Risk/Return: Risk/Return: Document Type Document Type Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Document Creation Date Document Creation Date Document Effective Date Document Effective Date Prospectus Date Prospectus Date Prospectus: Prospectus: Document Information, Document [Axis] Document Information, Document [Axis] Document [Domain] Document [Domain] Mainstay Vp Growth Equity Portfolio (Prospectus Summary) [Member] VP Growth Equity Portfolio (Prospectus Summary) Mainstay Vp Growth Equity Portfolio (Prospectus Summary) [Member] Legal Entity [Axis] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Entity [Domain] S000009425 [Member] VP Growth Equity Portfolio S000009425 [Member] Risk/Return [Heading] Risk/Return, Heading Supplement [Text Block] Supplement Text Supplement Text Strategy [Heading] Strategy Heading Strategy, Heading Strategy Narrative [Text Block] Investment Strategy, Narrative Investment Strategy, Narrative Risk [Heading] Risk, Heading Risk, Narrative Risk, Narrative Risk, Narrative Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] Bar Chart and Performance Table, Heading Performance Narrative [Text Block] Performance, Narrative Strategy Portfolio Concentration [Text] Strategy Portfolio Concentration Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] Performance, Past Does Not Indicate Future Share Class [Axis] Share Classes C000025780 [Member] Initial Class C000025781 [Member] Service Class Service Class Supplement Closing Text Block