset value, including the value of its dividends and capital gains distributions, increased or decreased in exact proportion to changes in the S&P 500 Index. If the Fund is unable to achieve a correlation of 95% over time, the Fund’s board of directors will consider alternative strategies for the Fund.

The Fund may invest in stock index futures contracts, options on stock indices, and options on stock index futures (“derivatives”) on the S&P 500 Index. The Fund makes these investments to maintain the liquidity needed to meet redemption requests, to increase the level of Fund assets devoted to replicating the composition of the S&P 500 Index, and to reduce transaction costs.

Principal Risks

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:

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.

Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market.

Failure to Match Index Performance—The Fund may not replicate the performance of the S&P 500 Index.

Fund Performance

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.

The bar chart below shows the variability of the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.

Class A Annual Total Return

During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 15.79% and -22.00%, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.

Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended
December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns Nuveen Equity Index Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A		13.04%	14.76%	7.11%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions)		11.41%	13.24%	6.23%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares)		8.64%	11.84%	5.74%
Class C		12.15%	13.90%	6.32%
Class R3		12.72%	14.47%	6.85%
Class I		13.28%	15.04%	7.38%
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]	13.69%	15.45%	7.67%
Lipper S&P 500® Index Objective Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]	13.07%	14.79%	7.16%

[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).

[1] The Fund's investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.37% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Fund's Board of Directors.

[1] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[1] An unmanaged index generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market.

[2] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper S&P 500® Index Objective Funds Classification.

XML

Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund (USD $)		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)		5.75%	none	none	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	[1]	none	1.00%	none	none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none	none	none
Exchange Fee		none	none	none	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	[2]	15	15	none	15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Management Fees		1.00%	1.00%	1.00%	1.00%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.25%	1.00%	0.50%	none
Other Expenses		0.32%	0.32%	0.32%	0.32%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		1.57%	2.32%	1.82%	1.32%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	(0.10%)	(0.10%)	(0.10%)	(0.10%)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements		1.47%	2.22%	1.72%	1.22%

Example

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 September 30, 2016. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Redemption

Expense Example Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	716	225	175	124
3 Years	1,027	709	557	402
5 Years	1,367	1,226	970	708
10 Years	2,322	2,644	2,124	1,576

No Redemption

Expense Example, No Redemption Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	716	225	175	124
3 Years	1,027	709	557	402
5 Years	1,367	1,226	970	708
10 Years	2,322	2,644	2,124	1,576

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 125% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

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 common stocks of small-capitalization companies. Small-capitalization companies are defined as companies that have market capitalizations within the market capitalization range of the companies in the Russell 2000 Index on the last business day of the month in which its most recent reconstitution was completed. Reconstitution of the index currently is completed in June of each year. On June 30, 2014, the range was $143 million to $4.51 billion.

In selecting stocks, the Fund’s sub-adviser invests in companies that it believes exhibit the potential for superior growth based on factors such as above-average growth in revenue and earnings, strong competitive position, strong management, and sound financial condition. The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers.

The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.

Principal Risks

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:

Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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.

Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market.

Growth Stock Risk—Growth stocks tend to be more volatile than certain other types of stocks and their prices usually fluctuate more dramatically than the overall stock market. A stock with growth characteristics can have sharp price declines due to decreases in current or expected earnings and may lack dividends that can help cushion its share price in a declining market.

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.

Small-Cap Stock Risk—Small-cap stocks involve substantial risk. Prices of small-cap stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements, and to wider fluctuations, than stock prices of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. It may be difficult to sell small-cap stocks at the desired time and price.

Fund Performance

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.

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.

Class A Annual Total Return

During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 27.78% and -28.23%, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.

Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended
December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A		0.53%	14.30%	7.48%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions)		(3.08%)	11.70%	5.14%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares)		1.83%	10.77%	5.14%
Class C		5.89%	14.81%	7.31%
Class R3		6.46%	15.37%	7.86%
Class I		6.97%	15.95%	8.38%
Russell 2000® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]	5.60%	16.80%	8.54%
Lipper Small-Cap Growth Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]	2.23%	15.75%	7.91%

[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).

[1] The Fund's investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.22% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Fund's Board of Directors.

[1] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[1] An index that measures the performance of those Russell 2000® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

[2] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Small-Cap Growth Funds Classification.

XML

Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund

Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund (USD $)		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)		5.75%	none	none	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	[1]	none	1.00%	none	none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none	none	none
Exchange Fee		none	none	none	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	[2]	15	15	none	15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Management Fees		0.89%	0.89%	0.89%	0.89%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.25%	1.00%	0.50%	none
Other Expenses		0.33%	0.32%	0.33%	0.33%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses		0.09%	0.09%	0.09%	0.09%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		1.56%	2.30%	1.81%	1.31%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1][2]	(0.08%)	(0.07%)	(0.08%)	(0.08%)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements		1.48%	2.23%	1.73%	1.23%

Example

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 September 30, 2016. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Redemption

Expense Example Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	717	226	176	125
3 Years	1,027	708	557	403
5 Years	1,365	1,220	968	706
10 Years	2,314	2,627	2,116	1,568

No Redemption

Expense Example, No Redemption Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	717	226	176	125
3 Years	1,027	708	557	403
5 Years	1,365	1,220	968	706
10 Years	2,314	2,627	2,116	1,568

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 55% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

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 common stocks of small-capitalization companies. Small-capitalization companies are defined as companies that have market capitalizations within the market capitalization range of the companies in the Russell 2000 Index on the last business day of the month in which its most recent reconstitution was completed. Reconstitution of the index currently is completed in June of each year. On June 30, 2014, the range was $143 million to $4.51 billion.

In selecting stocks, the Fund’s sub-adviser invests in companies that it believes meet at least two of the following criteria:

• Undervalued relative to other companies in the same industry or market;
• Good or improving fundamentals; and
• An identifiable catalyst that could close the gap between market value and fair value over the next one to two years.

The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers.

The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.

Principal Risks

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:

Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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.

Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market.

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.

Small-Cap Stock Risk—Small-cap stocks involve substantial risk. Prices of small-cap stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements, and to wider fluctuations, than stock prices of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. It may be difficult to sell small-cap stocks at the desired time and price.

Value Stock Risk—The intrinsic value of a stock with value characteristics may not be fully recognized by the market for a long time or a stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced at a low level.

Fund Performance

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.

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.

Class A Annual Total Return

During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 19.73% and -22.12%, respectively, for the quarters ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2008.

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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.

Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended
December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A		(1.19%)	14.92%	7.00%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions)		(1.28%)	14.87%	5.91%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares)		(0.60%)	12.04%	5.44%
Class C		4.05%	15.42%	6.84%
Class R3		4.57%	16.00%	7.38%
Class I		5.13%	16.55%	7.89%
Russell 2000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]	4.22%	14.26%	6.89%
Lipper Small-Cap Value Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]	3.49%	14.45%	7.45%

[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).

[1] The Fund's investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through September 30, 2016 so that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.15% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Fund's Board of Directors.

[2] Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements have been restated to reflect current contractual fees.

[1] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[1] An index that measures the performance of those Russell 2000® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

[2] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Small-Cap Value Funds Classification.

XML

Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund

Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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 62 of the Fund’s prospectus, “How to Reduce Your Sales Charge” on page 65 of the prospectus and “Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares” on page S-82 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund (USD $)		Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)		5.75%	none	none	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)	[1]	none	1.00%	none	none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends		none	none	none	none
Exchange Fee		none	none	none	none
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000)	[2]	15	15	none	15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund	Class A	Class C	Class R3	Class I
Management Fees	0.89%	0.89%	0.89%	0.89%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	0.25%	1.00%	0.50%	none
Other Expenses	0.29%	0.30%	0.29%	0.29%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	0.12%	0.12%	0.12%	0.12%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	1.55%	2.31%	1.80%	1.30%

Example

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 and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Redemption

Expense Example Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	724	234	183	132
3 Years	1,036	721	566	412
5 Years	1,371	1,235	975	713
10 Years	2,314	2,646	2,116	1,568

No Redemption

Expense Example, No Redemption Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund (USD $)	A	C	R3	I
1 Year	724	234	183	132
3 Years	1,036	721	566	412
5 Years	1,371	1,235	975	713
10 Years	2,314	2,646	2,116	1,568

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 90% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

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 common stocks of small-capitalization companies. Small-capitalization companies are defined as companies that have market capitalizations within the market capitalization range of the companies in the Russell 2000 Index on the last business day of the month in which its most recent reconstitution was completed. Reconstitution of the index currently is completed in June of each year. On June 30, 2014, the range was $143 million to $4.51 billion.

In selecting stocks, the Fund’s sub-adviser invests in companies that it believes meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Attractively valued relative to other companies in the same industry or market.
• Strong or improving cash flows, revenue and earnings growth, or other fundamentals.
• Strong competitive position.
• Strong management teams.
• An identifiable catalyst that could increase the value of the company’s stock over the next one or two years.

The Fund’s sub-adviser will generally sell a stock if the stock hits its price target, the company’s fundamentals or competitive position significantly deteriorate, or if a better alternative exists in the marketplace.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets, collectively, in non-dollar denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers and in dollar-denominated equity securities of non-U.S. issuers that are either listed on a U.S. stock exchange or represented by depositary receipts that may or may not be sponsored by a domestic bank. Up to 15% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in equity securities of emerging market issuers.

The Fund may utilize options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“derivatives”). The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.

Principal Risks

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:

Currency Risk—Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, the value of dividends and 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.

Equity Security Risk—Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur because of declines in the equity market as a whole, or because of declines in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market.

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.

Small-Cap Stock Risk—Small-cap stocks involve substantial risk. Prices of small-cap stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements, and to wider fluctuations, than stock prices of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. It may be difficult to sell small-cap stocks at the desired time and price.

Fund Performance

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.

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.

Class A Annual Total Return

During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Fund’s highest and lowest quarterly returns were 21.20% and -23.68%, respectively, for the quarters ended December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011.

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 had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.

Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended
December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund		1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A		(0.61%)	12.08%	6.91%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions)		(8.10%)	9.08%	4.59%
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares)		3.30%	9.23%	5.16%
Class C		4.64%	12.57%	6.74%
Class R3		5.13%	13.13%	7.28%
Class I		5.65%	13.69%	7.80%
Russell 2000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]	4.89%	15.55%	7.77%
Lipper Small-Cap Core Funds Classification Average (reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads)	[2]	3.85%	14.41%	7.69%

[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).

[1] The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures.

[1] An index that measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000® is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership.

[2] Represents the average annualized total return for all reporting funds in the Lipper Small-Cap Core Funds Classification.