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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Apr. 30, 2014
Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading PUTNAM VT SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Goal
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund seeks capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. The fees and expenses information does not reflect insurance-related charges or expenses borne by contract holders indirectly investing in the fund. If it did, expenses would be higher.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual fund operating expenses
(expenses 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-related costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or the above example, affect fund performance. The fund’s turnover rate in the most recent fiscal year was 59%.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 59.00%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock 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.
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Investments
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock We invest mainly in common stocks of small U.S. companies, with a focus on value stocks. Value stocks are issued by companies that we believe are currently undervalued by the market. If we are correct and other investors recognize the value of the company, the price of its stock may rise. We invest mainly in small companies of a size similar to those in the Russell 2000 Value Index. As of March 31, 2014, the index was composed of companies having market capitalizations of between $17.8 million and $10.7 billion. We may consider, among other factors, a company’s valuation, financial strength, growth potential, competitive position in its industry, projected future earnings, cash flows and dividends when deciding whether to buy or sell investments.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.

The value of stocks in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including both general financial market conditions and factors related to a specific company or industry. These risks are generally greater for small and midsize companies. Value stocks may fail to rebound, and the market may not favor value-style investing.

The fund may not achieve its goal, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time. The performance information does not reflect insurance-related charges or expenses. If it did, performance would be lower. Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual total returns for class IA shares
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The performance information does not reflect insurance-related charges or expenses. If it did, performance would be lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Year-to-
date per-
formance             2.58%
through
3/31/14
Best
calendar               25.25%
quarter
Q2 09
Worst
calendar             -28.70%
quarter
Q4 08
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year-to-date performance through
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Mar. 31, 2014
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 2.58%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best calendar quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 25.25%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst calendar quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (28.70%)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average annual total returns
(for periods ending 12/31/13)
Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund | Class IA
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.63%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets   
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.18%
Acquired fund fees and expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.22%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.03%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 105
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 328
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 569
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,259
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 105
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 328
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 569
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,259
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 26.54%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 7.30%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 17.58%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 (12.43%)
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (39.26%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 31.84%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 26.30%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (4.54%)
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 17.79%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 39.93%
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 39.93%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 21.25%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.32%
Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund | Class IB
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.63%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.18%
Acquired fund fees and expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.22%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.28%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 130
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 406
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 702
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,545
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 130
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 406
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 702
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,545
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 39.61%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 20.96%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.06%
Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund | Russell 2000 Value Index (no deduction for fees or expenses)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 34.52%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 17.64%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.61%