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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName DEUTSCHE DWS VARIABLE SERIES I
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate May 01, 2019
Supplement to Prospectus [Text Block] rr_SupplementToProspectusTextBlock

SUPPLEMENT TO THE CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE PROSPECTUS

DWS CROCI® International VIP

Class A

The following changes are effective on or about December 1, 2019:

The following information replaces the existing disclosure contained under the "AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS" sub-heading of the "PAST PERFORMANCE" section of the summary section of the fund's prospectus.

Average Annual Total Returns
(For periods ended 12/31/2018 expressed as a %)

Class Inception 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class A before tax 5/1/1987 -14.39 -2.59 3.70
MSCI EAFE® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) -14.78 -0.61 5.50
MSCI EAFE® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) -13.79 0.53 6.32

The MSCI EAFE® Value Index has replaced the MSCI EAFE® Index as the fund's primary benchmark index and will no longer serve as the fund's secondary benchmark index. The Advisor believes that the MSCI EAFE® Value Index better represents the fund's investment strategy and is therefore more suitable for performance comparison.

DWS CROCI International VIP  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Supplement to Prospectus [Text Block] rr_SupplementToProspectusTextBlock

SUPPLEMENT TO THE CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE PROSPECTUS

DWS CROCI® International VIP

Class A

The following changes are effective on or about December 1, 2019:

The following information replaces the existing disclosure contained under the "AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS" sub-heading of the "PAST PERFORMANCE" section of the summary section of the fund's prospectus.

Average Annual Total Returns
(For periods ended 12/31/2018 expressed as a %)

Class Inception 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class A before tax 5/1/1987 -14.39 -2.59 3.70
MSCI EAFE® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) -14.78 -0.61 5.50
MSCI EAFE® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) -13.79 0.53 6.32

The MSCI EAFE® Value Index has replaced the MSCI EAFE® Index as the fund's primary benchmark index and will no longer serve as the fund's secondary benchmark index. The Advisor believes that the MSCI EAFE® Value Index better represents the fund's investment strategy and is therefore more suitable for performance comparison.

Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns(For periods ended 12/31/2018 expressed as a %)
Performance Table Market Index Changed rr_PerformanceTableMarketIndexChanged The MSCI EAFE® Value Index has replaced the MSCI EAFE® Index as the fund's primary benchmark index and will no longer serve as the fund's secondary benchmark index. The Advisor believes that the MSCI EAFE® Value Index better represents the fund's investment strategy and is therefore more suitable for performance comparison.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The MSCI EAFE® Value Index has replaced the MSCI EAFE® Index as the fund's primary benchmark index and will no longer serve as the fund's secondary benchmark index. The Advisor believes that the MSCI EAFE® Value Index better represents the fund's investment strategy and is therefore more suitable for performance comparison.

DWS CROCI International VIP | before tax | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (14.39%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (2.59%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.70%
Class Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 01, 1987
DWS CROCI International VIP | MSCI EAFE® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (14.78%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.61%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.50%
DWS CROCI International VIP | MSCI EAFE® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (13.79%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.53%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 6.32%