Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	DEUTSCHE VARIABLE SERIES II
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	May 01, 2016
Supplement [Text Block]	dvs2_SupplementTextBlock	SUPPLEMENT TO THE CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE PROSPECTUS Deutsche Global Growth VIP Class B Effective on or about October 3, 2016, the prospectus is supplemented as follows: The following information replaces the first two paragraphs under the "Main investments" sub-heading and the disclosure under the "Management process" sub-heading contained in the "PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY" section of the summary section of the fund's prospectus and the "FUND DETAILS" section of the fund's prospectus: Main Investments. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stocks and other equities of companies throughout the world that portfolio management considers to be "blue chip" companies. Blue chip companies are large, well known companies that typically have an established earnings and dividends history, easy access to credit, solid positions in their industries and strong management. The fund can invest in companies from any country, including countries with emerging economies. The fund's equity investments may also include preferred stocks and other securities with equity characteristics, such as convertible securities and warrants. Management process. Portfolio management aims to add value through stock selection. In choosing securities, portfolio management employs a risk-balanced bottom-up selection process to identify companies it believes are well-positioned. Portfolio management utilizes a proprietary investment process designed to identify attractive investments utilizing proprietary research, including regional and sector research, conducted by in-house analysts. The investment process also takes into consideration various valuation metrics to assess the attractiveness of stocks and assists portfolio management in devising allocations among investable securities. Portfolio management uses analytical tools to actively monitor the risk profile of the portfolio as compared to appropriate benchmarks. Portfolio management will normally sell a stock when its price fully reflects portfolio management's estimate of its fundamental value, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or in the course of adjusting the fund's exposure to a given country or sector.
Deutsche Global Growth VIP
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Supplement [Text Block]	dvs2_SupplementTextBlock	SUPPLEMENT TO THE CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE PROSPECTUS Deutsche Global Growth VIP Class B Effective on or about October 3, 2016, the prospectus is supplemented as follows: The following information replaces the first two paragraphs under the "Main investments" sub-heading and the disclosure under the "Management process" sub-heading contained in the "PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY" section of the summary section of the fund's prospectus and the "FUND DETAILS" section of the fund's prospectus: Main Investments. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stocks and other equities of companies throughout the world that portfolio management considers to be "blue chip" companies. Blue chip companies are large, well known companies that typically have an established earnings and dividends history, easy access to credit, solid positions in their industries and strong management. The fund can invest in companies from any country, including countries with emerging economies. The fund's equity investments may also include preferred stocks and other securities with equity characteristics, such as convertible securities and warrants. Management process. Portfolio management aims to add value through stock selection. In choosing securities, portfolio management employs a risk-balanced bottom-up selection process to identify companies it believes are well-positioned. Portfolio management utilizes a proprietary investment process designed to identify attractive investments utilizing proprietary research, including regional and sector research, conducted by in-house analysts. The investment process also takes into consideration various valuation metrics to assess the attractiveness of stocks and assists portfolio management in devising allocations among investable securities. Portfolio management uses analytical tools to actively monitor the risk profile of the portfolio as compared to appropriate benchmarks. Portfolio management will normally sell a stock when its price fully reflects portfolio management's estimate of its fundamental value, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or in the course of adjusting the fund's exposure to a given country or sector.
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	Main Investments. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stocks and other equities of companies throughout the world that portfolio management considers to be "blue chip" companies. Blue chip companies are large, well known companies that typically have an established earnings and dividends history, easy access to credit, solid positions in their industries and strong management. The fund can invest in companies from any country, including countries with emerging economies. The fund's equity investments may also include preferred stocks and other securities with equity characteristics, such as convertible securities and warrants. Management process. Portfolio management aims to add value through stock selection. In choosing securities, portfolio management employs a risk-balanced bottom-up selection process to identify companies it believes are well-positioned. Portfolio management utilizes a proprietary investment process designed to identify attractive investments utilizing proprietary research, including regional and sector research, conducted by in-house analysts. The investment process also takes into consideration various valuation metrics to assess the attractiveness of stocks and assists portfolio management in devising allocations among investable securities. Portfolio management uses analytical tools to actively monitor the risk profile of the portfolio as compared to appropriate benchmarks. Portfolio management will normally sell a stock when its price fully reflects portfolio management's estimate of its fundamental value, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or in the course of adjusting the fund's exposure to a given country or sector.

dei_EntityRegistrantName

DEUTSCHE VARIABLE SERIES II

dvs2_SupplementTextBlock

SUPPLEMENT TO THE CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE PROSPECTUS

Deutsche Global Growth VIP

Class B

Effective on or about October 3, 2016, the prospectus is supplemented as follows:

The following information replaces the first two paragraphs under the "Main investments" sub-heading and the disclosure under the "Management process" sub-heading contained in the "PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY" section of the summary section of the fund's prospectus and the "FUND DETAILS" section of the fund's prospectus:

Main Investments. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stocks and other equities of companies throughout the world that portfolio management considers to be "blue chip" companies. Blue chip companies are large, well known companies that typically have an established earnings and dividends history, easy access to credit, solid positions in their industries and strong management.

The fund can invest in companies from any country, including countries with emerging economies. The fund's equity investments may also include preferred stocks and other securities with equity characteristics, such as convertible securities and warrants.

Management process. Portfolio management aims to add value through stock selection. In choosing securities, portfolio management employs a risk-balanced bottom-up selection process to identify companies it believes are well-positioned. Portfolio management utilizes a proprietary investment process designed to identify attractive investments utilizing proprietary research, including regional and sector research, conducted by in-house analysts. The investment process also takes into consideration various valuation metrics to assess the attractiveness of stocks and assists portfolio management in devising allocations among investable securities.

Portfolio management uses analytical tools to actively monitor the risk profile of the portfolio as compared to appropriate benchmarks. Portfolio management will normally sell a stock when its price fully reflects portfolio management's estimate of its fundamental value, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or in the course of adjusting the fund's exposure to a given country or sector.

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Main Investments. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stocks and other equities of companies throughout the world that portfolio management considers to be "blue chip" companies. Blue chip companies are large, well known companies that typically have an established earnings and dividends history, easy access to credit, solid positions in their industries and strong management.

The fund can invest in companies from any country, including countries with emerging economies. The fund's equity investments may also include preferred stocks and other securities with equity characteristics, such as convertible securities and warrants.

Management process. Portfolio management aims to add value through stock selection. In choosing securities, portfolio management employs a risk-balanced bottom-up selection process to identify companies it believes are well-positioned. Portfolio management utilizes a proprietary investment process designed to identify attractive investments utilizing proprietary research, including regional and sector research, conducted by in-house analysts. The investment process also takes into consideration various valuation metrics to assess the attractiveness of stocks and assists portfolio management in devising allocations among investable securities.

Portfolio management uses analytical tools to actively monitor the risk profile of the portfolio as compared to appropriate benchmarks. Portfolio management will normally sell a stock when its price fully reflects portfolio management's estimate of its fundamental value, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or in the course of adjusting the fund's exposure to a given country or sector.