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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 Diversified Income Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading PUTNAM VT DIVERSIFIED INCOME FUND
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Goal
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund seeks as high a level of current income as Putnam Investment Management, LLC believes is consistent with preservation of capital.
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 234%.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 234.00%
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 bonds that are securitized debt instruments (such as mortgage-backed investments) and other obligations of companies and governments worldwide, are either investment-grade or below-investment-grade in quality (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”) and have intermediate- to long-term maturities (three years or longer).

We may consider, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell investments. We typically use to a significant extent derivatives, such as futures, options, certain foreign currency transactions and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes.
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 bonds 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 issuer or industry. The value of bond investments is also affected by changing market perceptions of the risk of default. The risks associated with bond investments include interest rate risk, which means the value of the fund’s investments is likely to fall if interest rates rise. Bond investments are also subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the issuer of a bond may default on payment of interest or principal. Interest rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds (a significant part of the fund’s investments). Mortgage-backed investments carry the risk that they may increase in value less when interest rates decline and decline in value more when interest rates rise. We may have to invest the proceeds from prepaid investments, including mortgage- and asset-backed investments, in other investments with less attractive terms and yields. The value of international investments traded in foreign currencies may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates. International investments, particularly investments in emerging markets, may carry risks associated with potentially less stable economies or governments (such as the risk of seizure by a foreign government, the imposition of currency or other restrictions, or high levels of inflation or deflation), and may be illiquid. Our use of derivatives may increase these risks by increasing investment exposure (which may be considered leverage) or, in the case of many over-the-counter instruments, because of the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions and the potential failure of the other party to the instrument to meet its obligations.

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             2.54%
through
3/31/14
Best
calendar               18.40%
quarter
Q2 09
Worst
calendar             -21.54%
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 2.54%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best calendar quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 18.40%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst calendar quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (21.54%)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average annual total returns
(for periods ending 12/31/13)
Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund | Class IA
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets   
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.21%
Total annual fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.76%
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 78
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 243
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 422
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 942
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 78
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 243
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 422
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 942
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 9.58%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 3.28%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 6.60%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 4.31%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (31.07%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 54.83%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 13.02%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (3.17%)
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 11.97%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 8.08%
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.08%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.45%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.93%
Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund | Class IB
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.55%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.21%
Total annual fund 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
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 7.81%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.30%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.79%
Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund | Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (no deduction for fees or expenses)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (2.02%)
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.44%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.55%
Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund | Citigroup Non-U.S. World Government Bond Index (no deduction for fees or expenses)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (4.56%)
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.27%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.10%
Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund | JPMorgan Developed High Yield Index (no deduction for fees or expenses)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.42%
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 19.51%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.85%