Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	CHARLES SCHWAB FAMILY OF FUNDS
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Apr. 30, 2013
Schwab Government Money Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Schwab Government Money Fund™
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The fund’s goal is to seek the highest current income consistent with stability of capital and liquidity.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fund fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
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 % of the value of your investment)
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example by Year [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearHeading	Expenses on a $10,000 investment
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	This 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those time periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The figures are based on total annual fund operating expenses. The expenses would be the same whether you stayed in the fund or sold your shares at the end of each period. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	To pursue its goal, the fund invests in U.S. government securities, such as: U.S. Treasury bills and notes other obligations that are issued by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, including obligations that are not guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, such as those issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks repurchase agreements obligations that are issued by private issuers that are guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in U.S. government securities including repurchase agreements. The fund will notify its shareholders at least 60 days before changing this policy. Obligations that are issued by private issuers that are guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities are considered U.S. government securities under the rules that govern money market funds. In choosing securities, the fund’s manager seeks to maximize current income within the limits of the fund’s investment objective and credit, maturity and diversification policies. Some of these policies may be stricter than the federal regulations that apply to all money funds. The investment adviser’s credit research department analyzes and monitors the securities that the fund owns or is considering buying. The manager may adjust the fund’s holdings or its average maturity based on actual or anticipated changes in interest rates or credit quality. To preserve its investors’ capital, the fund seeks to maintain a stable $1.00 share price.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	The fund is subject to risks, any of which could cause an investor to lose money. The fund’s principal risks include: Investment Risk. Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the fund. Interest Rate Risk. Interest rates rise and fall over time. As with any investment whose yield reflects current interest rates, the fund’s yield will change over time. During periods when interest rates are low, the fund’s yield (and total return) also will be low. In addition, to the extent the fund makes any reimbursement payments to the investment adviser and/or its affiliates, the fund’s yield would be lower. Repurchase Agreements Risk. When the fund enters into a repurchase agreement, the fund is exposed to the risk that the other party (i.e., the counter-party) will not fulfill its contractual obligation. In a repurchase agreement, there exists the risk that, when the fund buys a security from a counter-party that agrees to repurchase the security at an agreed upon price (usually higher) and time, the counter-party will not repurchase the security. Credit Risk. The fund is subject to the risk that a decline in the credit quality of a portfolio investment could cause the fund to lose money or underperform. The fund could lose money if the issuer of a portfolio investment fails to make timely principal or interest payments or if a guarantor, liquidity provider or counterparty of a portfolio investment fails to honor its obligations. Even though the fund’s investments in repurchase agreements are collateralized at all times, there is some risk to the fund if the other party should default on its obligations and the fund is delayed or prevented from recovering or disposing of the collateral. Negative perceptions of the ability of an issuer, guarantor, liquidity provider or counterparty to make payments or otherwise honor its obligations, as applicable, could also cause the price of that investment to decline. The credit quality of the fund’s portfolio holdings can change rapidly in certain market environments and any downgrade or default on the part of a single portfolio investment could cause the fund’s share price or yield to fall. Many of the U.S. government securities that the fund invests in are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government, which means they are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. Although maintained in conservatorship by the Federal Housing Finance Agency since September 2008, Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC) maintain only limited lines of credit with the U.S. Treasury. The Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB) also only maintain limited access to credit lines from the U.S. Treasury. Other securities, such as obligations issued by the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation (FFCB), are supported solely by the credit of the issuer. There can be no assurance that the U.S. government will provide financial support to securities of its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated to do so under law. Also, any government guarantees on securities the fund owns do not extend to shares of the fund itself. Management Risk. Any actively managed mutual fund is subject to the risk that its investment adviser will make poor security selections. The fund’s investment adviser applies its own investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the fund, but there can be no guarantee that they will produce the desired results. The investment adviser’s maturity decisions will also affect the fund’s yield, and in unusual circumstances potentially could affect its share price. To the extent that the investment adviser anticipates interest rate trends imprecisely, the fund’s yield at times could lag those of other money market funds. Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. The market for certain investments may become illiquid due to specific adverse changes in the conditions of a particular issuer or under adverse market or economic conditions independent of the issuer. The fund’s investments in illiquid securities may reduce the returns of the fund because it may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price. Further, transactions in illiquid securities may entail transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in liquid securities. Redemption Risk. The fund may experience periods of heavy redemptions that could cause the fund to liquidate its assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value, particularly during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Redemptions by a few large investors in the fund may have a significant adverse effect on the fund’s ability to maintain a stable $1.00 share price. In the event any money market fund fails to maintain a stable net asset value, other money market funds, including the fund, could face a market-wide risk of increased redemption pressures, potentially jeopardizing the stability of their $1.00 share prices. Regulatory Risk. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulators may adopt additional money market fund regulations in the future, which may impact the operation and performance of the fund. Money Market Risk. The fund is not designed to offer capital appreciation. In exchange for their emphasis on stability and liquidity, money market investments may offer lower long-term performance than stock or bond investments.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	The fund is subject to risks, any of which could cause an investor to lose money.
Risk Money Market Fund [Text]	rr_RiskMoneyMarketFund	Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit 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	Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The bar chart below shows how the fund’s investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows the fund’s average annual total returns for various periods. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. All figures assume distributions were reinvested. Keep in mind that future performance may differ from past performance. For current performance information, please see www.schwab.com/moneyfunds or call toll-free 1-800-435-4000 for a current seven-day yield.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The bar chart below shows how the fund’s investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows the fund’s average annual total returns for various periods.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	www.schwab.com/moneyfunds
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Keep in mind that future performance may differ from past performance.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual total returns (%) as of 12/31
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Best quarter: 1.16% Q4 2006 Worst quarter: 0.00% Q4 2012
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average annual total returns (%) as of 12/31/12
Money Market Seven Day Yield Phone	rr_MoneyMarketSevenDayYieldPhone	1-800-435-4000
Schwab Government Money Fund | Schwab Government Money Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)	rr_ShareholderFeeOther	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.31%
Distribution (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.42%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.73%
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	75
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	233
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	406
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	906
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	75
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	233
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	406
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	906
2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	0.48%
2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	0.65%
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	2.52%
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	4.37%
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	4.55%
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	1.98%
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	0.09%
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	0.01%
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	0.01%
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	0.01%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Best quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2006
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	1.16%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Worst quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2012
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	0.00%
1 year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.01%
5 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.42%
10 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.45%