Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets, lacking physical substance with a definite life, resulting from a business combination.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash outflow related to the acquisition or continued holding of limited partnership interests held for investment purposes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireLimitedPartnershipInterests
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=vrts_VirtusETFSolutionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Business Combination (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
Business Combination (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 10, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment to acquire majority interest			$ 5,000
Goodwill recorded		$ 1,441	$ 0	$ 0
Virtus ETF Solutions [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment to acquire majority interest	$ 4,800
Goodwill recorded	1,400
Other intangible assets recorded	$ 2,400