Label	Element	Value
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	EQ ADVISORS TRUST
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	May 01, 2025
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;line-height:13pt;">  </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">— Class IB and Class K Shares</span>
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Investment Objective:</span>
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	Seeks to maximize current income.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;">Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio</span>
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses associated with variable life insurance contracts and variable annuity certificates and contracts (“Contracts”), which would increase overall fees and expenses. See the Contract prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Shareholder Fees</span> <br/><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(fees paid directly from your investment)</span>
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)</span>
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">April 30, 2026</span>
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;">Portfolio Turnover</span>
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 39% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	39.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Example</span>
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the periods indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, and that the Expense Limitation Arrangement is not renewed. This Example does not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses including redemption fees (if any) at the Contract level. If such fees and expenses were reflected, the total expenses would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, whether you redeem or hold your shares, your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;">Investments, Risks, and Performance</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Principal Investment Strategy</span>
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, in a broad range of high-yield, below investment-grade bonds. For purposes of this investment policy, a debt security is considered a “bond.” Debt securities represent an issuer’s obligation to repay a loan of money that generally pays interest to the holder. Bank loans, bonds, loan participations, notes and debentures are examples of debt securities. It is expected that the Portfolio will invest primarily in high-yield corporate bonds. Securities below investment grade include those securities rated Ba1 or lower by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or BB+ or lower by Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) or by Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings (“S&P”) or, if unrated, deemed to be of comparable quality by the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser. The below investment grade securities in which the Portfolio invests are generally rated at least Ca by Moody’s or at least CC by Fitch or S&P or, if unrated, deemed to be of comparable quality by the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser. The Portfolio may continue to hold securities that are downgraded below these ratings subsequent to purchase. The Portfolio does not normally invest in securities that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, but may do so depending on market or other conditions. Split rated securities, which are securities that receive different ratings from two or more rating agencies, will be considered to have the lower credit rating. The Portfolio may invest in debt securities issued by companies of any size. The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its net assets in debt securities of issuers located outside the United States, including emerging markets issuers and U.S. dollar-denominated securities of non-U.S. issuers. Certain debt instruments in which the Portfolio may invest may be structured as pay-in-kind securities. The Portfolio may invest in privately placed and restricted securities (including 144A bonds). The Portfolio’s assets normally are allocated among two portions, each of which is managed using a different but complementary investment strategy. One portion of the Portfolio is actively managed (“Active Allocated Portion”) and the other portion of the Portfolio invests in ETFs that are passively managed and that meet the investment objective of the Portfolio (“ETF Allocated Portion”). Under normal circumstances, at least 90% of the Portfolio’s net assets are allocated to the Active Allocated Portion and up to 10% of the Portfolio’s net assets are allocated to the ETF Allocated Portion. The Active Allocated Portion will invest in high yield corporate debt securities as well as floating rate loans, and participations in and assignments of loans. The Active Allocated Portion may invest in securities of any maturity; in selecting securities, the Sub-Advisers to the Active Allocated Portion place greater emphasis on credit risk than on maturity or duration. Maturity measures the average final payable dates of debt instruments. Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s value to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates, which may increase the volatility of the security’s value and may lead to losses. The ETF Allocated Portion currently invests in the following ETFs: the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, the iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, the SPDR® Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF, and the SPDR® Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF. These ETFs seek investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of a fixed-income securities benchmark index. An investor in the Portfolio will bear both the expenses of the Portfolio as well as the indirect expenses associated with the ETFs held by the ETF Allocated Portion. The ETFs in which the ETF Allocated Portion may invest may be changed from time to time without notice or shareholder approval.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Principal Risks</span>
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table</span>
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Portfolio’s average annual total returns for the past one, five and ten years through December 31, 2024, compared to the returns of a broad-based securities market index.Past performance is not an indication of future performance.The performance results do not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;margin-left:0%;">The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Portfolio’s average annual total returns for the past one, five and ten years through December 31, </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">2024, compared to the returns of a broad-based securities market index.</span>
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Past performance is not an indication of future performance.</span>
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Calendar Year Annual Total Returns — Class IB</span>
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">The performance results do not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.</span>
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Best quarter (% and time period)8.11%2020 2nd QuarterWorst quarter (% and time period)-10.10%2020 1st Quarter
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Average Annual Total Returns</span>
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Risk Lose Money [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Portfolio.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	An investment in the Portfolio is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Market Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Market Risk —  The Portfolio is subject to the risk that the securities markets will move down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based on overall economic conditions and other factors, which may negatively affect Portfolio performance. Securities markets also may experience long periods of decline in value. The value of a security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the market as a whole. Any issuer of securities may perform poorly, causing the value of its securities to decline. Poor performance may be caused by a variety of factors, such as poor management decisions; reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services; competitive pressures; negative perception in the marketplace; loss of major customers; strategic initiatives such as mergers or acquisitions and the market response to any such initiatives; and the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer. The value of a security also may decline due to general market conditions, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions, inflation rates and/or investor expectations concerning such rates, changes in interest rates, recessions, or adverse investor sentiment generally. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value simultaneously. Even when securities markets perform well, there can be no assurance that the investments held by the Portfolio will increase in value along with the broader market. Changes in the financial condition of (or other event affecting) a single issuer can impact an individual sector or industry, or the securities markets as a whole. The value of a security also may decline due to factors that affect a particular sector or industry, such as tariffs, labor shortages, or increased production costs and competitive conditions within the sector or industry. Geopolitical events, including acts of terrorism, tensions, war or other open conflicts between nations, or political or economic dysfunction within nations that are global economic powers or major oil or other commodities producers, may lead to overall instability in world economies and markets generally and have led, and may in the future lead, to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects. World markets, or those in a particular region, may all react in similar fashion to economic, political or other developments. Events such as environmental and natural disasters or other catastrophes, public health crises (such as epidemics and pandemics), social unrest, and cybersecurity incidents, and governments’ reactions (or failure to react) to such events, could cause uncertainty in the markets and may adversely affect the performance of the global economy. Impacts from climate change may include significant risks to global financial assets and economic growth. The extent and duration of such events and resulting market disruptions could be substantial and could magnify the impact of other risks to the Portfolio. The value and liquidity of the Portfolio’s investments may be negatively affected by developments in other countries and regions, whether or not the Portfolio invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries or regions directly affected. Changes in government or central bank policies, changes in existing laws and regulations, and political, diplomatic and other events within the United States and abroad could cause uncertainty in the markets, may affect investor and consumer confidence, and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy, perhaps suddenly and to a significant degree. High public debt and deficits in the United States and other countries create ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty and may negatively affect economic conditions and the values of markets, sectors and companies in which the Portfolio invests. In addition, markets and market participants are increasingly reliant on information data systems. Inaccurate data, software or other technology malfunctions, programming inaccuracies, unauthorized use or access, and similar circumstances may impair the performance of these systems and may have an adverse impact upon a single issuer, a group of issuers, or the market at large. Furthermore, impacts from the rapidly growing use of artificial intelligence technologies, including by market participants, may include significant risks to global financial markets.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk —  Bonds rated below BBB by Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings or Fitch Ratings, Ltd. or below Baa by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (or, if unrated, determined by the investment manager to be of comparable quality) are speculative in nature and are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default, illiquidity of the security, and changes in value based on changes in interest rates. Non-investment grade bonds, sometimes referred to as “junk bonds,” are usually issued by companies without long track records of sales and earnings, or by those companies with questionable credit strength. The creditworthiness of issuers of non-investment grade debt securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and reliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Credit Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Credit Risk —  The Portfolio is subject to the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security, or the counterparty to a transaction, is unable or unwilling, or is perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest or principal payments or otherwise honor its obligations, or defaults completely, which may cause the Portfolio’s holdings to lose value. The downgrade of a security’s credit rating may decrease its value. Lower credit quality also may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and may negatively affect a security’s liquidity. The credit quality of a security can deteriorate suddenly and rapidly. The Portfolio may experience a significant or complete loss on a fixed income security or a transaction.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Interest Rate Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Interest Rate Risk —  Changes in interest rates may affect the yield, liquidity and value of investments in debt securities or other income-producing securities. Changes in interest rates also may affect the value of other securities. When interest rates rise, the value of the Portfolio’s debt securities generally declines. Conversely, when interest rates decline, the value of the Portfolio’s debt securities generally rises. Typically, the longer the maturity (i.e., the term of a debt security) or duration (i.e., a measure of the sensitivity of a debt security to changes in market interest rates, based on the entire cash flow associated with the security) of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Portfolio’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase the greater the duration of those securities. Changes in government or central bank monetary policy may have a substantial and immediate impact on interest rates, which could result in losses to the Portfolio.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Liquidity Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Liquidity Risk —  From time to time, there may be little or no active trading market for a particular investment in which the Portfolio may invest or is invested. In such a market, the value of such an investment and the Portfolio’s share price may fall dramatically. Illiquid investments may be difficult or impossible to sell or purchase at an advantageous time or price or in sufficient amounts to achieve the Portfolio’s desired level of exposure. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Portfolio may be forced to dispose of investments at unfavorable times or prices and/or under unfavorable conditions, which may result in losses or may be costly to the Portfolio. Investments that are illiquid or that trade in lower volumes may be more difficult to value. The Portfolio also may not receive its proceeds from the sale of certain investments for an extended period of time. Certain investments that were liquid when purchased may later become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, particularly in times of overall economic distress or adverse investor perception. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Portfolio’s value or prevent the Portfolio from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. During periods of market stress, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability to limit losses. In addition, a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to make a market in certain securities may result in decreased liquidity in certain markets.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Loan Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Loan Risk —  A bank loan represents an interest in a loan or other direct indebtedness that entitles the acquirer of such interest to payments of interest, principal and/or other amounts due under the structure of the loan. Loan interests are subject to liquidity risk, prepayment risk, extension risk, the risk of subordination to other creditors, restrictions on resale, and the lack of a regular trading market and publicly available information. Loan interests may be difficult to value and may have extended trade settlement periods. As a result, the proceeds from the sale of a loan may not be available to make additional investments or to meet redemption obligations until potentially a substantial period after the sale of the loan. The extended trade settlement periods could force the Portfolio to liquidate other securities to meet redemptions and may present a risk that the Portfolio may incur losses in order to timely honor redemptions. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Portfolio has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Portfolio’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Loans may not be considered “securities,” and purchasers, such as the Portfolio, therefore may not have the benefit of the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. To the extent that the Portfolio invests in loan participations and assignments, it is subject to the risk that the financial institution acting as agent for all interests in a loan might fail financially. It is also possible that the Portfolio could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, as a co-lender.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | ETFs Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	ETFs Risk —  When the Portfolio invests in an ETF, it will indirectly bear its proportionate share of the fees and expenses incurred by the ETF. These fees and expenses are in addition to the advisory fees and other expenses that the Portfolio and its shareholders bear directly in connection with the Portfolio’s own operations. As a result, the Portfolio’s shareholders will be subject to two layers of fees and expenses with respect to investments in the Portfolio. The cost of investing in the Portfolio, therefore, may be higher than the cost of investing in a mutual fund that invests directly in individual stocks and bonds. In addition, the Portfolio’s net asset value will be subject to fluctuations in the market values of the ETFs in which it invests. The Portfolio is also subject to the risks associated with the securities or other investments in which the ETFs invest, and the ability of the Portfolio to meet its investment objective will directly depend on the ability of the ETFs to meet their investment objectives. A passively managed (or index-based) ETF’s performance may not match that of the index it seeks to track. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its manager’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objective. Furthermore, it is possible that an active trading market for an ETF may not develop or be maintained, in which case the liquidity and value of the Portfolio’s investment in the ETF could be substantially and adversely affected. The extent to which the investment performance and risks associated with the Portfolio correlate to those of a particular ETF will depend upon the extent to which the Portfolio’s assets are allocated from time to time for investment in the ETF, which will vary.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Portfolio Management Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Portfolio Management Risk —  The Portfolio is subject to the risk that strategies used by an investment manager and its securities selections fail to produce the intended results. An investment manager’s judgments or decisions about the quality, relative yield or value of, or market trends affecting, a particular security or issuer, industry, sector, region or market segment, or about the economy or interest rates, may be incorrect or otherwise may not produce the intended results, which may result in losses to the Portfolio. In addition, many processes used in Portfolio management, including security selection, rely, in whole or in part, on the use of various technologies. The Portfolio may suffer losses if there are imperfections, errors or limitations in the quantitative, analytic or other tools, resources, information and data used, or the analyses employed or relied on, by an investment manager, or if such tools, resources, information or data are used incorrectly, fail to produce the desired results, or otherwise do not work as intended. There can be no assurance that the use of these technologies will result in effective investment decisions for the Portfolio. In addition, the Portfolio could experience losses if an investment manager’s judgments about the risks associated with the Portfolio’s investment program prove to be incorrect.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Foreign Securities Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Foreign Securities Risk —  Investments in foreign securities involve risks in addition to those associated with investments in U.S. securities. Foreign markets may be less liquid, more volatile and subject to less government supervision and regulation than U.S. markets, and it may take more time to clear and settle trades involving foreign securities, which could negatively impact the Portfolio’s investments and cause it to lose money. Security values also may be negatively affected by changes in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. Differences between U.S. and foreign legal, political and economic systems, regulatory regimes and market practices, as well as changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the United States), tariffs, governmental instability, acts of terrorism, war or other open conflicts, or other political, diplomatic or economic actions, also may adversely impact security values. Foreign securities are also subject to the risks associated with the potential imposition of economic or other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals, businesses or industries. World markets, or those in a particular region, may all react in similar fashion to economic, political or other developments. Events and evolving conditions in certain economies or markets may alter the risks associated with investments tied to countries or regions that historically were perceived as comparatively stable and make such investments riskier and more volatile. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be significantly affected by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Currency Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Currency Risk —  Investments that are denominated in or that provide exposure to foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Any such decline may erode or reverse any potential gains from an investment in securities denominated in foreign currency or may widen existing loss. In the case of hedging positions, there is the risk that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | European Economic Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	European Economic Risk —  The economies of European Union (“EU”) member countries and their trading partners, as well as the broader global economy, may be adversely affected by changes in the euro’s exchange rate, changes in EU or governmental regulations on trade, geopolitical and other events, including acts of terrorism, tensions, war or other open conflicts, and the threat of default or an actual default by an EU member country on its sovereign debt, which could negatively impact the Portfolio’s investments and cause it to lose money. Events in Europe may continue to impact the economies of every European country and their economic partners. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the resulting responses by the United States and other countries, and the potential for wider conflict have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economies and could further increase volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets. In addition, uncertainties regarding the viability of the EU have impacted and may continue to impact regional and global markets. There are ongoing concerns regarding the economies of certain European countries and/or their sovereign debt following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, commonly referred to as “Brexit”. Any further withdrawals from the EU could cause significant regional and global market disruption, which may negatively impact the Portfolio’s investments and cause it to lose money. Furthermore, the national politics of European countries have been unpredictable; unanticipated or sudden political or social developments may result in sudden and significant investment losses.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Investment Grade Securities Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Investment Grade Securities Risk —  Securities rated in the lower investment grade rating categories (e.g., BBB or Baa) are considered investment grade securities, but may have more risk than higher rated obligations because they are regarded as having only an adequate capacity to pay principal and interest, are considered to lack outstanding investment characteristics, and may possess certain speculative characteristics.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Leveraging Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Leveraging Risk —  When the Portfolio leverages its holdings, the value of an investment in the Portfolio will be more volatile and all other risks will tend to be compounded. Investments that create leverage can result in losses to the Portfolio that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses (some of which may be sudden or substantial). For certain investments that create leverage, relatively small market fluctuations can result in large changes in the value of such investments. There can be no assurance that the Portfolio’s use of any leverage will be successful.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk —  Declines in the credit quality of and defaults by the issuers of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities or instability in the markets for such securities may decrease the value of such securities, which could result in losses to the Portfolio, and may reduce the liquidity of such securities and make such securities more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous time and price. In addition, borrowers may default on the obligations that underlie mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities. The risk of defaults by borrowers generally is greater during times of rising interest rates and/or unemployment rates. The impairment (or loss) of the value of collateral or other assets underlying mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities will result in a reduction in the value of the securities. Certain collateral may be difficult to locate in the event of default, or may be lost, and recoveries of depreciated or damaged collateral may not fully cover payments due on such collateral. Asset-backed securities may not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral comparable to that of mortgage assets, resulting in additional credit risk. Furthermore, mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities typically provide the issuer with the right to prepay the security prior to maturity. During periods of rising interest rates, the rate of prepayments tends to decrease because borrowers are less likely to prepay debt (such as mortgage debt or automobile loans). Slower than expected payments can extend the average lives of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, and this may “lock in” a below market interest rate and increase the security’s duration and interest rate sensitivity, which may increase the volatility of the security’s value and may lead to losses. During periods of falling interest rates, the rate of prepayments tends to increase because borrowers are more likely to pay off debt and refinance at the lower interest rates then available. Unscheduled prepayments shorten the average lives of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities and may result in the Portfolio’s having to reinvest the proceeds of the prepayments at lower interest rates, thereby reducing the Portfolio’s income.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Prepayment Risk and Extension Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Prepayment Risk and Extension Risk —  Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a security held by the Portfolio may pay off principal more quickly than originally anticipated. This may occur when interest rates fall. The Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Extension risk is the risk that the issuer of a security held by the Portfolio may pay off principal more slowly than originally anticipated. This may occur when interest rates rise. The Portfolio may be prevented from reinvesting the proceeds it would have received at a given time in an investment offering a higher yield.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Privately Placed and Other Restricted Securities Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Privately Placed and Other Restricted Securities Risk —  Restricted securities, which include privately placed securities, are securities that cannot be offered for public resale unless registered under the applicable securities laws or that have a contractual restriction that prohibits or limits their resale. Before they are registered, such securities may be sold only in a privately negotiated transaction or pursuant to an exemption from registration. Difficulty in selling securities may result in a loss or be costly to the Portfolio. Rule 144A is designed to facilitate efficient trading among institutional investors by permitting the sale of certain unregistered securities to qualified institutional buyers. To the extent restricted securities held by the Portfolio qualify under Rule 144A and an institutional market develops for those securities, the Portfolio likely will be able to dispose of the securities without registering them. To the extent that institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing these securities, investing in Rule 144A securities could increase the level of the Portfolio’s illiquidity. The Adviser or Sub-Adviser may determine that certain securities qualified for trading under Rule 144A are liquid. Where registration of a security is required, the Portfolio may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses, and a considerable period may elapse between the time the Portfolio desires to sell(and therefore decides to seek registration of) the security, and the time the Portfolio may be permitted to sell the security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Portfolio might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it desired to sell. The risk that securities may not be sold for the price at which the Portfolio is carrying them is greater with respect to restricted securities than it is with respect to registered securities. The illiquidity of the market, as well as the lack of publicly available information regarding these securities, also may make it difficult to determine a fair value for certain securities for purposes of computing the Portfolio’s net asset value.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Redemption Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Redemption Risk —  The Portfolio may experience periods of heavy redemptions that could cause the Portfolio to sell assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Heavy redemptions could hurt the Portfolio’s performance. Market developments and other factors, including a general rise in interest rates, have the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities. The market-making capacity of dealers has been reduced in recent years, in part as a result of structural changes, such as fewer proprietary trading desks at broker-dealers and increased regulatory capital requirements. Increased redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Zero Coupon and Pay-in-Kind Securities Risk [Member]
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk [Text Block]	rr_RiskTextBlock	Zero Coupon and Pay-in-Kind Securities Risk —  Zero coupon and pay-in-kind securities are debt securities that do not make periodic cash interest payments. Zero coupon securities are issued at a significant discount from their face value. Zero coupon and pay-in-kind securities tend to be subject to greater fluctuations in market value in response to changing interest rates than securities of comparable maturities that pay interest periodically and in cash.
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Class IB
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)	rr_ShareholderFeeOther
Management Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.60%
Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 fees)	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.22%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.02%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.09%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.07%)	[1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.02%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 104
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	340
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	594
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 1,322
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(3.02%)
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	11.67%
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	6.46%
2018	rr_AnnualReturn2018	(2.23%)
2019	rr_AnnualReturn2019	12.94%
2020	rr_AnnualReturn2020	6.48%
2021	rr_AnnualReturn2021	3.95%
2022	rr_AnnualReturn2022	(10.30%)
2023	rr_AnnualReturn2023	12.39%
2024	rr_AnnualReturn2024	7.56%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;margin-left:0.0pt;">Best quarter (% and time period)</span>
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2020
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	8.11%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;margin-left:0.0pt;">Worst quarter (% and time period)</span>
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2020
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(10.10%)
OneYear	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.56%
FiveYears	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.72%
TenYears	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.33%
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | Class K
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)	rr_ShareholderFeeOther
Management Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.60%
Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 fees)	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.22%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.02%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.84%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.07%)	[1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.77%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 79
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	261
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	459
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 1,031
OneYear	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.83%
FiveYears	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.99%
TenYears	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.59%
1290 VT High Yield Bond Portfolio | ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
Risk Return Abstract	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
OneYear	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.27%
FiveYears	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.08%
TenYears	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.10%

[1] Pursuant to a contract, Equitable Investment Management Group, LLC (the “Adviser”) has agreed to waive its and its affiliates’ management, administrative and other fees and, if necessary, make payments to the Portfolio to limit the expenses of the Portfolio through April 30, 2026 (unless the Board of Trustees consents to an earlier revision or termination of this arrangement) (“Expense Limitation Arrangement”) so that the annual operating expenses of the Portfolio (exclusive of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, dividend and interest expenses on securities sold short, capitalized expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Portfolio’s business) do not exceed an annual rate of average daily net assets of 1.00% for Class IB shares and 0.75% for Class K shares of the Portfolio. The Expense Limitation Arrangement may be terminated by the Adviser at any time after April 30, 2026. The Adviser may be reimbursed the amount of any such waivers or payments in the future provided that the waivers or payments are reimbursed within three years of the waivers or payments being recorded and the Portfolio’s expense ratio, after the reimbursement is taken into account, does not exceed the Portfolio’s expense cap at the time of the waiver or the Portfolio’s expense cap at the time of the reimbursement, whichever is lower.