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Class B Shares | AB Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading AB VPS Balanced Hedged Allocation Portfolio (formerly, AB VPS Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio)
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The Portfolio’s investment objective is to maximize total return consistent with the Adviser’s determination of reasonable risk.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Portfolio. The table and Examples below do not reflect deductions at the separate account level or contract level for any charges that may be incurred under a contract. Contractholders that invest in the Portfolio should refer to the variable contract prospectus for a description of fees and expenses that apply to Contractholders. Inclusion of these charges would increase the fees and expenses in the Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses table and Examples below.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys or sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These transaction costs, which are not reflected in the Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the Examples, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 63% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 63.00%
Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text] rr_ExpensesRestatedToReflectCurrent Management fees have been restated to reflect a contractual reduction in management fees effective May 1, 2022. Total Other Expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses have been restated to reflect fees for the current fiscal year.
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Examples
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock
The Examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses stay the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
The Portfolio invests in a balanced portfolio of equity and fixed-income securities (the “Balanced Component”) that is designed as a solution for investors who seek exposure to equity returns but also want the risk diversification offered by fixed-income securities and the broad diversification of their equity risk across styles, capitalization ranges and geographic regions. The Portfolio also utilizes a risk management portfolio intended to enhance the risk-adjusted return of the Portfolio (the “Risk Management Component”). A portfolio’s return is enhanced on a risk-adjusted basis when the portfolio achieves lower volatility with similar 
returns, or higher returns at similar volatility, compared to its benchmark. Both Components are actively managed by the Adviser as an integrated whole. 
With respect to the Balanced Component, the Portfolio typically invests in shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), most or all of which are passively managed; in exchange traded derivatives; and directly in securities. ETFs may provide more efficient and economical exposure to the types of companies and geographic locations in which the Portfolio seeks to invest than direct investments. Through its investments, the Portfolio gains exposure to various domestic and foreign markets, regions and countries, including emerging markets. The Portfolio normally invests at least 25% of its assets in equity investments, primarily consisting of but not limited to ETFs. The Portfolio normally invests at least 25% of its assets in U.S. fixed-income investments, primarily consisting of but not limited to U.S. bond ETFs and U.S. Government securities, including Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities. The Portfolio’s fixed-income exposure consists primarily of investment-grade debt and may from time to time include lower-rated debt (“junk bonds”). The Portfolio may also seek exposure to real assets by investing in real estate-related ETFs. The Portfolio uses derivatives to gain access to or adjust its equity and fixed-income exposures. 
With respect to the Risk Management Component, the Adviser seeks to enhance the risk-adjusted return of the Portfolio, attempting to enhance market exposure in rising markets and reduce risk in downturns. The Adviser employs a variety of risk management techniques in its strategy, primarily using derivative instruments. The Adviser attempts to stabilize current returns of the Portfolio by using techniques designed to limit the downside exposure of the Portfolio during periods of market declines, to add market exposure to the Portfolio during periods of normal or rising markets, and to reduce the volatility of the Portfolio. The Adviser uses risk management techniques designed to protect the Portfolio’s ability to generate future income. These techniques may use strategies including options (involving the purchase and/or writing of various combinations of call and/or put index options, and also may include options on individual securities) and futures contracts (including futures contracts on stock indices and U.S. Treasuries). 
Derivatives may provide more efficient and economical exposure to market segments than direct investments, and may also be a more efficient way to alter the Portfolio’s exposures than making direct investments. The derivative instruments may include “long” and “short” positions in futures, options and swap contracts. The Portfolio may, for example, use credit default, interest rate and total return swaps to establish exposure to the fixed-income markets or particular fixed-income securities and, as noted below, may use currency derivatives to hedge or add foreign currency exposure. The Risk Management Component may also include “long” and “short” positions in U.S. Government securities and cash instruments. 
The Adviser may employ currency hedging strategies in the Portfolio, including the use of currency-related derivatives, to seek to reduce currency risk in the Portfolio, but it is not required to do so. 
The Adviser considers a variety of factors in determining whether to sell a security, including changes in market conditions and changes in prospects for the security. 
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading PRINCIPAL RISKS:
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
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Market Risk: The value of the Portfolio’s assets will fluctuate as the stock or bond market fluctuates. The value of its investments may decline, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, simply because of economic changes or other events, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness) and regional and global conflicts, that affect large portions of the market. 
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Allocation Risk: The allocation of investments among the different investment styles, such as growth or value, equity or debt securities, or U.S. or non-U.S. securities may have a more significant effect on the Portfolio’s net asset value, or NAV, when one of these investment strategies is performing more poorly than others. 
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ETF Risk: ETFs are investment companies and are subject to market and selection risk. When the Portfolio invests in an ETF, the Portfolio bears its share of the ETF’s expenses and runs the risk that the ETF may not achieve its investment objective. 
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Foreign (Non-U.S.) Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers may involve more risk than those of U.S. issuers. These securities may fluctuate more widely in price and may be more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors. 
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Emerging Market Risk: Investments in emerging market countries may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid, and because these investments may be subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties. 
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Currency Risk: Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the Portfolio’s returns. 
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Interest Rate Risk: Changes in interest rates will affect the value of investments in fixed-income securities. When interest rates rise, the value of existing investments in fixed-income securities tends to fall and this decrease in value may not be offset by higher income from new investments. Interest rate risk is generally greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. The current historically low interest rate environment heightens the risks associated with rising interest rates. 
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Credit Risk: An issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivatives or other contract, may be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal, or to otherwise honor its obligations. The issuer or guarantor may default, causing a loss of the full principal amount of a security and accrued interest. The degree of risk for a particular security may be reflected in its credit rating. There is the possibility that the credit rating of a fixed-income security may be downgraded after purchase, which may adversely affect the value of the security. 
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Below Investment Grade Security Risk: Investments in fixed-income securities with lower ratings (“junk bonds”) tend to have a higher probability that an issuer will default or fail to meet its payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments, interest rate sensitivity and negative perceptions of the junk bond market generally, and may be more difficult to trade than other types of securities. 
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Capitalization Risk: Investments in small‑ and mid‑capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in large‑capitalization companies. Investments in small‑ and mid-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. 
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Derivatives Risk: Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio. A short position in a derivative instrument involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument, which could cause the Portfolio to suffer a (potentially unlimited) loss. Derivatives, especially over‑the‑counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligations to the Portfolio. 
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Real Assets Risk: The Portfolio’s investments in securities linked to real assets involve significant risks, including financial, operating, and competitive risks. Investments in securities linked to real assets expose the Portfolio to adverse macroeconomic conditions, such as a rise in interest rates or a downturn in the economy in which the asset is located. Changes in inflation rates or in the market’s inflation expectations may adversely affect the market value of inflation-sensitive equities. The Portfolio’s investments in real estate securities have many of the same risks as direct ownership of real estate, including the risk that the value of real estate could decline due to a variety of factors that affect the real estate market generally. Investments in real estate investment trusts, or REITs, may have additional risks. REITs are dependent on the capability of their managers, may have limited diversification, and could be significantly affected by changes in tax laws. Some REITs may utilize leverage, which increases investment risk and may potentially increase the Portfolio’s losses. 
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Management Risk: The Portfolio is subject to management risk because it is an actively-managed investment fund. The Adviser will apply its investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Portfolio, but there is no guarantee that its techniques will produce the intended results. Some of these techniques may incorporate, or rely upon, quantitative models, but there is no guarantee that these models will generate accurate forecasts, reduce risk or otherwise perform as expected. 
As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Portfolio.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Portfolio.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading BAR CHART AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock
The bar chart and performance information provide an indication of the historical risk of an investment in the Portfolio by showing:
  
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how the Portfolio’s performance changed from year to year over ten years; and 
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how the Portfolio’s average annual returns for one, five and ten years compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. 
The performance information does not take into account separate account charges. If separate account charges were included, an investor’s return would be lower. The Portfolio’s past performance, of course, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. 
Effective May 1, 2022, the Portfolio made certain changes to its principal strategies, including the modification of the strategies to invest in ETFs, most or all of which are passively managed; reduce allocations to international securities; add the Risk Management Component; and eliminate the targets for allocation of investments in natural resource equity securities and inflation sensitive equity securities. In addition, effective May 1, 2018, the Portfolio amended its principal strategies by eliminating the static targets for allocation of investments among asset classes, changing the securities selection strategies used for the equity portion of the Portfolio, and broadening the types of real asset securities in which the Portfolio invests. In light of these changes, the performance shown below for periods prior to May 1, 2022 is based on the Portfolio’s prior principal strategies and may not be representative of the Portfolio’s performance under its current principal strategies. 
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns how the Portfolio’s performance changed from year to year over ten years; and how the Portfolio’s average annual returns for one, five and ten years compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. 
Performance Additional Market Index [Text] rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex Effective May 1, 2022, the secondary index used for comparison with the Portfolio’s performance has changed from the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index (USD Hedged) to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index to show how the Portfolio’s performance compares with the returns of an index of securities similar to those in which the Portfolio invests.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Portfolio’s past performance, of course, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Bar Chart
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The performance information does not take into account separate account charges. If separate account charges were included, an investor’s return would be lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Calendar Year End (%) During the period shown in the bar chart, the Portfolio’s: Best Quarter was up 13.79%, 2nd quarter, 2020; and Worst Quarter was down -16.73%, 1st quarter, 2020.
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Performance Table  Average Annual Total Returns (For the periods ended December 31, 2021)
Performance Table Market Index Changed rr_PerformanceTableMarketIndexChanged Effective May 1, 2022, the secondary index used for comparison with the Portfolio’s performance has changed from the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index (USD Hedged) to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index to show how the Portfolio’s performance compares with the returns of an index of securities similar to those in which the Portfolio invests.
Class B Shares | AB Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio | Class B  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) rr_ShareholderFeeOther
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.45% [1]
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses: Transfer Agent rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets none [2]
Other Expenses rr_Component3OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.15%
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.15% [3]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.07% [3]
Total Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.92%
After 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 94
After 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 293
After 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 509
After 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,131
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 13.38%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 16.27%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 7.11%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 1.29%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 4.44%
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 15.62%
2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (6.41%)
2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 18.20%
2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 9.25%
2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 13.36%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2020
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 13.79%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2020
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (16.73%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 13.36%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.64%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 9.00%
Class B Shares | AB Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio | MSCI AC World Index (Net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes except the reinvestment of dividends net of non-U.S. withholding taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 18.54%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 14.40%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 11.85%
Class B Shares | AB Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio | Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.54%) [4]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.57% [4]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.90% [4]
Class B Shares | AB Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio | Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index (USD Hedged) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.39%) [4]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.39% [4]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.49% [4]
[1] Management fees have been restated to reflect a contractual reduction in management fees effective May 1, 2022.
[2] Amount is less than .01%.
[3] Total Other Expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses have been restated to reflect fees for the current fiscal year.
[4]
Effective May 1, 2022, the secondary index used for comparison with the Portfolio’s performance has changed from the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index (USD Hedged) to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index to show how the Portfolio’s performance compares with the returns of an index of securities similar to those in which the Portfolio invests.