Total

Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund		Class IA	Class IB
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets)		0.61%	0.61%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees		none	0.25%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets):		0.14%	0.14%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	[1]	none	none
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets)		0.75%	1.00%

Example

The following hypothetical example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The example does not reflect insurance-related charges or expenses. If it did, expenses would be higher. It assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem or hold all your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.

Expense Example - Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund - USD ($)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Class IA	77	240	417	930
Class IB	102	318	552	1,225

[1] Restated to reflect current fees.