| Form N-CSR Cover | 6 Months Ended |
| Jun. 30, 2024 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | N-CSRS |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Registrant Name | DAVIS VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUND INC |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001084060 |
| Document Period End Date | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| Shareholder Report | 6 Months Ended | |
| Jun. 30, 2024 USD ($) Holding | ||
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | ||
| Document Type | N-CSRS | |
| Amendment Flag | false | |
| Registrant Name | DAVIS VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUND INC | |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001084060 | |
| Document Period End Date | Jun. 30, 2024 | |
| C000009557 [Member] | ||
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | ||
| Fund Name | Davis Equity Portfolio | |
| Class Name | Davis Equity Portfolio | |
| Trading Symbol | QDVPAX | |
| Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] | This Semi-Annual shareholder report contains important information about the Davis Equity Portfolio (the “Fund”) for the period of January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024 (the “period”). | |
| Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual | Semi-Annual shareholder report | |
| Additional Information [Text Block] | You can find additional information about the Fund at davisfunds.com/resources/regulatory-documents | |
| Material Fund Change Notice [Text Block] | This report describes changes to the Fund that occurred during the reporting period. | |
| Additional Information Phone Number | 1-800-279-0279 | |
| Additional Information Website | davisfunds.com/resources/regulatory-documents | |
| Expenses [Text Block] | What were the Fund expenses for the last six months? (Based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment) Fund Costs of $10,000 investment Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment Davis Equity Portfolio $ 0.72 % * * Annualized. | |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 38.47 | |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 0.72% | [1] |
| Factors Affecting Performance [Text Block] | Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance Summary of Results The Fund underperformed the S&P 500 ® ® ® Market Overview S&P 500 ® Strongest performing sectors - Information Technology (+28%) and Communication Services (+27%) Weakest performing sectors - Real Estate (-2%) and Materials (+4%) Detractors from Performance Information Technology - underperformed the Index sector (+17% vs +28%) and underweight (average weighting 15% vs 30%) Intel (-38%) - largest individual detractor Significantly overweight in Financials sector - (average weighting 41% vs 13%) AIA Group (-21%) and U.S. Bancorp (-6%) Individual holdings Solventum (-15%), Darling Ingredients (-26%), AGCO (-17%), and IAC (-11%) Contributors to Performance Communication Services - outperformed the Index sector (+36% vs +27%) and overweight (average weighting 14% vs 9%) Meta Platforms (+43%) - largest individual contributor Alphabet (+31%) Financials - outperformed the Index sector (+12% vs +10%) Wells Fargo (+22%), Berkshire Hathaway (+13%), JPMorgan Chase (+20%), and Bank of New York Mellon (+17%) No exposure in Real Estate Individual holdings Applied Materials (+46%), Amazon.com (+27%), and Texas Instruments (+16%) | |
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance, assumes that all distributions were reinvested, and is not a guarantee of future results. | |
| Average Annual Return [Table Text Block] | AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR PERIODS ENDED 06/30/24 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years Davis Equity Portfolio 28.33 % 12.34 % 9.82 % S&P 500 ® 24.56 % 15.03 % 12.85 % | |
| Material Change Date | Jun. 30, 2024 | |
| Updated Performance Information Location [Text Block] | For most recent month-end performance information, please call Investor Services at 1-800-279-0279 or visit the Fund’s website at www.davisfunds.com. | |
| Net Assets | $ 104,300,000 | |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 41 | |
| Advisory Fees Paid, Amount | $ 280,500 | |
| Investment Company Portfolio Turnover | 9% | |
| Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block] | Key Fund Statistics Fund net assets as of 06/30/24 (in millions) $ % Total number of portfolio holdings as of 06/30/24 $ % Portfolio turnover rate for the period $ % Total advisory fees paid for the period (in thousands) $ % | |
| Holdings [Text Block] | Top Sectors as of 06/30/24 Net Assets Financials 35.60 % Information Technology 15.09 % Communication Services 14.03 % Health Care 13.35 % Consumer Discretionary 11.67 % | |
| Material Fund Change [Text Block] | How has the Fund changed? In light of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s amendments to its rule related to fund names, the Fund renamed from Davis Value Portfolio to Davis Equity Portfolio effective June 30, 2024. This is a summary of certain changes to the Fund during the period. For more complete information, you may review the Fund’s prospectus, which is available at davisfunds.com/resources/regulatory-documents | |
| Material Fund Change Name [Text Block] | In light of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s amendments to its rule related to fund names, the Fund renamed from Davis Value Portfolio to Davis Equity Portfolio effective June 30, 2024. | |
| Updated Prospectus Phone Number | 1-800-279-0279 | |
| Updated Prospectus Email Address | dvsinvestor.services@dsaco.com | |
| Updated Prospectus Web Address | davisfunds.com/resources/regulatory-documents | |
| [1]Annualized. | ||
| Shareholder Report, Line Graph (Details) | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 60 Months Ended | 120 Months Ended |
| Jun. 30, 2024 | Jun. 30, 2024 | Jun. 30, 2024 | Jun. 30, 2024 | |
| C000009557 [Member] | ||||
| Account Value [Line Items] | ||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | Davis Equity Portfolio | |||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | 28.33% | 12.34% | 9.82% | |
| Standard & Poor's 500 Index [Member] | ||||
| Account Value [Line Items] | ||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | S&P 500® Index | |||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | 24.56% | 15.03% | 12.85% |
| Shareholder Report, Holdings (Details) - C000009557 [Member] | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| Information Technology Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 15.09% |
| Consumer Discretionary Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 11.67% |
| Communications Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 14.03% |
| Healthcare Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 13.35% |
| Financials [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 35.60% |
