Financial Highlights - Financial Highlights for the Limited Partner Classes (Detail) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Class A [Member]
Per Unit operating performance (for a unit outstanding throughout the period):
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	$ (53.70)	$ (1.45)
Net investment loss	(6.89)	(8.42)
Increase (decrease) for the period	(60.59)	(9.87)
Net asset value per Unit, beginning of period	872.20	1,008.85
Net asset value per Unit, end of period	$ 811.61	$ 998.98
Ratios to Average Limited Partners' Capital:
Net investment loss	(3.40%)	(3.30%)
Partnership expenses before expense reimbursements	3.40%	3.30%
Expense reimbursements	0.00%	0.00%
Partnership expenses after expense reimbursements	3.40%	3.30%
Total return	(6.90%)	(1.00%)
Class B [Member]
Per Unit operating performance (for a unit outstanding throughout the period):
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	$ (56.32)	$ (1.57)
Net investment loss	(6.11)	(7.42)
Increase (decrease) for the period	(62.43)	(8.99)
Net asset value per Unit, beginning of period	914.29	1,052.20
Net asset value per Unit, end of period	$ 851.86	$ 1,043.21
Ratios to Average Limited Partners' Capital:
Net investment loss	(2.80%)	(2.90%)
Partnership expenses before expense reimbursements	2.80%	2.90%
Expense reimbursements	0.00%	0.00%
Partnership expenses after expense reimbursements	2.80%	2.90%
Total return	(6.80%)	(0.90%)
Class C [Member]
Per Unit operating performance (for a unit outstanding throughout the period):
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	$ (59.05)	$ (1.67)
Net investment loss	(5.24)	(6.34)
Increase (decrease) for the period	(64.29)	(8.01)
Net asset value per Unit, beginning of period	958.42	1,097.42
Net asset value per Unit, end of period	$ 894.13	$ 1,089.41
Ratios to Average Limited Partners' Capital:
Net investment loss	(2.40%)	(2.40%)
Partnership expenses before expense reimbursements	2.40%	2.40%
Expense reimbursements	0.00%	0.00%
Partnership expenses after expense reimbursements	2.40%	2.40%
Total return	(6.70%)	(0.70%)
Class D [Member]
Per Unit operating performance (for a unit outstanding throughout the period):
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)		$ (1.72)
Net investment loss		(5.76)
Increase (decrease) for the period		(7.48)
Net asset value per Unit, beginning of period		1,120.64
Net asset value per Unit, end of period		$ 1,113.16
Ratios to Average Limited Partners' Capital:
Net investment loss		(2.00%)
Partnership expenses before expense reimbursements		2.00%
Expense reimbursements		0.00%
Partnership expenses after expense reimbursements		2.00%
Total return		(0.70%)
Class Z [Member]
Per Unit operating performance (for a unit outstanding throughout the period):
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	$ (64.92)	$ (1.90)
Net investment loss	(3.20)	(3.84)
Increase (decrease) for the period	(68.12)	(5.74)
Net asset value per Unit, beginning of period	1,053.10	1,193.70
Net asset value per Unit, end of period	$ 984.98	$ 1,187.96
Ratios to Average Limited Partners' Capital:
Net investment loss	(1.30%)	(1.30%)
Partnership expenses before expense reimbursements	1.30%	1.30%
Expense reimbursements	0.00%	0.00%
Partnership expenses after expense reimbursements	1.30%	1.30%
Total return	(6.50%)	(0.50%)

Polaris Futures Fund L.P. 10-Q