Label	Element	Value
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Document Type	dei_DocumentType	485BPOS
Document Period End Date	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate	Sep. 30, 2018
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	VIRTUS EQUITY TRUST
Central Index Key	dei_EntityCentralIndexKey	0000034273
Amendment Flag	dei_AmendmentFlag	false
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Jan. 25, 2019
Document Effective Date	dei_DocumentEffectiveDate	Jan. 28, 2019
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Jan. 28, 2019
Virtus KAR Capital Growth Fund \| Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PSTAX
Virtus KAR Capital Growth Fund \| Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	SSTFX
Virtus KAR Capital Growth Fund \| Class I
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PLXGX
Virtus KAR Capital Growth Fund \| Class R6
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VCGRX
Virtus KAR Global Quality Dividend Fund \| Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PPTAX
Virtus KAR Global Quality Dividend Fund \| Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PPTCX
Virtus KAR Global Quality Dividend Fund \| Class I
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PIPTX
Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Core Fund \| Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VMACX
Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Core Fund \| Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VMCCX
Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Core Fund \| Class I
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VIMCX
Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Core Fund \| Class R6
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VRMCX
Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Growth Fund \| Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PHSKX
Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Growth Fund \| Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PSKCX
Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Growth Fund \| Class I
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PICMX
Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Growth Fund \| Class R6
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VRMGX
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund \| Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PKSAX
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund \| Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PKSCX
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund \| Class I
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PKSFX
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund \| Class R6
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VSCRX
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Fund \| Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PSGAX
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Fund \| Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PSGCX
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Fund \| Class I
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PXSGX
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Fund \| Class R6
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VRSGX
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Value Fund \| Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PQSAX
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Value Fund \| Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PQSCX
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Value Fund \| Class I
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PXQSX
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Value Fund \| Class R6
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VQSRX
Virtus KAR Small-Mid Cap Core Fund \| Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VKSAX
Virtus KAR Small-Mid Cap Core Fund \| Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VKSCX
Virtus KAR Small-Mid Cap Core Fund \| Class I
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VKSIX
Virtus KAR Small-Mid Cap Core Fund \| Class R6
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VKSRX
Virtus Rampart Enhanced Core Equity Fund \| Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PDIAX
Virtus Rampart Enhanced Core Equity Fund \| Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PGICX
Virtus Rampart Enhanced Core Equity Fund \| Class I
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	PXIIX
Virtus Rampart Enhanced Core Equity Fund \| Class R6
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VECRX
Virtus SGA Global Growth Fund \| Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	SGAAX
Virtus SGA Global Growth Fund \| Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	SGACX
Virtus SGA Global Growth Fund \| Class I
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	SGAPX
Virtus SGA Global Growth Fund \| Class R6
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	SGARX
Virtus Tactical Allocation Fund \| Class A
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	NAINX
Virtus Tactical Allocation Fund \| Class C
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	POICX
Virtus Tactical Allocation Fund \| Class I
Prospectus [Line Items]	rr_ProspectusLineItems
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	VTAIX

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The date the document was made available and submitted, in CCYY-MM-DD format. The date of submission, date of acceptance by the recipient, and the document effective date are all potentially different.

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The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word "Other".

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- Definition

A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.

+ References

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-Publisher SEC
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The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.

+ References

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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation 12B
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- Definition

Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.

+ References

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- Definition

The date of the prospectus.

+ References

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-Publisher SEC
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-Chapter A
-Section 1
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