Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Apr. 30, 2012
Ivy Funds VIP Bond
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Ivy Funds VIP Bond
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	To seek to provide current income consistent with 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 of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The Portfolio bears transaction costs, such as spreads between bid and asked prices, 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 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 65% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	65.00%
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 shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	Ivy Funds VIP Bond seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in investment grade debt securities. The Portfolio considers debt securities to be investment grade if they are rated BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio's investment manager, to be of comparable quality. During normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in bonds, including corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (U.S. government securities), and other asset-backed securities. Certain of the mortgage-backed securities in which the Portfolio may invest are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and, like other asset-backed securities in which the Portfolio may invest, may be backed only by the pool of assets pledged as security for the transaction. The Portfolio has no limitations regarding the maturity, duration or dollar-weighted average of its holdings, may invest in debt securities with varying maturities and can invest in securities of companies of any size. In selecting debt securities for the Portfolio's holdings, WRIMCO initially utilizes a top-down viewpoint by looking at broad economic and financial trends in an effort to anticipate their impact on the bond market and then considers yield and relative safety of a security. WRIMCO also may look at many other factors, including the issuer's past, present and estimated future: financial strength; cash flow; management; borrowing requirements; and responsiveness to changes in interest rates and business conditions. As well, WRIMCO may consider the maturity of the obligation and the size or nature of the bond issue. Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities. For example, WRIMCO may sell a holding if, in WRIMCO's opinion, the issuer's financial strength weakens and/or the yield and relative safety of the security decline. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio's holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Investment Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio's shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment. A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include: Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company. Credit Risk. An issuer of a fixed-income obligation may not make payments on the obligation when due or may default on its obligation. Extension Risk. A rise in interest rates could cause property owners to pay their mortgages more slowly than expected, resulting in slower payments of mortgage-backed securities and lengthening the average life of such security. This could cause their value to decline more than other fixed-income securities. Interest Rate Risk. A rise in interest rates may cause a decline in the value of the Portfolio's securities, especially securities with longer maturities. A decline in interest rates may cause the Portfolio to experience a decline in its income. Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO's skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio's holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds. Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio's holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk. When interest rates decline, unscheduled payments can be expected to accelerate, and the Portfolio may be required to reinvest the proceeds of the prepayments at the lower interest rates then available. Unscheduled payments would also limit the potential for capital appreciation on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. Reinvestment Risk. A decline in interest rates may cause issuers to prepay higher-yielding debt securities held by the Portfolio, resulting in the Portfolio reinvesting in securities with lower yields, which may cause a decline in its income. U.S. Government Securities Risk. Certain U.S. government securities, such as U.S. Treasury (Treasury) securities and securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Other U.S. government securities, such as securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB), are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and, instead, may be supported only by the credit of the issuer or by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio's shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results. Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower. During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio's investment objective was to seek a reasonable return with emphasis on preservation of capital. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide current income consistent with preservation of capital. The Portfolio's past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio's updated performance.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio).
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	888.WADDELL
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	The Portfolio's past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Chart of Year-by-Year Returns as of December 31 each year
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 3.92% (the third quarter of 2002) and the lowest quarterly return was -2.45% (the second quarter of 2004).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2011
Performance Table Market Index Changed	rr_PerformanceTableMarketIndexChanged	The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.
Ivy Funds VIP Bond | Ivy Funds VIP Bond
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)	rr_MaximumAccountFee
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.47%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.05%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.77%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	79
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	246
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	428
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	954
2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	8.98%
2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	4.18%
2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	3.88%
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	1.61%
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	4.24%
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	5.67%
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	0.31%
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	7.16%
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	6.04%
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	7.31%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest quarterly return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2002
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	3.92%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest quarterly return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2004
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(2.45%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.31%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.27%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.91%
Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Ivy Funds VIP Bond
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.85%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.68%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.89%
Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Ivy Funds VIP Bond
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.84%	[1]
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.50%	[1]
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.78%	[1]
Lipper Variable Annuity Corporate Debt Funds A Rated Universe Average (net of fees and expenses) | Ivy Funds VIP Bond
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	6.80%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.41%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.15%

[1] (The Portfolio's benchmark changed from Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year's prospectus for comparison purposes.)