Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	AB VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND, INC.
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	May 01, 2019
Class B Shares | AB Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	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 and hold shares of the Portfolio. Because the information does 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 provided 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<br/>percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	May 1, 2020
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 150% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	150.00%
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, that the Portfolio's operating expenses stay the same and that any fee waiver and/or expense limitation is in effect for only the first year. 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 portfolio of equity and fixed-income securities that is designed as a solution for investors who seek a moderate tilt toward 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. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 25% of its total assets in equity securities and at least 25% of its total assets in fixed-income securities with a goal of providing moderate upside potential without excessive volatility. The Portfolio also seeks exposure to real assets by investing in real estate-related equity securities (including real estate investment trusts, or REITs), natural resource equity securities and inflation-sensitive equity securities, which are equity securities of companies that the Adviser believes maintain or grow margins in rising inflation environments, including equity securities of utilities and infrastructure-related companies ("inflation sensitive equities"). The Portfolio pursues a global strategy, typically investing in securities of issuers located in the United States and in other countries throughout the world, including emerging market countries. The Adviser expects that the Portfolio will normally invest a greater percentage of its total assets in equity securities than in fixed-income securities, and will generally invest in equity securities both directly and through underlying investment companies advised by the Adviser ("Underlying Portfolios"). A significant portion of the Portfolio's assets are expected to be invested directly in U.S. large-cap equity securities, primarily common stocks, in accordance with the Adviser's U.S. Strategic Equities investment strategy ("U.S. Strategic Equities"). Under U.S. Strategic Equities, portfolio managers of the Adviser that specialize in various investment disciplines identify high-conviction large-cap equity securities based on their fundamental investment research for potential investment by the Portfolio. These securities are then assessed in terms of both this fundamental research and quantitative analysis in creating the equity portion of the Portfolio's portfolio. In applying the quantitative analysis, the Adviser considers a number of metrics that historically have provided some indication of favorable future returns, including metrics related to valuation, quality, investor behavior and corporate behavior. In addition, the Portfolio seeks to achieve exposure to international large-cap equity securities through investments in the INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC EQUITIES PORTFOLIO of BERNSTEIN FUND, INC. ("Bernstein International Strategic Equities Portfolio") and the INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO of SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN FUND, INC. ("SCB International Portfolio"), each a registered investment company advised by the Adviser. Bernstein International Strategic Equities Portfolio and SCB International Portfolio focus on investing in non-U.S. large-cap and mid-cap equity securities. Bernstein International Strategic Equities Portfolio follows a strategy similar to U.S. Strategic Equities, but in the international context. In managing SCB International Portfolio, the Adviser selects stocks by drawing on the capabilities of its separate investment teams specializing in different investment disciplines, including value, growth, stability and others. The Portfolio also invests in other Underlying Portfolios to efficiently gain exposure to certain other types of equity securities, including small- and mid-cap and emerging market equity securities. The Adviser selects an Underlying Portfolio based on the segment of the equity market to which the Underlying Portfolio provides exposure, its investment philosophy, and how it complements and diversifies the Portfolio's overall portfolio. In selecting fixed-income investments, the Adviser may draw on the capabilities of separate investment teams that specialize in different areas that are generally defined by the maturity of the debt securities and/or their ratings, and which may include subspecialties (such as inflation-indexed securities). These fixed-income teams draw on the resources and expertise of the Adviser's internal fixed-income research staff, which includes over 50 dedicated fixed-income research analysts and economists. The Portfolio's fixed-income securities will primarily be investment-grade debt securities, but are expected to include lower-rated securities ("junk bonds") and preferred stock. The Portfolio expects to enter into derivative transactions, such as options, futures contracts, forwards and swaps. Derivatives may provide a more efficient and economical exposure to market segments than direct investments, and may also be a more efficient way to alter the Portfolio's exposure. 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 foreign currency exposure. The Adviser may employ currency hedging strategies in the Portfolio or the Underlying Portfolios, including the use of currency-related derivatives, to seek to reduce currency risk in the Portfolio or the Underlying Portfolios, but it is not required to do so. The Adviser will generally employ currency hedging strategies more frequently in the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio than in the equity portion.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	PRINCIPAL RISKS:
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	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 that affect large portions of the market. 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. 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 or dispose of due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors. These risks may be heightened with respect to investments in emerging market countries, where there may be an increased amount of economic, political and social instability. CURRENCY RISK: Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio's investments or reduce the Portfolio's returns. 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. 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. 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, negative perceptions of the junk bond market generally and may be more difficult to trade or dispose of than other types of securities. CAPITALIZATION RISK: Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization companies. Investments in small-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. INVESTMENT IN OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES RISK: As with other investments, investments in other investment companies are subject to market and selection risk. In addition, Contractholders invested in the Portfolio bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Portfolio (including management fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of the investment companies (to the extent these expenses are not waived or reimbursed by the Adviser). DERIVATIVES RISK: Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio. Derivatives may also be subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments. 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 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. ACTIVE TRADING RISK: The Portfolio expects to engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities and its portfolio turnover rate is expected to exceed 100%. A higher rate of portfolio turnover increases transaction costs, which may negatively affect the Portfolio's return. 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. 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: 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. 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, 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 WILL INVEST. THE PERFORMANCE SHOWN BELOW FOR PERIODS PRIOR TO MAY 1, 2018 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	<ul type="square"><li>how the Portfolio's performance changed from year to year over ten years; and</li></ul><ul type="square"><li>how the Portfolio's average annual returns for one, five and ten years compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. </li></ul>
Performance Additional Market Index [Text]	rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex	The information for the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index (USD Hedged) is presented 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 15.06%, 3RD QUARTER, 2009; AND WORST QUARTER WAS DOWN -11.37%, 3RD QUARTER, 2011.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	PERFORMANCE TABLE<br/>AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS<br/><br/>(For the periods ended December 31, 2018)
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	0.55%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses: Transfer Agent	rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets	none	[1]
Other Expenses	rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.20%
Total Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.20%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.11%
Total Portfolio Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.11%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.09%)	[2]
Total Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.02%
After 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 104
After 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	344
After 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	603
After 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	$ 1,344
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	24.45%
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	10.30%
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(3.06%)
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%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	BEST QUARTER
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	15.06%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	WORST QUARTER
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(11.37%)
1 YEAR	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(6.41%)
5 YEARS	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.16%
10 YEARS	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.96%
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	(9.42%)
5 YEARS	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.26%
10 YEARS	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	9.46%
Class B Shares | AB Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio | Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index (USD Hedged) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 YEAR	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.76%	[3]
5 YEARS	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.44%	[3]
10 YEARS	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.78%	[3]

[1] Less than .01%.

[2] The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the expenses payable to the Adviser by the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio's share of the advisory fees of any mutual funds advised by the Adviser in which the Portfolio invests, as included in "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses" and paid by the Portfolio. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement will remain in effect until at least May 1, 2020 unless terminated by the Board of Directors of the AB Variable Products Series (VPS) Fund, Inc. prior to its expiration date.

[3] The information for the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index (USD Hedged) is presented to show how the Portfolio's performance compares with the returns of an index of securities similar to those in which the Portfolio invests.