Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Apr. 30, 2018
Institutional | Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund—Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of the Fund. This table does not reflect the fees and expenses associated with any variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy that uses the Fund as an investment option. Had those fees and expenses been included, overall fees and expenses would be higher.
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 30, 2019
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The Fund pays transaction costs when it buys and sells securities or instruments (i.e., “turns over” its portfolio). A high rate of portfolio turnover may result in increased transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. These costs are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, but are reflected in the Fund’s performance. The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 was 127% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	127.00%
Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text]	rr_ExpensesRestatedToReflectCurrent	The Fund’s “Management Fees” have been restated to reflect current fees. The Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Limitation” have been restated to reflect the fee waiver and expense limitation currently in effect.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Expense 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. This Example does not reflect the fees and expenses associated with any variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy that uses the Fund as an investment option. Had those fees and expenses been included, the costs shown below would be higher. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Institutional Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Institutional Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the Example incorporates the fee waiver and expense limitation arrangements for only the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Strategy
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at time of purchase) (“Net Assets”) in a diversified portfolio of equity investments in large-cap U.S. issuers with public stock market capitalizations within the range of the market capitalization of companies constituting the Russell 1000® Value Index at the time of investment. As of March 1, 2018, the capitalization range of the Russell 1000® Value Index was between approximately $502.41 million and $497.23 billion. Although the Fund will invest primarily in publicly traded U.S. securities, it may invest in foreign securities, including securities of issuers in countries with emerging markets or economies (“emerging countries”) and securities quoted in foreign currencies. The Fund seeks its investment objective by investing in value opportunities that the Investment Adviser defines as companies with identifiable competitive advantages whose intrinsic value is not reflected in the stock price. The Fund’s equity investment process involves: (1) using multiple industry-specific valuation metrics to identify real economic value and company potential in stocks, screened by valuation, profitability and business characteristics; (2) conducting in-depth company research and assessing overall business quality; and (3) buying those securities that a sector portfolio manager recommends, taking into account feedback from the rest of the portfolio management team. The Investment Adviser may decide to sell a position for various reasons, including valuation and price considerations, readjustment of the Investment Adviser’s outlook based on subsequent events, the Investment Adviser’s ongoing assessment of the quality and effectiveness of management, if new investment ideas offer the potential for better risk/reward profiles than existing holdings, or for risk management purposes. In addition, the Investment Adviser may sell a position in order to meet shareholder redemptions. The Fund may also invest in companies with public stock market capitalizations outside the range of companies constituting the Russell 1000® Value Index at the time of investment and in fixed income securities, such as government, corporate and bank debt obligations. The Fund’s benchmark index is the Russell 1000® Value Index.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks of the Fund
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any government agency. The Fund should not be relied upon as a complete investment program. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Investments in the Fund involve substantial risks which prospective investors should consider carefully before investing. Investment Style Risk.  Different investment styles (e.g., “growth,” “value” or “quantitative”) tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market and economic conditions and investor sentiment. The Fund may outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles. Value stocks are those believed to be undervalued in comparison to their peers, due to market, company-specific or other factors. Large Shareholder Transactions Risk.  The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund. Such large shareholder redemptions may cause the Fund to sell portfolio securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) and liquidity. Similarly, large Fund share purchases may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would. These transactions may also increase transaction costs. In addition, a large redemption could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio. Market Risk.  The value of the securities in which the Fund invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular sectors or governments and/or general economic conditions throughout the world due to increasingly interconnected global economies and financial markets. Portfolio Turnover Rate Risk.  A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. Stock Risk.  Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing: (a) changes in the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Shares from year to year; and (b) how the average annual total returns of the Fund’s Institutional Shares compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Performance reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense limitations in effect during the periods shown. In addition, performance reflects Fund level expenses but does not reflect the fees and expenses associated with any variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy that uses the Fund as an investment option for any contract or policy. Had performance reflected all of those fees and expenses, performance would have been reduced. Updated performance information is available at no cost at www.gsamfunds.com/vit or by calling the phone number on the back cover of the Prospectus.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing: (a) changes in the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Shares from year to year; and (b) how the average annual total returns of the Fund’s Institutional Shares compare to those of a broad-based securities market index.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	www.gsamfunds.com/vit
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	TOTAL RETURN CALENDAR YEAR
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Best Quarter Q3 ‘09        +15.24% Worst Quarter Q4 ‘08        –20.03%
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN For the period ended December 31, 2017
Institutional | Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund | Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.72%	[1]
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.78%
Fee Waiver and Expense Limitation	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.07%)	[2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.71%	[3]
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 73
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	243
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	427
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 961
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(34.45%)
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	18.32%
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	11.20%
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(7.05%)
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	19.07%
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	33.23%
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	12.94%
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(4.41%)
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	11.55%
2017	rr_AnnualReturn2017	9.85%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	15.24%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(20.03%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.85%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	12.00%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.33%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.17%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Jan. 12, 1998
Institutional | Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund | Russell 1000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	13.66%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.03%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.10%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	7.70%

[1] The Fund’s “Management Fees” have been restated to reflect current fees.

[2] The Investment Adviser has agreed to (i) waive a portion of the management fee in order to achieve an effective net management fee rate of 0.69% of the Fund’s average daily net assets; and (ii) reduce or limit “Other Expenses” (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, transfer agency fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, expenses of shareholder meetings, litigation and indemnification, and extraordinary expenses) to 0.004% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. These arrangements will remain in effect through at least April 30, 2019, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangements without the approval of the Board of Trustees. The Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Limitation” have been restated to reflect the fee waiver and expense limitation currently in effect.

[3] After Fee Waiver and Expense Limitation