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Shareholder Report
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
USD ($)
$ / shares
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Document Type N-CSR
Amendment Flag false
Registrant Name Putnam Variable Trust
Entity Central Index Key 0000822671
Entity Investment Company Type N-1A
Document Period End Date Dec. 31, 2025
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual annual shareholder report
Class IA  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Class Name Class IA
No Trading Symbol true
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This annual shareholder report contains important information about Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund for the period January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST YEAR? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment*
Class IA1
$128
1.09%
[1],[2]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 128 [1]
Expense Ratio, Percent 1.09% [1]
Factors Affecting Performance [Text Block]
HOW DID THE FUND PERFORM LAST YEAR AND WHAT AFFECTED ITS PERFORMANCE?
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, Class IA shares of Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund returned 34.49%. The Fund compares its performance to the  MSCI Emerging Markets Index-NR and the Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Linked Benchmark†, which both returned 33.57% for the same period.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Top contributors to performance:
An overweight position in:
↑
Zijin Mining, a Chinese global mining company
↑
BYD Company, a Chinese automotive company
↑
TIM Brazil, a Brazilian telecommunications company
Top detractors from performance:
↓
Underweight exposure to Alibaba Group, a Chinese e-commerce company
↓
Overweight position in Indian Hotels, an Indian hospitality company
↓
Overweight position in ICICI Bank, an Indian financial services company
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Line Graph [Table Text Block]
image
Average Annual Return [Table Text Block]
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (%) Period Ended December 31, 2025
 
1 Year
5 Year
10 Year
Class IA
34.49
4.02
7.29
MSCI All Country World ex-U.S. Index-NR
32.39
7.91
8.41
MSCI Emerging Markets Index-NR
33.57
4.20
8.42
Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Linked Benchmark†
33.57
4.20
8.01
[3]
No Deduction of Taxes [Text Block] The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.
Updated Performance Information Location [Text Block]
Important data provider notices and terms available at www.franklintempletondatasources.com.
Net Assets $ 27,878,931
Holdings Count | $ / shares 64
Advisory Fees Paid, Amount $ 134,886
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 77.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of December 31, 2025)
Total Net Assets
$27,878,931
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings
64
Total Management Fee Paid
$134,886
Portfolio Turnover Rate
77%
Holdings [Text Block]
WHAT DID THE FUND INVEST IN? (as of December 31, 2025)
Portfolio Composition* (% of Total Investments)
image
 [4]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Class IB  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Class Name Class IB
No Trading Symbol true
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This annual shareholder report contains important information about Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund for the period January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 225-1581.
Additional Information Phone Number (800) 225-1581
Additional Information Website https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
Expenses [Text Block]
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST YEAR? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment*
Class IB1
$157
1.34%
[5],[6]
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 157 [5]
Expense Ratio, Percent 1.34% [5]
Factors Affecting Performance [Text Block]
HOW DID THE FUND PERFORM LAST YEAR AND WHAT AFFECTED ITS PERFORMANCE?
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, Class IB shares of Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund returned 34.16%. The Fund compares its performance to the  MSCI Emerging Markets Index-NR and the Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Linked Benchmark†, which both returned 33.57% for the same period.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Top contributors to performance:
An overweight position in:
↑
Zijin Mining, a Chinese global mining company
↑
BYD Company, a Chinese automotive company
↑
TIM Brazil, a Brazilian telecommunications company
Top detractors from performance:
↓
Underweight exposure to Alibaba Group, a Chinese e-commerce company
↓
Overweight position in Indian Hotels, an Indian hospitality company
↓
Overweight position in ICICI Bank, an Indian financial services company
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Line Graph [Table Text Block]
image
Average Annual Return [Table Text Block]
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (%) Period Ended December 31, 2025
 
1 Year
5 Year
10 Year
Class IB
34.16
3.75
7.01
MSCI All Country World ex-U.S. Index-NR
32.39
7.91
8.41
MSCI Emerging Markets Index-NR
33.57
4.20
8.42
Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Linked Benchmark†
33.57
4.20
8.01
[7]
No Deduction of Taxes [Text Block] The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.
Updated Performance Information Location [Text Block]
Important data provider notices and terms available at www.franklintempletondatasources.com.
Net Assets $ 27,878,931
Holdings Count | $ / shares 64
Advisory Fees Paid, Amount $ 134,886
Investment Company Portfolio Turnover 77.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of December 31, 2025)
Total Net Assets
$27,878,931
Total Number of Portfolio Holdings
64
Total Management Fee Paid
$134,886
Portfolio Turnover Rate
77%
Holdings [Text Block]
WHAT DID THE FUND INVEST IN? (as of December 31, 2025)
Portfolio Composition* (% of Total Investments)
image
 [8]
Updated Prospectus Web Address https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents
[1]
1 Does not reflect expenses incurred from investing through variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
[2]
* Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, without which expenses would have been higher.
[3]
† The Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Linked Benchmark represents the performance of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index-NR through April 29, 2020, and the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index-NR thereafter.
[4]
* Does not include derivatives, except purchased options, if any.  
[5]
1 Does not reflect expenses incurred from investing through variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
[6]
* Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, without which expenses would have been higher.
[7]
† The Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Linked Benchmark represents the performance of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index-NR through April 29, 2020, and the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index-NR thereafter.
[8]
* Does not include derivatives, except purchased options, if any.