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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Sep. 30, 2017
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName VIRTUS EQUITY TRUST
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000034273
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VET
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Jan. 25, 2018
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Jan. 29, 2018
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jan. 29, 2018
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading
Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The fund has an investment objective of long-term capital appreciation,
Objective, Secondary [Text Block] rr_ObjectiveSecondaryTextBlock
with dividend income a secondary consideration.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading
Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock
The tables below illustrate all fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A Shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Funds. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class T Shares if you invest at least $250,000 in the fund. More information on these and other discounts is available: (i) from your financial advisor or other financial intermediary; (ii) under “Sales Charges” on page 80 of the fund’s prospectus; (iii) with respect to purchase of shares through specific intermediaries, in Appendix A to the fund’s prospectus, entitled “Intermediary Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers;” and (iv) under “Alternative Purchase Arrangements” on page 92 of the fund’s statement of additional information (“SAI”).
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)
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 period, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 2% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 2.00%
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 in Class A Shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Funds. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class T Shares if you invest at least $250,000 in the fund.
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates
Estimated for current fiscal year, as annualized.
Expenses Not Correlated to Ratio Due to Acquired Fund Fees [Text] rr_ExpensesNotCorrelatedToRatioDueToAcquiredFundFees
The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights tables, which tables reflect only the operating expenses of the fund and do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
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 an investment of $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated. It shows your costs if you sold your shares at the end of the period or continued to hold them. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. 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 long-term capital appreciation in the small market capitalization sector while seeking to provide the risk characteristics of the less volatile large capitalization S&P 500® Index. The fund invests in a select group of small market capitalization companies believed by the fund's subadviser to be undervalued relative to their future growth potential. The investment strategy emphasizes companies the subadviser believes to have a sustainable competitive advantage, strong management and low financial risk and to be able to grow over market cycles. Although the fund invests primarily in U.S. companies, it may invest in foreign securities and American Depositary Receipts.
 
Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its assets in common stocks of small market capitalization companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, the fund’s subadviser considers small market capitalization companies for this purpose to be those companies that, at the time of initial purchase, have market capitalizations generally within the range of companies included in the Russell 2000® Index on a rolling three-year basis. On this basis, as of September 30, 2017, the total market capitalization range of companies included in the Russell 2000® Index over the past three years was $5.4 million to $13.5 billion. Generally, the fund invests in approximately 20 to 40 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.

​

>      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. Such price changes may be temporary or may last for extended periods.

​

>      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.
 
Performance for Class T Shares is not shown here as Class T Shares have not begun operations as of the date of this prospectus.
 
The bar chart shows changes in the fund's performance from year to year over a 10-year period. 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 a 10-year period. 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 (includes returns of a predecessor fund)
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock
Returns do not reflect sales charges applicable to other classes 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 applicable to other classes and would be lower if they did.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
​ ​
Best Quarter:
 ​ ​
Q2/2009:
 ​ ​
20.08%
 ​ ​
Worst Quarter:
 ​ ​
Q4/2008:
 ​ ​
-17.60%
 ​ ​
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/17; includes returns of a predecessor fund)
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 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 Russell 2000​® Index is a market capitalization-weighted index of the smallest 2,000 companies in the Russell Universe, which comprises the 3,000 largest U.S. companies. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with 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.
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol PKSAX
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 0.75%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.30% [1]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.32% [2]
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 50,000
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 702
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 969
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,257
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,074
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 702
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 969
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,257
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,074
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 26.88%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.16%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 10.43%
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund | Class C  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol PKSCX
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% [3]
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.30% [1]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.07% [2]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 310
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 649
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,114
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,400
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 210
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 649
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,114
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,400
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 33.65%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.66%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 10.26%
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund | Class I  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol PKSFX
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 0.75%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.30% [1]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.07% [2]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 109
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 340
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 590
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,306
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 109
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 340
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 590
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,306
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (30.54%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 30.50%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 21.22%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 9.36%
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 12.23%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 27.81%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 6.35%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 1.07%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 17.37%
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 34.98%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 20.08%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (17.60%)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 34.98%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 16.83%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 11.37%
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund | Class R6  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VSCRX
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 0.75%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.23% [1]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.00% [2]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 102
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 318
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 552
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,225
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 102
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 318
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 552
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,225
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 35.06%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 17.10%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Nov. 12, 2014
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund | Class T  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VTSCX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 2.50%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.30% [4]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.32% [2]
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 250,000
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 381
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 658
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 955
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,800
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 381
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 658
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 955
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,800
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Class I  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 34.92%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.19%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 10.32%
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Class I  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.84%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 13.17%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 9.16%
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund | Russell 2000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
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
Russell 2000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 14.65%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 14.12%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.71%
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund | Russell 2000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | 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
Russell 2000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 10.14%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Nov. 12, 2014
[1] Restated to reflect certain contract and expense allocation changes.
[2] The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights tables, which tables reflect only the operating expenses of the fund and do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
[3] The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
[4] Estimated for current fiscal year, as annualized.