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Label Element Value
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Dec. 31, 2021
Entity Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName Putnam International Equity Fund
Entity Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000868648
Entity Inv Company Type dei_EntityInvCompanyType N-1A
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Putnam International Equity 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 International Equity Fund seeks capital appreciation.

Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

The following tables describe the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. 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 professional and in How do I buy fund shares? beginning on page 16 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 89%.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 89.00%
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.
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 (growth or value stocks or both) of large and midsize companies outside the United States that we believe have favorable investment potential. For example, we may purchase stocks of companies with stock prices that reflect a value lower than that which we place on the company. Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of the fund’s net assets in equity investments. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders. We may consider, among other factors, a company’s 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 consider other factors that we believe will cause the stock price to rise. We invest



 



mainly in developed countries, but may invest in emerging markets. We may also use derivatives, such as certain foreign currency transactions, futures, options, warrants and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes. For example, we typically use foreign currency forward contracts in connection with the fund’s investments in foreign securities in order to hedge the fund’s currency exposure relative to the fund’s benchmark index.
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. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain its spread are likely to negatively affect the value, volatility, and liquidity of the securities and other assets in which the fund invests and exacerbate other risks that apply to the fund. These effects could negatively impact the fund’s performance and lead to losses on your investment in the fund. Growth stocks may be more susceptible to earnings disappointments, and value stocks may fail to rebound. These risks are generally greater for small and midsize companies.

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.

Investments focused in a single region may be affected by common economic forces and other factors. In addition, events in any one country within the region may impact the other countries or the region as a whole. Because the fund currently invests, and may in the future invest, significantly in European and Asian companies, the fund is particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory and other events or conditions affecting issuers in Europe and Asia. European financial markets have in recent years experienced increased volatility due to concerns with some countries’ high levels of sovereign debt, budget deficits, and unemployment. Asia includes countries in various stages of economic development, from emerging market economies to the highly developed economy of Japan. Some parts of Asia may be subject to a greater degree of economic, political and social instability than is the case in the United States.

Our use of derivatives may increase the risks of investing in the fund by increasing investment exposure (which may be considered leverage) or, in the case of many over-the-counter instruments, because of the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions and the potential failure of the other party to the instrument to meet its obligations. The risk of a party failing to meet its obligations may increase



 



if the fund has significant investment exposure to that counterparty. The value of derivatives may move in unexpected ways due to unanticipated market movements, the use of leverage, imperfect correlation between the derivative instrument and the reference asset, or other factors, especially in unusual market conditions, and volatility in the value of derivatives could adversely impact the fund’s returns, obligations and exposures. Derivatives are also subject to other risks, including liquidity risk (e.g., liquidity demands arising from the requirement to make payments to a derivative counterparty), operational risk (e.g., settlement issues or system failures), and legal risk (e.g., insufficient legal documentation or contract enforceability issues).

There is no guarantee that the investment techniques, analyses, or judgments that we apply in making investment decisions for the fund will produce the intended outcome or that the investments we select for the fund will perform as well as other securities that were not selected for the fund. We, or the fund’s other service providers, may experience disruptions or operating errors that could negatively impact the fund.

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. 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.
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year-to-date performance through
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Sep. 30, 2022
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn (27.29%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best calendar quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2020
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 14.94%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst calendar quarte
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2020
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn 20.69%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ended 12/31/21)
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 and C share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.
Putnam International Equity Fund | MSCI EAFE Index (ND) (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes, other than withholding taxes on reinvested dividends)  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.26%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.55%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.03%
Putnam International Equity Fund | Class A  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [1]
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.70% [2]
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.30% [3]
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.25%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 695
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 949
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,222
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,999
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 21.73%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 27.94%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (6.87%)
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 0.17%
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 (2.70%)
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 26.47%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (19.36%)
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 25.50%
Annual Return 2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 11.74%
Annual Return 2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 8.72%
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.47%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.94%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.56%
Putnam International Equity Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.20%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.77%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.84%
Putnam International Equity Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.00%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.15%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.12%
Putnam International Equity Fund | Class B  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 5.00% [4]
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.70% [2]
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.30% [3]
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.00%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 703
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 927
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,278
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,134
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 203
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 627
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,078
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,134
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.20%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.12%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.55%
Putnam International Equity Fund | Class C  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [5]
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.70% [2]
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.30% [3]
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.00%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 303
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 627
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,078
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,134
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 203
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 627
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,078
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,134
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.99%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.42%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.55%
Putnam International Equity Fund | Class R  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.70% [2]
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.50%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.30% [3]
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.50%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 153
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 474
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 818
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,791
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.48%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.96%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.92%
Putnam International Equity Fund | Class R5  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.70% [2]
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.24% [3]
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.94%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 96
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 300
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 520
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,155
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 9.10% [6]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.58% [6]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.55% [6]
Putnam International Equity Fund | Class R6  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.70% [2]
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.14% [3]
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.84%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 86
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 268
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 466
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,037
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 9.19% [6]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.69% [6]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.65% [6]
Putnam International Equity Fund | Class Y  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.70% [2]
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.30% [3]
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.00%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 102
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 318
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 552
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,225
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.98%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.50%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.46%
[1] Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.
[2] 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 MSCI EAFE Index (ND). For the most recent fiscal year, the fund’s base management fee prior to any performance adjustment was 0.682%.
[3] Restated to reflect current fees.
[4] This charge is phased out over six years.
[5] This charge is eliminated after one year.
[6] Performance for class R5 and class R6 shares prior to their inception (7/2/12) is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares and has not been adjusted for the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class R5 and class R6 shares; had it, returns would have been higher.