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.