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Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Apr. 28, 2025
Health Sciences Trust  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:24pt;">Health Sciences Trust</span>
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Investment objective</span>
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock To seek long-term capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Fees and expenses</span>
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. The fees and expenses do not reflect fees and expenses of any variable insurance or variable annuities contract that may use the fund as its underlying investment option and would be higher if they did.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption <span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0.0pt;">Annual fund operating expenses (%) </span><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:8pt;margin-left:0.0pt;">(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 Narrow;font-size:8pt;">July 31, 2026</span>
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Portfolio turnover</span>
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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 44% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 44.00%
Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text] rr_ExpensesRestatedToReflectCurrent <span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:8pt;">“Management fee” has been restated to reflect the contractual management fee schedule effective October 1, 2024.</span>
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Expense example</span>
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock The examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The examples assume that $10,000 is invested in the fund for the periods indicated and then all shares are redeemed at the end of those periods. The examples also assume that the investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The expense example does not reflect fees and expenses of any variable insurance contract that may use the fund as its underlying investment option and would be higher if they did. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Principal investment strategies</span>
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks of companies engaged, at the time of investment, in the research, development, production, or distribution of products or services related to health care, medicine, or the life sciences (collectively, “health sciences”). (The fund will provide written notice to shareholders at least 60 days prior to a change in its 80% investment policy.)   While the fund may invest in companies of any size, the majority of its assets are expected to be invested in large- and mid-cap companies. The subadvisor’s portfolio managers divide the health sciences sector into four main areas: pharmaceutical companies, health care services companies, medical products and devices providers, and biotechnology firms. Their allocation among these four areas will vary depending on the relative potential within each area and the outlook for the overall health sciences sector. While most assets will be invested in U.S. common stocks, the fund may purchase other securities, including foreign securities, in keeping with its investment objective. The fund concentrates its investments (invests more than 25% of its total assets) in securities of companies in the health sciences sector, a comparatively narrow segment of the economy, and therefore may experience greater volatility than funds investing in a broader range of industries. In managing the fund, the subadvisor uses a fundamental, bottom-up analysis that seeks to identify high quality companies and the most compelling investment opportunities. In general, the fund will follow a growth investment strategy, seeking companies whose earnings are expected to grow faster than inflation and the economy in general. When stock valuations seem unusually high, however, a “value” approach, which gives preference to seemingly undervalued companies, may also be emphasized. The fund may invest up to 35% of its total assets in foreign securities (including emerging market securities) and may have exposure to foreign currencies through its investment in these securities, its direct holdings of foreign currencies or through its use of foreign currency exchange contracts for the purchase or sale of a fixed quantity of a foreign currency at a future date. In pursuing its investment objective, the fund’s management has the discretion to purchase some securities that do not meet its normal investment criteria, as described above, when it perceives an opportunity for substantial appreciation. These  situations might arise when the fund’s management believes a security could increase in value for a variety of reasons including a change in management, an extraordinary corporate event, or a new product introduction or innovation or a favorable competitive development. The fund may sell securities for a variety of reasons including to realize gains, limit losses or redeploy assets into more promising opportunities. Use of Hedging and Other Strategic Transactions. The fund is authorized to use all of the various investment strategies referred to under “Additional Information About the Funds’ Principal Risks — Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk” including entering into option transactions.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Principal risks</span>
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Past performance</span>
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The following information illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the fund’s average annual returns compared with a broad-based securities market index.Past performance does not indicate future results. The Lipper Health/Biotechnology Index shows how the fund’s performance compares against the returns of similar investments. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. The performance information below does not reflect fees and expenses of any variable insurance contract which may use JHVIT as its underlying investment option. If such fees and expenses had been reflected, performance would be lower.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns <span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:9pt;">The following information illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the fund’s average annual returns compared with a broad-based securities market index.</span>
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture <span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:9pt;">Past performance does not indicate future results.</span>
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading <span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:9pt;font-weight:bold;">Calendar year total returns (%)—Series I</span>
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Best quarter:Q2 202023.63%Worst quarter:Q4 2018-16.07%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading <span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0.0pt;">Average annual total returns (%)—as of 12/31/2024</span>
Health Sciences Trust | Risk Lose Money [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Many factors affect performance, and fund shares will fluctuate in price, meaning you could lose money.
Health Sciences Trust | Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Health Sciences Trust | Concentration Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Concentration risk.  Because the fund may focus on one or more industries or sectors of the economy, its performance depends in large part on the performance of those industries or sectors. As a result, the value of an investment may fluctuate more widely since it is more susceptible to market, economic, political, regulatory, and other conditions and risks affecting those industries or sectors than a fund that invests more broadly across industries and sectors.
Health Sciences Trust | Credit And Counterparty Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Credit and counterparty risk.  The counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract or a borrower of fund securities may not make timely payments or otherwise honor its obligations.
Health Sciences Trust | Currency Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Currency risk.  Fluctuations in exchange rates may adversely affect the U.S. dollar value of a fund’s investments. Foreign currencies may decline in value, which could negatively impact performance.
Health Sciences Trust | Economic And Market Events Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Economic and market events risk.  Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. Reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets could adversely affect issuers worldwide. Banks and financial services companies could suffer losses if interest rates rise or economic conditions deteriorate.
Health Sciences Trust | Equity Securities Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Equity securities risk.  The price of equity securities may decline due to changes in a company’s financial condition or overall market conditions. Growth company securities may fluctuate more in price than other securities because of the greater emphasis on earnings expectations. Securities the manager believes are undervalued may never realize their full potential value, and in certain markets value stocks may underperform the market as a whole.
Health Sciences Trust | Foreign Securities Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Foreign securities risk.  Less information may be publicly available regarding foreign issuers, including foreign government issuers. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes and may be more volatile than U.S. securities. Currency fluctuations and political and economic developments may adversely impact the value of foreign securities. The risks of investing in foreign securities are magnified in emerging markets.
Health Sciences Trust | Hong Kong Stock Connect Program (Stock Connect) Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Hong Kong Stock Connect Program (Stock Connect) risk.  Trading in China A-Shares through Stock Connect, a mutual market access program that enables foreign investment in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is subject to certain restrictions and risks. Securities listed on Stock Connect may lose purchase eligibility, which could adversely affect the fund’s performance. Trading through Stock Connect is subject to trading, clearance, and settlement procedures that may continue to develop as the program matures. Any changes in laws, regulations and policies applicable to Stock Connect may affect China A-Share prices. These risks are heightened by the underdeveloped state of the PRC’s investment and banking systems in general.
Health Sciences Trust | Healthcare Sector Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Healthcare sector risk.  Health sciences companies may be significantly affected by product obsolescence, thin capitalization, limited product lines and markets, civil liability claims, and legislative or regulatory activities, among other factors.
Health Sciences Trust | Hedging Derivatives And Other Strategic Transactions Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions risk.  Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions may increase a fund’s volatility and could produce disproportionate losses, potentially more than the fund’s principal investment. Risks of these transactions are different from and possibly greater than risks of investing directly in securities and other traditional instruments. Under certain market conditions, derivatives could become harder to value or sell and may become subject to liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions). Derivatives and other strategic transactions that the fund intends to utilize include: foreign currency forward contracts, futures contracts, options, credit default swaps, foreign currency swaps, interest rate swaps, swaps, swaptions, equity-linked notes (equity-linked notes generally reflect the risks associates with their underlying securities, depends on the credit of the note's issuer, may be privately placed, and may have a limited secondary market), inverse floating-rate securities, reverse repurchase agreements, total return swaps, and options on futures. Foreign currency forward contracts, futures contracts, and options generally are subject to counterparty risk. Derivatives associated with foreign currency transactions are subject to currency risk. An event of default or insolvency of the counterparty to a reverse repurchase agreement could result in delays or restrictions with respect to the fund's ability to dispose of the underlying securities, in addition, a reverse repurchase agreement may be considered a form of leverage and may, therefore, increase fluctuations in the fund's net asset value per share (NAV).
Health Sciences Trust | Investment Company Securities Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Investment company securities risk.  Fund shareholders indirectly bear their proportionate share of the expenses of any investment company in which the fund invests. The total return on such investments will be reduced by the operating expenses and fees of such other investment companies, including advisory fees.
Health Sciences Trust | Large Company Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Large company risk.  Larger companies may grow more slowly than smaller companies or be slower to respond to business developments. Large-capitalization securities may underperform the market as a whole.
Health Sciences Trust | Liquidity Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Liquidity risk.  The extent (if at all) to which a security may be sold or a derivative position closed without negatively impacting its market value may be impaired by reduced market activity or participation, legal restrictions, or other economic and market impediments.
Health Sciences Trust | Operational And Cybersecurity Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Operational and cybersecurity risk.  Cybersecurity breaches may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause a fund or its service providers to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Similar incidents affecting issuers of a fund’s securities may negatively impact performance. Operational risk may arise from human error, error by third parties, communication errors, or technology failures, among other causes.
Health Sciences Trust | Small And Mid Sized Company Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Small and mid-sized company risk.  Small and mid-sized companies are generally less established and may be more volatile than larger companies. Small and/or mid-capitalization securities may underperform the market as a whole.
Health Sciences Trust | Series I  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.77% [1]
Distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.05%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.08%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.90%
Contractual expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.89%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 91
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 286
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 497
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,107
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 12.69%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 (10.57%)
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 27.51%
2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 0.69%
2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 28.68%
2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 27.17%
2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 11.19%
2022 rr_AnnualReturn2022 (13.09%)
2023 rr_AnnualReturn2023 4.25%
2024 rr_AnnualReturn2024 1.78%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0.0pt;">Best quarter:</span>
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2020
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 23.63%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0.0pt;">Worst quarter:</span>
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2018
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (16.07%)
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.78%
5 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.45%
10 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.06%
Health Sciences Trust | Series II  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.77% [1]
Distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.08%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.10%
Contractual expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.09%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 111
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 349
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 605
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,339
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.62%
5 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.25%
10 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.85%
Health Sciences Trust | NAV  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.77% [1]
Distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.08%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.85%
Contractual expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.84%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 86
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 270
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 470
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,048
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.86%
5 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.51%
10 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.12%
Health Sciences Trust | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 25.02%
5 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 14.53%
10 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 13.10%
Health Sciences Trust | Lipper Health/Biotechnology Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.70%
5 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.24%
10 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.92%
[1] “Management fee” has been restated to reflect the contractual management fee schedule effective October 1, 2024.
[2] The advisor contractually agrees to waive a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse expenses for the fund and certain other John Hancock funds according to an asset level breakpoint schedule that is based on the aggregate net assets of all the funds participating in the waiver or reimbursement, including the fund (the participating portfolios). This waiver equals, on an annualized basis, 0.0100% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $75 billion but is less than or equal to $125 billion; 0.0125% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $125 billion but is less than or equal to $150 billion; 0.0150% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $150 billion but is less than or equal to $175 billion; 0.0175% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $175 billion but is less than or equal to $200 billion; 0.0200% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $200 billion but is less than or equal to $225 billion; and 0.0225% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $225 billion. The amount of the reimbursement is calculated daily and allocated among all the participating portfolios in proportion to the daily net assets of each participating portfolio. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund’s reimbursement amounted to 0.01% of the fund’s average daily net assets. This agreement expires on July 31, 2026, unless renewed by mutual agreement of the fund and the advisor based upon a determination that this is appropriate under the circumstances at that time.