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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
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:24pt;">Ultra Short Term Bond 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 The fund seeks a high level of current income consistent with the maintenance of liquidity and the preservation of capital.
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="color:#000000;font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0.0pt;">Annual fund operating expenses (%) </span><span style="color:#000000;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 69% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 69.00%
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 circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in a diversified portfolio of domestic, investment grade, debt securities. (The fund will provide written notice to shareholders at least 60 days prior to a change in its 80% investment policy.) Debt securities may be issued by governments, companies or special purpose entities and may include notes, discount notes, bonds, debentures, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities and assignments, participations and other interests in bank loans.  Direct investments in loans may be illiquid and holding a loan could expose the fund to the risks of being a direct lender. The fund may also invest in cash and cash equivalents. The fund’s investment policies are based on credit ratings at the time of purchase. Investment grade securities include securities that are rated in one of the four highest rating categories as determined by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, such as S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) or Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”), or are unrated securities determined by the subadvisor to be of comparable quality. The fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities that are rated BBB by S&P or Fitch, Baa by Moody’s, or unrated securities determined by the subadvisor to be of comparable quality. The fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in foreign debt securities, including up to 5% of its net assets in foreign debt securities that are denominated in a foreign currency. Under normal circumstances, the fund’s dollar weighted average maturity will be two years or less and its duration will be one year or less. Up to 15% of the fund’s net assets may be invested in securities with maturities greater than three years. Use of Hedging and Other Strategic Transactions. The fund is authorized to use various hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions described under “Additional Information about the Funds’ Principal Risks – Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk.” The fund may invest in derivatives, including futures, currency forwards, options, swap contracts and other derivative instruments. The fund may invest in derivatives for both hedging and non-hedging purposes, including, for example, to seek to enhance returns or as a substitute for a position in an underlying asset.
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 ICE BofA 6 Month U.S. Treasury Bill 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 20202.02%Worst quarter:Q1 2022-0.98%
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>
Performance Table Market Index Changed rr_PerformanceTableMarketIndexChanged <span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:8pt;">The fund has designated the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as its new broad-based securities market index in accordance with the revised definition for such an index.</span>
Ultra Short Term Bond 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.
Ultra Short Term Bond 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.
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | Cash And Cash Equivalents Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Cash and cash equivalents risk.  Under certain market conditions, such as during a rising stock market, rising interest rate or rising credit spread markets, the use of cash and/or cash equivalents, including money market instruments, could have a negative effect on the fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective and may negatively impact the fund’s performance.
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | Changing Distribution Levels Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Changing distribution levels risk.  The fund may cease or reduce the level of its distribution if income or dividends paid from its investments declines.
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | Credit And Counterparty Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Credit and counterparty risk.  The issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, 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. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon the nature of their support. A downgrade or default affecting any of the fund’s securities could affect the fund’s performance.
Ultra Short Term Bond 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.
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | Fixed Income Securities Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Fixed-income securities risk.  A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity or duration of the bonds held by a fund, the more sensitive it will likely be to interest-rate fluctuations. An issuer may not make all interest payments or repay all or any of the principal borrowed. Changes in a security’s credit quality may adversely affect fund performance.
Ultra Short Term Bond 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.
Ultra Short Term Bond 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, swaps, foreign currency swaps, interest-rate swaps, credit default swaps, swaptions, equity-linked notes (equity-linked notes generally reflect the risks associated with their underlying securities, depend 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, options, and swaps generally are subject to counterparty risk. In addition, swaps may be subject to interest-rate and settlement risk, and the risk of default of the underlying reference obligation. 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).
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | Illiquid And Restricted Securities Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Illiquid and restricted securities risk.  Illiquid and restricted securities may be difficult to value and may involve greater risks than liquid securities. Illiquidity may have an adverse impact on a particular security’s market price and the fund’s ability to sell the security.
Ultra Short Term Bond 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. Liquidity risk may be magnified in rising interest rate environments due to higher than normal redemption rates. Widespread selling of fixed-income securities to satisfy redemptions during periods of reduced demand may adversely impact the price or salability of such securities. Periods of heavy redemption could cause the fund to sell assets at a loss or depressed value, which could negatively affect performance. Redemption risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets.
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | Loan Participations Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Loan participations risk.  Participations and assignments involve special types of risks, including credit risk, interest-rate risk, counterparty risk, liquidity risk, risks associated with extended settlement, and the risks of being a lender.
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | Mortgage Backed And Asset Backed Securities Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities risk.  Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are subject to different combinations of prepayment, extension, interest-rate, and other market risks. Factors that impact the value of these securities include interest rate changes, the reliability of available information, credit quality or enhancement, and market perception.
Ultra Short Term Bond 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.
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | Repurchase Agreement Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Repurchase agreements risk.  The risk of a repurchase agreement transaction is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the delivery date. In the event of bankruptcy or other default by the seller, the instrument purchased may decline in value, interest payable on the instrument may be lost and there may be possible difficulties and delays in obtaining collateral and delays and expense in liquidating the instrument.
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | Sector Risk [Member]  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk [Text Block] rr_RiskTextBlock Sector risk.  When a fund focuses its investments in certain sectors of the economy, its performance may be driven largely by sector performance and could fluctuate more widely than if the fund were invested more evenly across sectors.
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | Series I  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.05%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.08%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.68%
Contractual expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [1]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.67%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 68
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 217
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 378
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 846
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (0.04%)
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 0.52%
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 0.66%
2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 1.40%
2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 3.12%
2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 1.47%
2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 (0.46%)
2022 rr_AnnualReturn2022 (0.84%)
2023 rr_AnnualReturn2023 4.60%
2024 rr_AnnualReturn2024 4.97%
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 2.02%
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 Mar. 31, 2022
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (0.98%)
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.97%
5 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.92%
10 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.52%
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | Series II  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.08%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.88%
Contractual expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [1]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.87%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 89
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 280
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 487
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,083
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.78%
5 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.72%
10 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.33%
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | NAV  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.08%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.63%
Contractual expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [1]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.62%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 63
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 201
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 350
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 785
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.01%
5 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 1.98%
10 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.58%
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.25% [2]
5 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.33%) [2]
10 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.35% [2]
Ultra Short Term Bond Trust | ICE BofA 6 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.35%
5 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.57%
10 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.91%
[1] 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.
[2] The fund has designated the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as its new broad-based securities market index in accordance with the revised definition for such an index.