Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Apr. 30, 2013
Ivy Funds VIP Balanced
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Ivy Funds VIP Balanced
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	To seek to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.
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 commissions and/or 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 43% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	43.00%
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 Balanced seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in a mix of stocks, debt securities and short-term instruments, depending on market conditions. Regarding its equity investments, the Portfolio invests primarily in medium to large, well-established companies that usually issue dividend-paying securities. The Portfolio owns common stocks in seeking to provide possible appreciation of capital and some dividend income. In general, the Portfolio invests a portion of its total assets in either debt securities or preferred stocks, or both, in seeking to provide income and relative stability of capital. The Portfolio ordinarily invests at least 25% of its total assets in fixed-income securities. The majority of the Portfolio's debt securities are either U.S. government securities or investment-grade corporate bonds, including bonds 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. The Portfolio has no limitations on the range of maturities of the debt securities in which it may invest, or on the size of companies in which it may invest. In selecting equity securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO follows a core investing strategy and seeks companies that it believes possess attractive business economics, are in a strong financial condition and are selling at attractive valuations, both on a relative and an absolute basis. WRIMCO also considers a company's potential for dividend growth, its growth and profitability opportunities and sustainability, its relative strength in earnings, its management, improving fundamentals and valuation, its balance sheet, its stock price value, and the condition of the respective industry. In selecting debt securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO generally seeks high-quality securities with minimal credit risk. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies. Generally, in determining whether to sell an equity security, WRIMCO uses the same analysis as identified above in order to determine if the equity security is still undervalued or has met its anticipated price. In determining whether to sell a debt security, WRIMCO will consider whether the security continues to maintain its minimal credit risk. WRIMCO may also sell a security if the security ceases to produce income, to reduce the Portfolio's holding in that security, to take advantage of what it believes to be 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. The Portfolio is not intended as a complete investment program. 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. Foreign Exposure Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in those foreign markets. As a result, a company’s domicile and/or the markets in which the company’s securities trade may not be fully reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold. Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general. Interest Rate Risk. A rise in interest rates may cause a decline in the value of the Portfolio’s securities, especially bonds with longer maturities. A decline in interest rates may cause the Portfolio to experience a decline in its income. Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion. Although the securities of larger companies may be less volatile than those of companies with smaller market capitalizations, returns on investments in securities of large capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller companies. 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 in turn 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. Mid Size Company Risk. Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group. Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more volatile and less liquid than the stocks of larger companies and may be more affected than other types of stocks by the underperformance of a sector or during market downturns. Reinvestment Risk. A decline in interest rates may cause issuers to prepay higher-yielding bonds held by the Portfolio, resulting in the Fund reinvesting in securities with lower yields, which may cause a decline in its income.
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 two broad-based securities market indices 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. Prior to April 30, 2012, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek to provide current income and, as a secondary objective, to seek long-term appreciation of capital. Effective as of April 30, 2012, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income. 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 two broad-based securities market indices 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 Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 9.59% (the fourth quarter of 2010) and the lowest quarterly return was -10.91% (the fourth quarter of 2008).
Performance Table Heading	rr_PerformanceTableHeading	Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2012
Ivy Funds VIP Balanced | Ivy Funds VIP Balanced
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)	rr_ShareholderFeeOther
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.70%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.01%
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	103
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	322
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	558
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,236
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	103
3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	322
5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	558
10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,236
2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	19.09%
2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	8.93%
2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	5.01%
2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	11.21%
2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	13.67%
2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(21.00%)
2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	13.23%
2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	17.11%
2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	3.31%
2012	rr_AnnualReturn2012	11.75%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest quarterly return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2010
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	9.59%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest quarterly return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(10.91%)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	11.75%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.88%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.61%
Ivy Funds VIP Balanced | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (Index comparison begins on February 29, 2008.)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	16.00%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.66%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	7.10%
Ivy Funds VIP Balanced | Barclays U.S. Government/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.82%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	6.06%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.25%
Ivy Funds VIP Balanced | Lipper Variable Annuity Mixed-Asset Target Allocation Growth Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	13.50%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.93%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	6.70%