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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Sep. 30, 2016
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName VIRTUS OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0001005020
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VOT
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Jan. 20, 2017
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Jan. 30, 2017
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jan. 30, 2017
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading
Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The fund has an investment objective of capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading
Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock
The tables below illustrate the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and under “Sales Charges” on page 219 of the fund’s prospectus and “Alternative Purchase Arrangements” on page 110 of the fund’s statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination January 31, 2018
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading
Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock
The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 40% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 40.00%
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock
The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts
You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Mutual Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 50,000
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading
Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same and that the expense reimbursement arrangement remains in place for the contractual period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
The fund pursues capital appreciation in the small-cap international arena. The fund invests in a select group of small-cap companies believed by the subadviser to be undervalued relative to their future market growth potential. The investment strategy emphasizes companies that the subadviser believes to have a sustainable competitive advantage, strong management and low financial risk and to be able to grow over market cycles.
Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of non-U.S. small capitalization companies. As of the date of the Prospectus, the fund’s subadviser considers small-capitalization companies to be those companies that, at the time of initial purchase, have market capitalizations of less than $5 billion. The fund intends to diversify its investments among countries and normally to have represented in the portfolio business activities of a number of different countries. In determining “location” of an issuer, the subadviser primarily relies on the country where the issuer is incorporated. However, the country of risk is ultimately determined based on analysis of the following criteria: actual building address (domicile), primary exchange on which the security is traded and country in which the greatest percentage of company revenue is generated. This evaluation is conducted so as to determine that the issuer’s assets are exposed to the economic fortunes and risks of the designated country. Equity securities in which the fund invests include common stocks, preferred stocks and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). The fund may invest in emerging markets issuers. Generally, the fund invests in approximately 30-60 securities at any given time.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading
Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

The fund may not achieve its objective(s), and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. The value of the fund's investments that supports your share value may decrease. If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the fund's investments decreases, you will lose money. Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the fund invests can be worse than expected, and investments may fail to perform as the subadviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares may decrease. Purchase and redemption activities by fund shareholders may impact the management of the fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s). The redemption by one or more large shareholders or groups of shareholders of their holdings in the fund could have an adverse impact on the remaining shareholders in the fund including by accelerating the realization of capital gains and increasing the fund's transaction costs. The principal risks of investing in the fund are:

>     Depositary Receipts Risk.  The risk that investments in foreign companies through depositary receipts will expose the fund to the same risks as direct investments in securities of foreign issuers.

>     Emerging Market Investing Risk.  The risk that prices of emerging markets securities will be more volatile, or will be more greatly affected by negative conditions, than those of their counterparts in more established foreign markets.

>     Equity Securities Risk.  The risk that events negatively affecting issuers, industries or financial markets in which the fund invests will impact the value of the stocks held by the fund and, thus, the value of the fund's shares over short or extended periods. Investments in a particular style or in small or medium-sized companies may enhance that risk.

>     Foreign Investing Risk.  The risk that the prices of foreign securities in the fund's portfolio will be more volatile than those of domestic securities, or will be negatively affected by currency fluctuations, less regulated or liquid securities markets, or economic, political or other developments.

>     Limited Number of Investments Risk.  The risk that the fund's portfolio will be more susceptible to factors adversely affecting issuers of securities in the fund's portfolio than would a fund holding a greater number of securities.

>     Market Volatility Risk.  The risk that the value of the securities in which the fund invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual issuers and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be temporary or may last for extended periods.

>     Preferred Stock Risk.  The risk that a preferred stock will decline in price, fail to pay dividends when expected, or be illiquid.

>     Small Market Capitalization Companies Risk.  The risk that the fund's investments in small market capitalization companies may be less liquid and more vulnerable to adverse business or economic developments, which may increase the volatility and risk of loss to the fund, as compared with investments in larger, more established companies.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney
If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the fund’s investments decreases, you will lose money.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading
Performance Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the fund. The fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
The bar chart shows changes in the fund’s performance from year to year over the life of the fund. The table shows how the fund’s average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. Updated performance information is available at virtus.com or by calling 800-243-1574.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns
The bar chart shows changes in the fund’s performance from year to year over the life of the fund. The table shows how the fund’s average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone
800-243-1574
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress
virtus.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture
The fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading
Calendar year total returns for Class I Shares
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock
Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did.

Annual Return (%)
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads
Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Best Quarter:
 ​ ​
Q1/2013:
 ​ ​
11.71%
 ​ ​
Worst Quarter:
 ​ ​
Q3/2015:
 ​ ​
-14.25%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/16)
Performance Table Does Reflect Sales Loads rr_PerformanceTableDoesReflectSalesLoads
Returns reflect deduction of maximum sales charges and full redemption at end of periods shown.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred
Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold fund shares in tax-deferred accounts or to shares held by non-taxable entities.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown
After-tax returns are shown only for Class I Shares; after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher
In certain cases, the Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares for a period may be higher than other return figures for the same period. This will occur when a capital loss is realized upon the sale of fund shares and provides an assumed tax benefit that increases the return.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock
Returns reflect deduction of maximum sales charges and full redemption at end of periods shown.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock
The MSCI AC World Index ex U.S. Small Cap Index (net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that measures small cap equity performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the U.S. The index is calculated on a total return basis with net dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment.
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown only for Class I Shares; after-tax returns for other classes will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold fund shares in tax-deferred accounts or to shares held by non-taxable entities. In certain cases, the Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares for a period may be higher than other return figures for the same period. This will occur when a capital loss is realized upon the sale of fund shares and provides an assumed tax benefit that increases the return.
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VISAX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.00%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.61%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.86%
Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.26%) [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.60% [1]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 728
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,102
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,500
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,609
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 728
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 1,102
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,500
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,609
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 13.76%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.78%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund | Class C  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VCISX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [2]
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.00%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.61%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.61%
Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.26%) [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 2.35% [1]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 338
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 787
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,362
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,925
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 238
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 787
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,362
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,925
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.89%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 10.48%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund | Class I  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VIISX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.00%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.61%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.61%
Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.26%) [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.35% [1]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 137
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 483
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 852
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,889
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 137
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 483
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 852
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,889
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 29.89%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (3.06%)
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (0.87%)
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 21.03%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel
Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2013
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 11.71%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel
Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2015
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (14.25%)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 21.03%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 11.58%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund | Class R6  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VRISX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.00%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.50%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.50%
Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.26%) [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.24% [1]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 126
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 422
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 768
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,745
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 126
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 422
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 768
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,745
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Returns Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 21.16%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.82%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Nov. 12, 2014
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund | After Taxes on Distributions | Class I  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 20.29%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 10.25%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales | Class I  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.59%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.89%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund | MSCI All Country World ex U.S. Small Cap Index (net)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel MSCI All Country World ex U.S. Small Cap Index (net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.91%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.30%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund | MSCI All Country World ex U.S. Small Cap Index (net) | Class R6  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel MSCI All Country World ex U.S. Small Cap Index (net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.56%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Nov. 12, 2014
[1] The fund's investment adviser has contractually agreed to limit the fund's total operating expenses (excluding certain expenses, including dividend and interest expenses, leverage expenses, taxes, brokerage commissions, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses, if any) so that such expenses do not exceed 1.60% for Class A Shares, 2.35% for Class C Shares, 1.35% for Class I Shares and 1.24% for Class R6 Shares through January 31, 2018. Following the contractual period, the adviser may discontinue these expense reimbursement arrangements at any time. Under certain conditions, the adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under these arrangements for a period of three years following the time such reimbursement occurred.
[2] The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.