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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading

The Core Plus Fixed Income Portfolio
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading

What is the Portfolio’s investment objective?
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Core Plus Fixed Income Portfolio seeks maximum long-term total return, consistent with reasonable risk.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading

What are the Portfolio’s fees and expenses? 
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.
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)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination

Feb. 27, 2015
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 358% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 358.00%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes 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 example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and reflects the Manager’s fee waivers and expense reimbursements for the 1-year period and the total operating expenses without waivers for years 2 through 10. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading

What are the Portfolio’s principal investment strategies? 
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Portfolio allocates its investments principally among the following three sectors of the fixed income securities markets: the U.S. investment grade sector, the U.S. high yield sector, and the international sector. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in fixed income securities (80% Policy). The Portfolio’s 80% Policy may be changed without shareholder approval. However, shareholders will be given notice at least 60 days prior to any such change.

 

We will determine how much of the Portfolio to allocate to each of the three sectors, based on our evaluation of economic and market conditions and our assessment of the returns and potential for appreciation that can be achieved from investments in each of the three sectors. We will periodically reallocate the Portfolio’s assets, as deemed necessary. The relative proportion of the Portfolio’s assets to be allocated among sectors is described below.

 

•U.S. investment grade sector Under normal circumstances, between 50% and 100% of the Portfolio’s total assets will be invested in the U.S. investment grade sector. In managing the Portfolio’s assets allocated to the U.S. investment grade sector, we will invest principally in debt obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, or instrumentalities, and by U.S. corporations. The corporate debt obligations in which the Portfolio may invest include bonds, notes, debentures, and commercial paper of U.S. companies. The U.S. government securities in which the Portfolio may invest include a variety of securities that are issued or guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the U.S. government, and by various agencies or instrumentalities that have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government. 

 

The U.S. investment grade sector of the Portfolio’s assets may also be invested in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, or instrumentalities or by government-sponsored corporations. Other MBS in which the Portfolio may invest are issued by certain private, nongovernment entities. Subject to the quality limitations, the Portfolio may also invest in securities that are backed by assets such as receivables on home equity and credit card loans, automobile, mobile home, recreational vehicle, and other loans, wholesale dealer floor plans, and leases.

 

Securities purchased by the Portfolio within this sector will be rated in one of the four highest rating categories or will be unrated securities that we determine are of comparable quality.

 

The Portfolio may hold a substantial portion of its assets in cash or short-term fixed income obligations in unusual market conditions to meet redemption requests, for temporary defensive purposes, and pending investment. The Portfolio may also use a wide range of derivative instruments, typically including options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swaps. The Portfolio will use derivatives for both hedging and nonhedging purposes. For example, the Portfolio may invest in: futures and options to manage duration and for defensive purposes, such as to protect gains or hedge against potential losses in the portfolio without actually selling a security, or to stay fully invested; forward foreign currency contracts to manage foreign currency exposure; interest rate swaps to neutralize the impact of interest rate changes; credit default swaps to hedge against bond defaults, to manage credit exposure or to enhance total return; and index swaps to enhance return or to affect diversification. The Portfolio will not use derivatives for reasons inconsistent with its investment objective.
Strategy Portfolio Concentration [Text] rr_StrategyPortfolioConcentration

Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in fixed income securities (80% Policy). The Portfolio’s 80% Policy may be changed without shareholder approval. However, shareholders will be given notice at least 60 days prior to any such change.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading

What are the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio? 
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

Investing in any mutual fund involves the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Over time, the value of your investment in the Portfolio will increase and decrease according to changes in the value of the securities in its portfolio. Principal risks include:

 

Risk Definition
Investment not guaranteed by
the Manager or its affiliates		 Investments in the Portfolio are not and will not be deposits with or liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 and its holding companies, including their subsidiaries or related companies (Macquarie Group), and are subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and capital invested. No Macquarie Group company guarantees or will guarantee the performance of the Portfolio, the repayment of capital from the Portfolio, or any particular rate of return.
Market risk The risk that all or a majority of the securities in a certain market — such as the stock or bond market — will decline in value because of factors such as adverse political or economic conditions, future expectations, investor confidence, or heavy institutional selling.
Credit risk The risk that an issuer of a debt security, including a governmental issuer, or an entity that insures a bond may be unable to make interest payments and repay principal in a timely manner.
Interest rate risk

The risk that securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise. The risk is generally associated with bonds; however, because companies in the real estate sector and smaller companies often borrow money to finance their operations, they may be adversely affected by rising interest rates.

 

Swaps may be particularly sensitive to interest rate changes. Depending on the actual movements of interest rates and how well the portfolio manager anticipates them, a fund could experience a higher or lower return than anticipated.

Bank loans and other
indebtedness risk		 The risk that the portfolio will not receive payment of principal, interest, and other amounts due in connection with these investments and will depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower and the lending institution.
Prepayment risk The risk that the principal on a bond that is held by a portfolio will be prepaid prior to maturity at a time when interest rates are lower than what that bond was paying. A portfolio may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.
High yield risk The risk that high yield securities, commonly known as “junk bonds”, are subject to reduced creditworthiness of issuers; increased risk of default and a more limited and less liquid secondary market than higher rated securities; and greater price volatility and risk of loss of income and principal than are higher rated securities because they are rated below investment grade. High yield bonds are sometimes issued by municipalities with less financial strength and therefore less ability to make projected debt payments on the bonds.
Foreign risk The risk that foreign securities (particularly in emerging markets) may be adversely affected by political instability, inefficient markets and higher transaction costs, changes in currency exchange rates, foreign economic conditions, or inadequate or different regulatory and accounting standards.
Currency risk The risk that the value of a portfolio’s investments may be negatively affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Forward foreign currency risk The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts may substantially change a fund’s exposure to currency exchange rates and could result in losses to the fund if currencies do not perform as the Manager expects. The use of these investments as a hedging technique to reduce a fund’s exposure to currency risks may also reduce its ability to benefit from favorable changes in currency exchange rates.
Foreign government/
supranational risk		 The risk that a foreign government or government-related issuer may be unable to make timely payments on its external debt obligations.
Derivatives risk Derivative contracts, such as options, futures, and swaps, may involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums) and are subject to significant loss if a security or a securities index to which a derivative contract is associated moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated. Derivative contracts are also subject to the risk that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the contract due to financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization).
Liquidity risk The possibility that securities cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a portfolio has valued them.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney

Investing in any mutual fund involves the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

Investments in the Portfolio are not and will not be deposits with or liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 and its holding companies, including their subsidiaries or related companies (Macquarie Group), and are subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and capital invested. No Macquarie Group company guarantees or will guarantee the performance of the Portfolio, the repayment of capital from the Portfolio, or any particular rate of return.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

How has The Core Plus Fixed Income Portfolio performed?
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Portfolio’s average annual total returns for the 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. The returns reflect any expense caps in effect during these periods. The returns would be lower without the expense caps. You may obtain the Portfolio’s most recently available month-end performance by calling 800 231-8002 or by visiting our website at delawareinvestments.com/institutional.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Portfolio’s average annual total returns for the 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

800 231-8002
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

delawareinvestments.com/institutional
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading

Year-by-year total return (The Core Plus Fixed Income Portfolio)      
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the periods illustrated in this bar chart, The Core Plus Fixed Income Portfolio’s highest quarterly return was 9.22% for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2009 and its lowest quarterly return was -2.84% for the quarter ended June 30, 2013.
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

highest quarterly return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 9.22%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

lowest quarterly return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2013
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (2.84%)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2013
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes

reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the Portfolio’s lifetime and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s individual tax situation and may differ from the returns shown. After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the Portfolio’s lifetime and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. 
DPT CLASS
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.43%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.27%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.70%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.25%) [1]
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.45%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 46
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 199
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 365
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 847
Annual Return 2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 6.15%
Annual Return 2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 2.52%
Annual Return 2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 5.92%
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 4.72%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (3.26%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 22.76%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 8.86%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 7.82%
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 6.50%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 (1.13%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.13%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.70%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.89%
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (2.02%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.44%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.55%
Return after taxes on distributions | DPT CLASS
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (2.09%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.05%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.20%
Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Portfolio shares | DPT CLASS
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.64%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.22%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.96%
[1] The Portfolio's investment manager, Delaware Management Company (Manager), is contractually waiving its investment advisory fees and/or paying Portfolio expenses (excluding any 12b-1 fees, taxes, interest, short sale and dividend interest expenses, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, acquired fund fees and expenses, and nonroutine expenses or costs, including, but not limited to, those relating to reorganizations, litigation, conducting shareholder meetings, and liquidations) to the extent necessary to prevent total annual portfolio operating expenses from exceeding 0.45% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets from Feb. 27, 2014 through Feb. 27, 2015. These waivers and reimbursements may only be terminated by agreement of the Manager and the Portfolio.