Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	LINCOLN VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	May 01, 2017
LVIP Western Asset Core Bond Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	LVIP Western Asset Core Bond Fund (Standard and Service Class) Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the LVIP Western Asset Core Bond Fund (the “Fund”) is to maximize total return, consistent with prudent investment management and liquidity needs.
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.The Fund was operational for only part of the most recent fiscal year. During the period July 14, 2016, commencement of operations, through December 31, 2016, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 182% of the average of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	182.00%
Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text]	rr_ExpensesRestatedToReflectCurrent	Other Expenses were restated to reflect the current fee structure of the fund.
Expenses Not Correlated to Ratio Due to Acquired Fund Fees [Text]	rr_ExpensesNotCorrelatedToRatioDueToAcquiredFundFees	The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to the average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights table which reflects only the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include AFFE.
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 invests in a portfolio of fixed income securities of various maturities and, under normal market conditions, will invest at least 80% of its net assets in debt and fixed income securities. Although the Fund may invest in debt and fixed income securities of any maturity, under normal market conditions the target dollar-weighted average effective duration for the Fund is expected to range within 20% of the average duration of the Fund’s benchmark index, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (generally, this range is 3 – 7 years). Effective duration seeks to measure the expected sensitivity of market price to changes in interest rates, taking into account the anticipated effects of structural complexities (for example, some bonds can be prepaid by the issuer). The Fund presently intends to limit its investments to U.S. dollar denominated securities and currently anticipates that it will generally only purchase debt securities that are rated in the Baa or BBB categories or above at the time of purchase by one or more Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (“NRSROs”) or unrated securities of comparable quality at the time of purchase (as determined by the subadviser). The Fund intends to invest a substantial portion of its assets in mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in investment grade, dollar-denominated foreign investments (including emerging markets investments). The Fund may also enter into various exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivative transactions for both hedging and non-hedging purposes, including for purposes of enhancing returns. These derivative transactions may include, but are not limited to, futures, options and swaps. In particular, the Fund may use interest rate swaps, credit default swaps (including buying and selling credit default swaps on individual securities and/or baskets of securities), options (including options on credit default swaps) and futures contracts to a significant extent, although the amounts invested in these instruments may change from time to time.
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. 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. Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt obligation will be unable or unwilling to make interest or principal payments on time. Credit risk is often gauged by “credit ratings” assigned by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”). A decrease in an issuer’s credit rating may cause a decline in the value of the issuer’s debt obligations. However, credit ratings may not reflect the issuer’s current financial condition or events since the security was last rated by a rating agency. Credit ratings also may be influenced by rating agency conflicts of interest or based on historical data that are no longer applicable or accurate. Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that securities holdings which are considered to be illiquid may be difficult to value. Illiquid holdings also may be difficult to sell, both at the time or price desired. Liquidity risk also may result from increased shareholder redemptions in the Fund. Furthermore, a potential rise in interest rates may result in a period of Fund volatility and increased redemptions, heightening liquidity risk. In addition, liquidity risk may result from the lack of an active market for fixed income securities, as well the reduced capacity of dealers to make a market for such securities. Prepayment/Call Risk. Debt securities are subject to prepayment risk when the issuer can “call” the security, or repay principal, in whole or in part, prior to the security’s maturity. When the Fund reinvests the prepayments of principal it receives, it may receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on the called security. Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage-backed securities (commercial and residential) may fluctuate significantly in response to changes in interest rates. During periods of falling interest rates, underlying mortgages may be paid early, lowering the potential total return (pre-payment risk). During periods of rising interest rates, the rate at which the underlying mortgages are pre-paid may slow unexpectedly, causing the maturity of the mortgage-backed securities to increase and their value to decline (maturity extension risk). U.S. Treasury Risk. Securities backed by the U.S. Treasury or the full faith and credit of the U.S. government are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity. Accordingly, the current market values for these securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Foreign Investments Risk. Foreign investments have additional risks that are not present when investing in U.S. investments. Foreign currency fluctuations or economic or financial instability could cause the value of foreign investments to fluctuate. Additionally, foreign investments include the risk of loss from foreign government or political actions including; for example, the imposition of exchange controls, confiscations and other government restrictions, or from problems in registration, settlement or custody. Investing in foreign investments may involve risks resulting from the reduced availability of public information concerning issuers. Foreign investments may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than comparable investments in U.S. issuers. Emerging Markets Risk. Companies located in emerging markets tend to be less liquid, have more volatile prices, and have significant potential for loss in comparison to investments in developed markets. Derivatives Risk. Derivatives, such as futures, forwards, options and swaps, involve risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives prices can be volatile and may move in unexpected ways, especially in unusual market conditions. Some derivatives are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates. In addition, there may be imperfect correlation between the price of the derivatives contract and the price of the underlying securities. Other risks include the potential inability to terminate or sell derivative positions. Further, losses could result if the counterparty to a transaction does not perform as promised. Derivative instruments may be “leveraged”, which may magnify or otherwise increase investment losses. Portfolio Turnover Risk. High portfolio turnover (active trading) results in higher transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups, when a fund buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). High portfolio turnover generally results in correspondingly greater expenses, potentially higher taxable income, and may adversely affect performance.
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 Fund commenced operations on July 1, 2016. Once the Fund has at least one full calendar year of performance, a bar chart and performance table will be included in the prospectus. Please note that the Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Performance One Year or Less [Text]	rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess	The Fund commenced operations on July 1, 2016. Once the Fund has at least one full calendar year of performance, a bar chart and performance table will be included in the prospectus.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Please note that the Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
LVIP Western Asset Core Bond Fund | Standard Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Management Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.45%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.08%	[1]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE)	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.02%	[2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.55%	[3],[4]
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 56
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	175
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	56
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	$ 175
LVIP Western Asset Core Bond Fund | Service Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Management Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.45%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.08%	[1]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE)	rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets	0.02%	[2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.80%	[3],[4]
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 81
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	254
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	81
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	$ 254

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

[2] Annualized.

[3] (including AFFE)

[4] The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to the average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights table which reflects only the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include AFFE.