Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	LINCOLN VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	May 01, 2017
LVIP Delaware Special Opportunities Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	LVIP Delaware Special Opportunities Fund (Standard and Service Class) Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the LVIP Delaware Special Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) is to maximize long-term capital appreciation (as measured by the change in the value of Fund shares over a period of three years or longer).
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)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The Fund 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance.During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	16.00%
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 in a diversified portfolio of stocks primarily of medium-sized U.S. companies with market capitalizations, at the time of purchase, similar to the market capitalization of companies in the Russell Midcap® Value Index. The market capitalization range of the Russell Midcap Value Index was $1.98 billion to $39.5 billion as of March 15, 2017. The Fund may also invest in some small-cap companies. The Fund’s management style focuses on seeking medium-sized companies whose stock prices appear low relative to their underlying value or future potential. Among other factors, the sub-adviser considers the financial strength of a company, its management style, the prospects for its industry, and any anticipated changes within the company that might suggest a more favorable outlook going forward. Additionally, the sub-adviser focuses on free cash flow and a company's sustainability to buy back its shares, lower its debt and/or increase or initiate dividends. The Fund uses a blend of quantitative analysis and fundamental research in its effort to find the most attractive stocks in each industry. This blended assessment includes a review of a number of factors, including low price-to-earnings ratio, low price-to-cash flow, and improving earnings estimates. Fund investments are replaced if a possible new investment appears significantly more attractive under the Fund’s investment criteria.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	All mutual funds carry risk.  Accordingly, loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. Here are specific principal risks of investing in the Fund: Market Risk. The value of portfolio investments may decline. As a result, your investment in a fund may decline in value and you could lose money. Value Stocks Risk. Value stocks tend to be inexpensive relative to their earnings or assets compared to other types of stocks, such as growth stocks. Value stocks can continue to be inexpensive for long periods of time, may not ever realize their potential value, and may even go down in price. Growth Stocks Risk. Growth stocks, due to their relatively high market valuations, typically have been more volatile than value stocks. Growth stocks may not pay dividends, or may pay lower dividends, than value stocks and may be more adversely affected in a down market. Small-Cap Companies Risk. The value of securities issued by small-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt market movements and may involve greater risks than investments in larger companies. Medium-Cap Companies Risk. Securities issued by medium-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt market movements and may involve greater risks than investments in larger companies. These less developed, lesser-known companies may experience greater risks than those normally associated with larger companies. This is due to, among other things, the greater business risks of smaller size and limited product lines, markets, distribution channels, and financial and managerial resources. Income Stocks Risk. Income from stocks may be reduced by changes in the dividend policies of companies and the capital resources available for such payments at such companies. Depending upon market conditions, income producing common stock may not be widely available and/or may be highly concentrated in only a few market sectors, thereby limiting the ability to produce current income.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	All mutual funds carry risk.  Accordingly, loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund.
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 2009 at: 19.23%. The Fund’s lowest return for a quarter occurred in the fourth quarter of 2008 at: (23.37%).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns For periods ended 12/31/16
LVIP Delaware Special Opportunities Fund | Standard Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Management Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.39%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.08%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.47%
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 48
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	152
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	265
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	595
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	48
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	152
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	265
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 595
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	3.81%
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(36.63%)
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	30.45%
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	30.63%
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(5.20%)
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	14.94%
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	33.78%
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	7.63%
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	0.26%
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	20.41%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	19.23%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(23.37%)
1 year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	20.41%
5 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.85%
10 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.82%
LVIP Delaware Special Opportunities Fund | Service Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Management Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.39%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.35%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.08%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.82%
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 84
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	263
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	457
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,017
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	84
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	263
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	457
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 1,017
1 year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	19.98%
5 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	14.44%
10 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.45%
LVIP Delaware Special Opportunities Fund | Russell Midcap® Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	20.00%
5 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	15.70%
10 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.59%

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