<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<FilingSummary>
  <Version>3.8.0.1</Version>
  <ProcessingTime/>
  <ReportFormat>html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>73</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>84</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>true</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>63</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>2</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000000 - Document - Document and Entity Information {Elements}</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentDocumentandEntityInformationElements</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>1</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000011 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Asset Allocation Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledColumbiaVariablePortfolio-AssetAllocationFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Asset Allocation Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>2</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000019 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Asset Allocation Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsColumbiaVariablePortfolio-AssetAllocationFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Asset Allocation Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>3</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000021 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Contrarian Core Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledColumbiaVariablePortfolio-ContrarianCoreFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Contrarian Core Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>4</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000029 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Contrarian Core Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsColumbiaVariablePortfolio-ContrarianCoreFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Contrarian Core Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>5</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000031 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Diversified Absolute Return Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledColumbiaVariablePortfolio-DiversifiedAbsoluteReturnFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Diversified Absolute Return Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>6</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000039 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Diversified Absolute Return Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsColumbiaVariablePortfolio-DiversifiedAbsoluteReturnFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Diversified Absolute Return Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>7</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000041 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Long Government/Credit Bond Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledColumbiaVariablePortfolio-LongGovernmentCreditBondFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Long Government/Credit Bond Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>8</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000049 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Long Government/Credit Bond Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsColumbiaVariablePortfolio-LongGovernmentCreditBondFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Long Government/Credit Bond Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>9</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000051 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledVariablePortfolioManagedRiskFund000051</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>10</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000059 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsVariablePortfolioManagedRiskFund000059</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>11</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000061 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk U.S. Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledVariablePortfolioManagedRiskUSFund000061</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk U.S. Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>12</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000069 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk U.S. Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsVariablePortfolioManagedRiskUSFund000069</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk U.S. Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>13</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000071 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Conservative Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledVariablePortfolioManagedVolatilityConservativeFund000071</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Conservative Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>14</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000079 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Conservative Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsVariablePortfolioManagedVolatilityConservativeFund000079</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Conservative Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>15</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000081 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Conservative Growth Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledVariablePortfolioManagedVolatilityConservativeGrowthFund000081</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Conservative Growth Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>16</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R53.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000089 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Conservative Growth Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsVariablePortfolioManagedVolatilityConservativeGrowthFund000089</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Conservative Growth Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>17</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R54.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000091 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledVariablePortfolioManagedVolatilityGrowthFund000091</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>18</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R60.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000099 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsVariablePortfolioManagedVolatilityGrowthFund000099</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>19</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R61.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000101 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Small Cap Value Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledColumbiaVariablePortfolio-SmallCapValueFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Small Cap Value Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>20</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R67.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000109 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Small Cap Value Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsColumbiaVariablePortfolio-SmallCapValueFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Small Cap Value Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>21</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R68.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000111 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Small Company Growth Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledColumbiaVariablePortfolio-SmallCompanyGrowthFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Small Company Growth Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>22</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R74.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000119 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Small Company Growth Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsColumbiaVariablePortfolio-SmallCompanyGrowthFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Small Company Growth Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>23</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R75.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000121 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Strategic Income Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledColumbiaVariablePortfolio-StrategicIncomeFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Strategic Income Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>24</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R81.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000129 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Columbia Variable Portfolio - Strategic Income Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsColumbiaVariablePortfolio-StrategicIncomeFund</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Columbia Variable Portfolio - Strategic Income Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>25</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R82.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000131 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Variable Portfolio - U.S. Flexible Conservative Growth Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledVariablePortfolioUSFlexibleConservativeGrowthFund000131</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Variable Portfolio - U.S. Flexible Conservative Growth Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>26</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R88.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000139 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Variable Portfolio - U.S. Flexible Conservative Growth Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsVariablePortfolioUSFlexibleConservativeGrowthFund000139</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Variable Portfolio - U.S. Flexible Conservative Growth Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>27</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R89.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000141 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Variable Portfolio - U.S. Flexible Growth Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledVariablePortfolioUSFlexibleGrowthFund000141</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Variable Portfolio - U.S. Flexible Growth Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>28</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R95.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000149 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Variable Portfolio - U.S. Flexible Growth Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsVariablePortfolioUSFlexibleGrowthFund000149</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Variable Portfolio - U.S. Flexible Growth Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>29</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R96.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000151 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Variable Portfolio - U.S. Flexible Moderate Growth Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledVariablePortfolioUSFlexibleModerateGrowthFund000151</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- Variable Portfolio - U.S. Flexible Moderate Growth Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>30</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R102.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000159 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - Variable Portfolio - U.S. Flexible Moderate Growth Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsVariablePortfolioUSFlexibleModerateGrowthFund000159</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- Variable Portfolio - U.S. Flexible Moderate Growth Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>31</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R103.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000161 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - CTIVP(SM) - AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledCTIVPSMAQRManagedFuturesStrategyFund000161</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- CTIVP(SM) - AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>32</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R109.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000169 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - CTIVP(SM) - AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsCTIVPSMAQRManagedFuturesStrategyFund000169</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- CTIVP(SM) - AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>33</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>true</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R110.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000171 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - CTIVP(SM) - Lazard International Equity Advantage Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledCTIVPSMLazardInternationalEquityAdvantageFund000171</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Summary- CTIVP(SM) - Lazard International Equity Advantage Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>34</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R116.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000179 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - CTIVP(SM) - Lazard International Equity Advantage Fund</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsCTIVPSMLazardInternationalEquityAdvantageFund000179</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data- CTIVP(SM) - Lazard International Equity Advantage Fund</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>35</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="cfvit-20180427.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R117.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>040000 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements}</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/RiskReturnDetailData</Role>
      <ShortName>Risk/Return Detail Data</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory></MenuCategory>
      <Position>36</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>cfvit-20180427.xml</File>
    <File>cfvit-20180427.xsd</File>
    <File>cfvit-20180427_cal.xml</File>
    <File>cfvit-20180427_def.xml</File>
    <File>cfvit-20180427_lab.xml</File>
    <File>cfvit-20180427_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles>
    <File>BarChart1.png</File>
    <File>BarChart2.png</File>
    <File>BarChart3.png</File>
    <File>BarChart4.png</File>
    <File>BarChart5.png</File>
    <File>BarChart6.png</File>
    <File>BarChart7.png</File>
    <File>BarChart8.png</File>
    <File>BarChart9.png</File>
    <File>BarChart10.png</File>
    <File>BarChart11.png</File>
    <File>BarChart12.png</File>
    <File>BarChart13.png</File>
    <File>BarChart14.png</File>
    <File>BarChart15.png</File>
  </SupplementalFiles>
  <BaseTaxonomies>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/2012-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
  </BaseTaxonomies>
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
