XML 14 R5.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT  v2.3.0.11
Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType Other
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Dec. 31, 2010
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0001046292
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Jun. 22, 2011
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Jun. 22, 2011
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Apr. 29, 2011
Institutional Shares, Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund
  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.05%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.80%
Fee Waiver rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.02%) [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.78%
Service Shares, Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund
  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.05%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.05%
Fee Waiver rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.02%) [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.03%
Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund | Summary - Institutional Shares - Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Supplement [Text Block] gssqx_SupplementTextBlock

GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST

Institutional and Service Shares of the

Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”)

Supplement dated June 22, 2011 to the

Prospectuses dated April 29, 2011 (the “Prospectuses”)

Effective as of the start of business on July 1, 2011, Goldman Sachs Asset Management (the “Investment Adviser”) has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in order to achieve an effective net management fee rate of 0.73% as an annual percentage rate of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund gssqx_FundFeesAndExpensesAbstract  
Supplement Expense Narrative [Text Block] gssqx_SupplementExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

Accordingly, effective July 1, 2011, the following replaces in its entirety the table and its accompanying footnotes in the “Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund—Summary—Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of the Institutional Shares Prospectus:
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
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 April 29, 2012
Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund | Summary - Service Shares - Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund
  
Fees and Expenses of the Fund gssqx_FundFeesAndExpensesAbstract  
Supplement Expense Narrative [Text Block] gssqx_SupplementExpenseNarrativeTextBlock Effective July 1, 2011, the following replaces in its entirety the table and its accompanying footnotes in the “Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund—Summary—Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of the Service Shares Prospectus:
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
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 April 29, 2012
[1] Effective July 1, 2011, the Investment Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in order to achieve an effective net management fee rate of 0.73% of the Fund's average daily net assets. This arrangement will remain in effect through at least April 29, 2012, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees.