AMERICAN BALANCED FUND Class A Class 529-A Class C Class 529-C Class 529-E Class 529-T Class T Class F-1 Class 529-F-1 Class F-2 Class F-3 Class 529-F-2 Class 529-F-3 Class R-1 Class R-2 Class R-3 Class R-4 Class R-5 Class R-6 Class R-2E Class R-5E Market conditions [Member] Issuer risks [Member] Investing in growth-oriented stocks [Member] Investing in income-oriented stocks [Member] Investing in debt instruments [Member] Investing in securities backed by the U.S. government [Member] Investing in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities [Member] Liquidity risk [Member] Investing outside the United States [Member] Management [Member] S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes) 60%/40% S&P 500 Index/Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes) Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes) C000180007 Member index_ Bloomberg_ US_ Aggregate_ Index_reflects_no_deductions_for_sales_charges_account_fees_expenses_or_ US_federal_income_taxes Member C000023949 Member C000023939 Member C000023942 Member C000023950 Member Market Conditions Member index_6040_ SP_500_ Index Bloomberg_ US_ Aggregate_ Index_reflects_no_deductions_for_sales_charges_account_fees_expenses_or_ US_federal_income_taxes Member Investing In Incomeoriented Stocks Member Investing In Growthoriented Stocks Member C000023944 Member C000189522 Member C000068555 Member C000023937 Member C000077860 Member Liquidity Risk Member index_ SP_500_ Index_reflects_no_deductions_for_sales_charges_account_fees_expenses_or_ US_federal_income_taxes Member C000224634 Member C000023948 Member Issuer Risks Member C000023938 Member C000164818 Member Investing In Mortgagerelated And Other Assetbacked Securities Member C000023946 Member C000023941 Member C000148414 Member Investing In Securities Backed By The USGovernment Member C000023945 Member ManagementMember S000008801 Member C000023940 Member Investing In Debt Instruments Member C000224633 Member Investing Outside The United States Member C000189521 Member