Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	LINCOLN VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	May 01, 2017
LVIP Mondrian International Value Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	LVIP Mondrian International Value Fund (Standard and Service Class) Summary
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The investment objective of the LVIP Mondrian International Value Fund (the “Fund”) is 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 21% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	21.00%
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 primarily in foreign equity securities (principally foreign stocks). Foreign equity securities are securities of companies organized, or having a majority of their assets, or earning a majority of their operating income, outside of the United States. Foreign equity securities may trade on U.S. or foreign markets. The Fund also holds some foreign equity securities of companies in developing and less developed foreign countries (emerging markets). An emerging market country is defined as an emerging or developing economy by the International Monetary Fund or defined as such by MSCI. The Fund may buy foreign stocks directly or indirectly using, among other instruments, depository receipts. The Fund, under normal circumstances, invests at least 65% of its assets in the foreign equity securities of companies located in at least five different countries. For this purpose, a company is “located” in that country where its equity securities principally trade. The Fund's sub-adviser selects individual foreign stocks using a value style of investment, which means that the sub-adviser attempts to invest in stocks believed to be undervalued. The sub-adviser’s value-oriented approach places emphasis on identifying well-managed companies that are undervalued in terms of such factors as assets, earnings, dividends and growth potential. Dividend yield plays a central role in this selection process.
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. 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. 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. Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign currency risk is the risk that the U.S. dollar value of foreign investments may be negatively affected by changes in foreign (non-U.S.) currency rates. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. In addition, currency management strategies may substantially change the Fund’s exposure to currency exchange rates and could negatively affect the value of the Fund’s foreign investments, if currencies do not perform as expected. Currency management strategies also may reduce the Fund’s ability to benefit from favorable changes in currency exchange rates. Currency Management Strategy Risk. Currency management strategies, including cross-hedging, may substantially change exposure to currency exchange rates and could result in losses if currencies do not perform as expected. In addition, currency management strategies, to the extent that they reduce exposure to currency risks, also may reduce the ability to benefit from favorable changes in currency exchange rates. Furthermore, there may not be perfect correlation between the amount of exposure to a particular currency and the amount of securities in the portfolio denominated in that currency. Currency rates may also fluctuate significantly, reducing returns. Regional Risk. The Fund will generally have more exposure to the specific market, currency, economic, political, regulatory, geopolitical, or other risks in the regions or countries in which it invests. As a result, the Fund could experience substantial illiquidity, volatility or reduction in the value of its investments, as compared to a more geographically-diversified fund. Depository Receipts Risk. Depository receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depository Receipts (ADRs). Depository receipts are subject to the risks usually associated with foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may not have all the legal rights of shareholders and may experience difficulty in receiving shareholder communications.
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 second quarter of 2009 at: 20.62%. The Fund’s lowest return for a quarter occurred in the first quarter of 2009 at: (17.27%).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns For periods ended 12/31/16
LVIP Mondrian International Value Fund | Standard Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Management Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.68%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.08%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.76%
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 78
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	244
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	424
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	946
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	78
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	244
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	424
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 946
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	11.49%
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(36.65%)
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	21.24%
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	2.46%
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(4.21%)
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	9.62%
2013	rr_AnnualReturn2013	21.84%
2014	rr_AnnualReturn2014	(2.54%)
2015	rr_AnnualReturn2015	(3.79%)
2016	rr_AnnualReturn2016	4.01%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	20.62%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(17.27%)
1 year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.01%
5 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.43%
10 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	0.91%
LVIP Mondrian International Value Fund | Service Class
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Management Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.68%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.08%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.01%
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 103
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	322
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	559
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,240
1 year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	103
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	322
5 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	559
10 years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	$ 1,240
1 year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.75%
5 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.17%
10 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	0.65%
LVIP Mondrian International Value Fund | MSCI EAFE® NR Index (net dividends) (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.00%
5 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.53%
10 years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	0.75%

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