Label	Element	Value
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Document Type	dei_DocumentType	485BPOS
Document Period End Date	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate	Dec. 31, 2018
Entity Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	PUTNAM SUSTAINABLE LEADERS FUND
Entity Central Index Key	dei_EntityCentralIndexKey	0000865177
Amendment Flag	dei_AmendmentFlag	false
Entity Inv Company Type	dei_EntityInvCompanyType	N-1A
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PNOPX
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Oct. 24, 2019
Document Effective Date	dei_DocumentEffectiveDate	Oct. 30, 2019
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Nov. 30, 2019
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Goal
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Putnam funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in How do I buy fund shares? beginning on page 14 of the fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix to the fund’s prospectus, and in How to buy shares beginning on page II-1 of the fund’s statement of additional information (SAI).
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual fund operating expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The fund pays transaction-related costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or the above example, affect fund performance. The fund’s turnover rate in the most recent fiscal year was 30%.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	30.00%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts	You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Putnam funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in How do I buy fund shares? beginning on page 14 of the fund's prospectus, in the Appendix to the fund's prospectus, and in How to buy shares beginning on page II-1 of the fund?s statement of additional information (SAI).
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount	$ 50,000
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The following hypothetical example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds. It assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Investments, risks, and performance
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	Investments We invest mainly in common stocks of U.S. companies of any size, with a focus on companies that we believe exhibit a commitment to sustainable business practices. Stocks of companies that exhibit a commitment to sustainable business practices are typically, but not always, considered to be growth stocks. Growth stocks are stocks of companies whose earnings are expected to grow faster than those of similar firms, and whose business growth and other characteristics may lead to an increase in stock price. We may consider, among other factors, a company’s sustainable business practices (as described below), valuation, financial strength, growth potential, competitive position in its industry, projected future earnings, cash flows and dividends when deciding whether to buy or sell investments. We may also invest in non-U.S. companies. Sustainable investing. We believe that companies that exhibit leadership in sustainable business practices also often exhibit more profitable, durable financial returns with lower risk profiles. Accordingly, in selecting investments, we focus on companies that we believe have a demonstrated commitment to sustainable business practices. This commitment may be reflected through environmental, social and/or corporate governance (ESG) policies, practices or outcomes.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund. The value of investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political or financial market conditions, investor sentiment and market perceptions, government actions, geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. Growth stocks may be more susceptible to earnings disappointments, and the market may not favor growth-style investing. These risks are generally greater for small and midsize companies. From time to time, the fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in companies in one or more related industries or sectors, which would make the fund more vulnerable to adverse developments affecting those industries or sectors. The value of international investments traded in foreign currencies may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates. International investments, particularly investments in emerging markets, may carry risks associated with potentially less stable economies or governments (such as the risk of seizure by a foreign government, the imposition of currency or other restrictions, or high levels of inflation), and may be or become illiquid. Investing with a focus on companies that exhibit a commitment to sustainable business practices may cause the fund to forego otherwise attractive investment opportunities or may increase or decrease the fund’s exposure to certain types of companies and, therefore, to underperform funds that do not invest with a similar focus. In evaluating an investment opportunity, we may make investment decisions based on information and data that is incomplete or inaccurate. In addition, a company’s business practices may change over time. As a result of these possibilities, among others, the fund may temporarily hold securities that are inconsistent with the fund’s sustainable investment criteria. The fund may not achieve its goal, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time. Before March 21, 2018, the fund was managed with a materially different investment strategy and may have achieved materially different performance results under its current investment strategy from that shown for periods before this date. The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower. Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results. Monthly performance figures for the fund are available at putnam.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	putnam.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Year-to-date performance through 9/30/19  24.32% Best calendar quarter Q1 2012  17.95% Worst calendar quarter Q3 2011 −19.62%
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	Year-to-date performance
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2019
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	24.32%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Best calendar quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2012
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	17.95%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Worst calendar quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(19.62%)
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ended 12/31/18)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock	After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes. These after-tax returns do not apply if you hold your fund shares through a 401(k) plan, an IRA, or another tax-advantaged arrangement. Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund | S&P 500 Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.38%)	[1]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.49%	[1]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.12%	[1]
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund | Russell 3000 Growth-S&P 500 Linked Benchmark (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.12%)	[2]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.99%	[2]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	15.15%	[2]
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund | Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	5.75%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	1.00%	[3]
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.56%	[4]
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.04%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 675
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	887
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,116
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 1,773
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	31.82%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	19.31%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(5.00%)
Annual Return 2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	16.70%
Annual Return 2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	36.28%
Annual Return 2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	13.35%
Annual Return 2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(0.40%)
Annual Return 2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	7.65%
Annual Return 2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	29.05%
Annual Return 2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(0.90%)
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(6.60%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.93%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.28%
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund | Class A | after taxes on distributions
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(10.26%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.59%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.03%
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund | Class A | after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.18%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.96%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	11.01%
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund | Class B
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	5.00%	[5]
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.56%	[4]
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.79%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 682
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	863
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,170
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,908
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	182
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	563
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	970
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 1,908
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(5.54%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.16%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.28%
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund | Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	1.00%	[6]
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.56%	[4]
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.79%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 282
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	563
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	970
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,105
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	182
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	563
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	970
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 2,105
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.44%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.40%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.11%
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund | Class M
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	3.50%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.56%	[4]
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.75%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.54%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 501
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	819
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,160
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 2,120
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(4.84%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	7.91%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	12.98%
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund | Class R
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.56%	[4]
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.50%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.29%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 131
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	409
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	708
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 1,556
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(1.14%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	8.95%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	13.67%
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund | Class R6
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.56%	[4]
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.11%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.67%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 68
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	214
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	373
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 835
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes	[7]
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.58%)	[7]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.51%	[7]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.25%	[7]
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund | Class Y
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.56%	[4]
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.23%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.79%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 81
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	252
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	439
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 978
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(0.65%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	9.49%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	14.24%

[1] As of August 1, 2019, the S&P 500 Index (an unmanaged market capitalization weighted index of common stock performance) replaced the Russell 3000 Growth Index (a market capitalization weighted index based on the Russell 3000 Index, used to provide a gauge of the performance of growth stocks in the United States) as the benchmark for this fund because, in Putnam Management's opinion, the securities tracked by the S&P 500 Index more accurately reflect the types of securities that generally are held by the fund. The average annual total returns of the Russell 3000 Growth Index for the one-year, five-year, and ten-year periods ended on December 31, 2018 were -2.12%, 9.99%, and 15.15%, respectively. Frank Russell Company is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell(R) is a trademark of Frank Russell Company.

[2] The Russell 3000 Growth-S&P 500 Linked Benchmark represents performance of the Russell 3000 Growth Index from the inception date of the fund, August 31, 1990, through July 31, 2019 and performance of the S&P 500 Index from August 1, 2019 forward.

[3] Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.

[4] Management fees are subject to a performance adjustment. The fund's base management fee is subject to adjustment, up or down, based on the fund's performance relative to the performance of the S&P 500 Index for portions of a performance period after August 1, 2019 and the Russell 3000 Growth Index for portions of a performance period prior to August 1, 2019. For the most recent fiscal year, the fund's base management fee prior to any performance adjustment was 0.551%.

[5] This charge is phased out over six years.

[6] This charge is eliminated after one year.

[7] Performance for class R6 shares prior to their inception (5/22/18) is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares and has not been adjusted for the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class R6 shares; had it, returns would have been higher.