Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	LINCOLN VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	May 01, 2017
LVIP Government Money Market Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	LVIP Government Money Market Fund (Standard and Service Class) Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the LVIP Government Money Market Fund (the “Fund”) is to seek current income while (i) maintaining a stable value of your shares (providing stability of net asset value) and (ii) preserving the value of your initial investment (preservation of capital).
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares. This table does not reflect any variable contract expenses. If variable contract expenses were included, the expenses shown would be higher.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Expense Footnotes [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseFootnotesTextBlock	Due to the current low yield environment, Lincoln Investment Advisors Corporation (the “adviser”) may voluntarily waive a portion of its management fee. This temporary waiver may be modified or terminated by the adviser at any time and without shareholder approval.
Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text]	rr_ExpensesRestatedToReflectCurrent	Other Expenses were restated to reflect the current fee structure of the fund.
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 Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated if you invest $10,000 in the Fund’s shares. The example also assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% a year and that operating expenses remain the same. Your actual costs may be higher or lower than this example. This example does not reflect any variable contract expenses. If variable contract expenses were included, the expenses shown would be higher. The results apply whether or not you redeem your investment at the end of the given period.
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund pursues its objective by investing at least 99.5% of its total assets in cash, government securities (which include U.S. Treasury bills, notes and other obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities), and/or repurchase agreements secured by such obligations or cash. The yield of the Fund is not directly tied to the federal funds rate. The Fund invests in a portfolio of securities maturing in 397 days or less (with certain exceptions) that will have a dollar-weighted average maturity of 60 days or less and a dollar-weighted average life of 120 days or less. The Fund may invest in variable or floating rate instruments, and transact in securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	You could lose money by investing in the Fund.  Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $10.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so.  An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.  The Fund's sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the Fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time. Below are specific principal risks of investing in the Fund. Credit Risk (Money Market). Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will not be able to make payments of principal and interest when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer. Interest Rate Risk. When interest rates rise, fixed income securities (i.e., debt obligations) generally will decline in value. These declines in value are greater for fixed income securities with longer maturities or durations. Repurchase Agreements and Purchase and Sale Contracts Risk. If the other party to a repurchase agreement or purchase and sale contract defaults on its obligation under the agreement, the Fund may suffer delays and incur costs or lose money in exercising its rights under the agreement. If the seller fails to repurchase the security in either situation and the market value of the security declines, the Fund may lose money. U.S. Government Agency Risk. Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. When-Issued Securities, Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments Risk. A fund may purchase or sell securities that it is entitled to receive on a when issued basis. When-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments involve the risk that the security will lose value prior to its delivery. There also is the risk that the security will not be issued or that the other party to the transaction will not meet its obligation.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	You could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Money Market Fund [Text]	rr_RiskMoneyMarketFund	Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $10.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Fund Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of choosing to invest in the Fund. The information shows: (a) how the Fund's Standard Class investment results have varied from year to year; and (b) how the average annual total returns of the Fund's Standard and Service Classes for various periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows performance of the Fund's Standard Class shares, but does not reflect the impact of variable contract expenses. If it did, returns would be lower than those shown. Performance in the average annual returns table does not reflect the impact of variable contract expenses. The Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The information shows: (a) how the Fund's Standard Class investment results have varied from year to year; and (b) how the average annual total returns of the Fund's Standard and Service Classes for various periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	The Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns (%)
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	The bar chart shows performance of the Fund's Standard Class shares, but does not reflect the impact of variable contract expenses. If it did, returns would be lower than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	During the periods shown in the above chart, the Fund’s highest return for a quarter occurred in the third quarter of 2007 at: 1.25%. The Fund’s lowest return for a quarter occurred in the third quarter of 2015 at: 0.00%. The Fund’s 7-day, net yield for the period ended December 31, 2016 was 0.12%.
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns For periods ended 12/31/16
Money Market Seven Day Yield, Caption [Text]	rr_MoneyMarketSevenDayYieldCaption	7-day, net yield for the period ended December 31, 2016
Money Market Seven Day Yield	rr_MoneyMarketSevenDayYield	0.12%
LVIP Government Money Market Fund | Standard Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Management Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.38%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.09%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.47%
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 48
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	150
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	261
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	588
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	48
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	150
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	261
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 588
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	4.97%
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	2.34%
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	0.32%
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	0.05%
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	0.03%
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	0.03%
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	0.02%
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	0.03%
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	0.02%
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	0.03%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2007
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	1.25%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2015
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	none
1 year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.03%
5 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.03%
10 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	0.77%
LVIP Government Money Market Fund | Service Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Management Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.38%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.09%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.72%
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 73
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	229
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	399
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	891
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	73
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	229
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	399
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 891
1 year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.03%
5 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.02%
10 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	0.70%
LVIP Government Money Market Fund | Citigroup 90 day T-Bill Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.27%
5 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.09%
10 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	0.73%

[1] Other Expenses were restated to reflect the current fee structure of the fund.