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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Dec. 31, 2016
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName VIRTUS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000792359
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol vvit
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Apr. 25, 2017
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate May 01, 2017
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate May 01, 2017
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Series  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Series
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading
Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The Series has an investment objective of long-term capital growth.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading
Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock
The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Series. The table does not include any fees or sales charges under the variable contracts for which the Series is an investment option. If they were included, your costs would be higher.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption
Annual Series Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment.)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination April 30, 2018
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading
Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock
The Series 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 Series Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Series’ performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 18% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 18.00%
Expenses Not Correlated to Ratio Due to Acquired Fund Fees [Text] rr_ExpensesNotCorrelatedToRatioDueToAcquiredFundFees
The Total Annual Series 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 Series and do not include proxy 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 Series with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Series for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Series’ total operating expenses remain the same and that the expense reimbursement arrangement remains in place for the contractual period. The example does not reflect variable contract fees and charges, and if it did, the costs shown would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading
Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
The Series pursues long-term capital appreciation in the small-cap sector while seeking to provide the risk characteristics of the less volatile large-cap S&P 500® Index. The Series invests in a select group of small-cap companies that the subadviser believes to be growth companies and undervalued relative to their future growth potential. The investment strategy emphasizes companies assessed by the subadviser as having a competitive advantage, strong management and low financial risk and as able to grow over market cycles, despite their discounted valuations.
 
Under normal circumstances, the Series invests at least 80% of its assets in common stocks of small capitalization companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, the subadviser considers small capitalization companies for this purpose to be those companies that, at the time of initial purchase, have market capitalizations within the range of companies included in the Russell 2000® Growth Index on a rolling three-year basis. Because small capitalization companies are defined by reference to an index, the market capitalization of companies in which the Series invests may vary with market conditions. As of December 31, 2016, the market capitalization range of companies included in the Russell 2000® Growth Index over the past three years was $9.5 million to $11.3 billion. Generally, the Series invests in approximately 20-35 securities at any given time.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading
Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
The Series may not achieve its objective(s), and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. The value of the Series' 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 Series' 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 Series 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 variable contract owners may impact the management of the Series and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s). The redemption by one or more large variable contract owners or groups of variable contract owners of their holdings in the Series could have an adverse impact on the remaining variable contract owners in the Series including by accelerating the realization of capital gains and increasing the Series' transaction costs. The principal risks of investing in the Series are:
>     Equity Securities Risk.  The risk that events negatively affecting issuers, industries or financial markets in which the Series invests, will impact the value of the stocks held by the Series and thus, the value of the Series' shares over short or extended periods. Investments in a particular style or in small or medium-sized companies may enhance that risk.
​
>     Growth Stocks Risk.  The risk that the Series' investments in growth stocks will be more volatile than investments in other types of stocks, or will perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks.
​
>     Limited Number of Investments Risk.  The risk that the Series' portfolio will be more susceptible to factors adversely affecting issuers of securities in the Series' 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 Series invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual issuers and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be temporary or may last for extended periods.
​
>     Small Market Capitalization Companies Risk.  The risk that the Series' 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 Series, 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 Series’ investments decreases, you will lose money.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading
Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Series. The bar chart shows changes in the Series’ performance from year to year over a 10-year period. The table shows how the Series’ average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. The Series’ past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Series will perform in the future. The Series’ returns in the chart and table do not reflect the deduction of any separate account or variable contract charges. The returns would have been less than those shown if such charges were deducted.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Series. The bar chart shows changes in the Series’ performance from year to year over a 10-year period. The table shows how the Series’ average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone
800-367-5877
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress
virtus.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture
The Series’ past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Series will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading
Calendar Year Annual Total Returns for Class A Shares
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock
Annual Return (%)
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads
The Series’ returns in the chart and table do not reflect the deduction of any separate account or variable contract charges. The returns would have been less than those shown if such charges were deducted.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
​ ​
Best Quarter:
 ​ ​
2Q/2009
 ​ ​
16.58%
 ​ ​
Worst Quarter:​
 ​ ​
4Q/2008:
 ​ ​
-25.51%
 ​ ​
Year to date (3/31/17):​
 ​ ​
5.92%
 ​ ​
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/16)
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock
Class I Shares have been in existence only since April 30, 2013; therefore, limited performance information for Class I Shares is available to include here. However, the returns for Class I Shares for other periods would have been substantially similar to those shown for Class A Shares because Class I Shares and Class A Shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities. Class A Shares pay distribution and services (12b-1) fees and Class I Shares do not; therefore, had the Class I Shares been operational during the periods shown only for Class A Shares, investment performance for Class I Shares would have been higher than for Class A Shares.
Updated performance information is available at virtus.com or by calling 800-367-5877.
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Series | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Shareholder Fees vvit_ShareholderFee none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.26%
Total Annual Series Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.36% [1]
Less: Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.17%) [2]
Total Annual Series Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.19% [1],[2]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 121
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 414
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 728
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,620
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 16.10%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (44.92%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 22.39%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 13.53%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 16.59%
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 11.81%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 40.20%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 5.50%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 0.73%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 25.92%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year to date
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Mar. 31, 2017
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 5.92%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 16.58%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (25.51%)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class A
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 25.92%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.97%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.07%
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Series | Class I  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Shareholder Fees vvit_ShareholderFee none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.26%
Total Annual Series Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.11% [1]
Less: Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.17%) [2]
Total Annual Series Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.94% [1],[2]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 96
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 336
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 595
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,336
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class I
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 26.25%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 15.62%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 30, 2013
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Series | Russell 2000® Growth Index (does not reflect fees or expenses)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (does not reflect fees or expenses)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Russell 2000® Growth Index (does not reflect fees or expenses)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.32%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 13.74%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.76%
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Series | Russell 2000® Growth Index (does not reflect fees or expenses) | Class I  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (does not reflect fees or expenses)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Russell 2000® Growth Index (does not reflect fees or expenses)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 11.21%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 30, 2013
[1] The Total Annual Series 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 Series and do not include proxy expenses.
[2] The Series' investment adviser has contractually agreed to limit the Series' total annual operating expenses (excluding certain expenses, such as front-end or contingent deferred sales charges, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, unusual or infrequently occurring expenses (such as litigation) and acquired fund fees and expenses, if any) so that such expenses do not exceed 1.19% for Class A Shares and 0.94% for Class I Shares through April 30, 2018. Following the contractual period, the adviser may discontinue this expense reimbursement arrangement at any time. Under certain conditions, the adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under this arrangement for a period of three years following the time such reimbursement occurred.