| **Document and Entity Information** | 12 Months Ended       |
|-------------------------------------|-----------------------|
||
| **Risk/Return:**                    |                  |
| Document Type                       | 485BPOS               |
| Document Period End Date            | Mar. 31,         2012 |
| Registrant Name                     | NICHOLAS FUND INC     |
| Central Index Key                   | 0000071958            |
| Amendment Flag                      | false                 |
| Document Creation Date              | Jul. 30,         2012 |
| Document Effective Date             | Jul. 31,         2012 |
| Prospectus Date                     | Jul. 31,         2012 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
If the value is true, then the document as an amendment to previously-filed/accepted document.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**dei_AmendmentFlag**Namespace Prefix:**dei_**Data Type:**xbrli:booleanItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The date the document was made available and submitted, in CCYY-MM-DD format. The date of submission, date of acceptance by the recipient, and the document effective date are all potentially different.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**dei_DocumentCreationDate**Namespace Prefix:**dei_**Data Type:**xbrli:dateItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The date when a document, upon receipt and acceptance, becomes officially effective, in CCYY-MM-DD format. Usually it is a system-assigned date time value, but it may be declared by the submitter in some cases.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**dei_DocumentEffectiveDate**Namespace Prefix:**dei_**Data Type:**xbrli:dateItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The end date of the period reflected on the cover page if a periodic report. For all other reports and registration statements containing historical data, it is the date up through which that historical data is presented.  If there is no historical data in the report, use the filing date. The format of the date is CCYY-MM-DD.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate**Namespace Prefix:**dei_**Data Type:**xbrli:dateItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, N-1A, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, minus any "/A" suffix. The acceptable values are as follows: S-1, S-3, S-4, S-11, F-1, F-3, F-4, F-9, F-10, 6-K, 8-K, 10, 10-K, 10-Q, 20-F, 40-F, N-1A, 485BPOS, 497, NCSR, N-CSR, N-CSRS, N-Q, 10-KT, 10-QT, 20-FT, POS AM and Other.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**dei_DocumentType**Namespace Prefix:**dei_**Data Type:**dei:submissionTypeItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation 12B -Number 240 -Section 12b -Subsection 1
+ Details**Name:**dei_EntityCentralIndexKey**Namespace Prefix:**dei_**Data Type:**dei:centralIndexKeyItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation 12B -Number 240 -Section 12b -Subsection 1
+ Details**Name:**dei_EntityRegistrantName**Namespace Prefix:**dei_**Data Type:**xbrli:normalizedStringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The date of the prospectus.
+ References
Reference 1: 1 -Publisher SEC -Name Form -Number N-1A -Chapter A -Section 1 -Paragraph 3 -Subsection a
+ Details**Name:**rr_ProspectusDate**Namespace Prefix:**rr_**Data Type:**xbrli:dateItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**rr_RiskReturnAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**rr_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |