v3.26.1
Shareholder Report
 6 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2026
USD ($)
$ / shares
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Document Type N-CSRS
Amendment Flag false
Registrant Name George Putnam Balanced Fund
Entity Central Index Key 0000081259
Entity Investment Company Type N-1A
Document Period End Date Jan. 31, 2026
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual semi-annual shareholder report
Class A  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name George Putnam Balanced Fund
Class Name Class A
Trading Symbol PGEOX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about George Putnam Balanced Fund for the period August 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment†
Class A
$45
0.85%
[1]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 45
Expense Ratio, Percent 0.85%
Net Assets $ 2,290,906,894
Holdings Count | $ / shares 689
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 40.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of January 31, 2026)
Total Net Assets
$2,290,906,894
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings (excludes derivatives, except purchased options, if any)
689
Portfolio Turnover Rate
40%
Holdings [Text Block]
WHAT DID THE FUND INVEST IN? (as of January 31, 2026)
Portfolio Composition*,† (% of Total Investments)
image
 [2],[3]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Class C  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name George Putnam Balanced Fund
Class Name Class C
Trading Symbol PGPCX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about George Putnam Balanced Fund for the period August 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment†
Class C
$84
1.60%
[4]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 84
Expense Ratio, Percent 1.60%
Net Assets $ 2,290,906,894
Holdings Count | $ / shares 689
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 40.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of January 31, 2026)
Total Net Assets
$2,290,906,894
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings (excludes derivatives, except purchased options, if any)
689
Portfolio Turnover Rate
40%
Holdings [Text Block]
WHAT DID THE FUND INVEST IN? (as of January 31, 2026)
Portfolio Composition*,† (% of Total Investments)
image
 [5],[6]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Class M  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name George Putnam Balanced Fund
Class Name Class M
Trading Symbol PGEMX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about George Putnam Balanced Fund for the period August 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment†
Class M
$71
1.35%
[7]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 71
Expense Ratio, Percent 1.35%
Net Assets $ 2,290,906,894
Holdings Count | $ / shares 689
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 40.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of January 31, 2026)
Total Net Assets
$2,290,906,894
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings (excludes derivatives, except purchased options, if any)
689
Portfolio Turnover Rate
40%
Holdings [Text Block]
WHAT DID THE FUND INVEST IN? (as of January 31, 2026)
Portfolio Composition*,† (% of Total Investments)
image
 [8],[9]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Class R  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name George Putnam Balanced Fund
Class Name Class R
Trading Symbol PGPRX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about George Putnam Balanced Fund for the period August 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment†
Class R
$58
1.11%
[10]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 58
Expense Ratio, Percent 1.11%
Net Assets $ 2,290,906,894
Holdings Count | $ / shares 689
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 40.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of January 31, 2026)
Total Net Assets
$2,290,906,894
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings (excludes derivatives, except purchased options, if any)
689
Portfolio Turnover Rate
40%
Holdings [Text Block]
WHAT DID THE FUND INVEST IN? (as of January 31, 2026)
Portfolio Composition*,† (% of Total Investments)
image
 [11],[12]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Class R5  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name George Putnam Balanced Fund
Class Name Class R5
Trading Symbol PGELX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about George Putnam Balanced Fund for the period August 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment†
Class R5
$35
0.66%
[13]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 35
Expense Ratio, Percent 0.66%
Net Assets $ 2,290,906,894
Holdings Count | $ / shares 689
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 40.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of January 31, 2026)
Total Net Assets
$2,290,906,894
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings (excludes derivatives, except purchased options, if any)
689
Portfolio Turnover Rate
40%
Holdings [Text Block]
WHAT DID THE FUND INVEST IN? (as of January 31, 2026)
Portfolio Composition*,† (% of Total Investments)
image
 [14],[15]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Class R6  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name George Putnam Balanced Fund
Class Name Class R6
Trading Symbol PGEJX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about George Putnam Balanced Fund for the period August 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment†
Class R6
$29
0.56%
[16]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 29
Expense Ratio, Percent 0.56%
Net Assets $ 2,290,906,894
Holdings Count | $ / shares 689
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 40.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of January 31, 2026)
Total Net Assets
$2,290,906,894
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings (excludes derivatives, except purchased options, if any)
689
Portfolio Turnover Rate
40%
Holdings [Text Block]
WHAT DID THE FUND INVEST IN? (as of January 31, 2026)
Portfolio Composition*,† (% of Total Investments)
image
 [17],[18]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Class Y  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name George Putnam Balanced Fund
Class Name Class Y
Trading Symbol PGEYX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about George Putnam Balanced Fund for the period August 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment†
Class Y
$32
0.60%
[19]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 32
Expense Ratio, Percent 0.60%
Net Assets $ 2,290,906,894
Holdings Count | $ / shares 689
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 40.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of January 31, 2026)
Total Net Assets
$2,290,906,894
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings (excludes derivatives, except purchased options, if any)
689
Portfolio Turnover Rate
40%
Holdings [Text Block]
WHAT DID THE FUND INVEST IN? (as of January 31, 2026)
Portfolio Composition*,† (% of Total Investments)
image
 [20],[21]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
[1]
† Annualized.
[2]
* Does not include derivatives, except purchased options, if any.  
[3]
† Certain categories may represent less than 0.1%.
[4]
† Annualized.
[5]
* Does not include derivatives, except purchased options, if any.  
[6]
† Certain categories may represent less than 0.1%.
[7]
† Annualized.
[8]
* Does not include derivatives, except purchased options, if any.  
[9]
† Certain categories may represent less than 0.1%.
[10]
† Annualized.
[11]
* Does not include derivatives, except purchased options, if any.  
[12]
† Certain categories may represent less than 0.1%.
[13]
† Annualized.
[14]
* Does not include derivatives, except purchased options, if any.  
[15]
† Certain categories may represent less than 0.1%.
[16]
† Annualized.
[17]
* Does not include derivatives, except purchased options, if any.  
[18]
† Certain categories may represent less than 0.1%.
[19]
† Annualized.
[20]
* Does not include derivatives, except purchased options, if any.  
[21]
† Certain categories may represent less than 0.1%.