| 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 | |
| C000009558 [Member] | ||
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | ||
| Fund Name | Davis Financial Portfolio | |
| Class Name | Davis Financial Portfolio | |
| Trading Symbol | QDFPAX | |
| Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] | This Semi-Annual shareholder report contains important information about the Davis Financial 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 | |
| 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 Financial Portfolio $ 0.77 % * * Annualized. | |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 40.31 | |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 0.77% | [1] |
| Factors Affecting Performance [Text Block] | Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance Summary of Results The Fund outperformed the S&P 500 ® ® Market Overview S&P 500 ® Strongest performing industries - Consumer Finance (+19%), Banks (+17%), and Insurance (+14%) Weakest performing industries - Capital Markets (+3%) and Financial Services (+7%) Contributors to Performance Significantly overweight in Banks - (average weighting 46% vs 25%) Wells Fargo (+22%) and JPMorgan Chase (+20%) - two largest individual contributors DBS Group Holdings (+18%) and Danske Bank (+16%) Capital Markets - outperformed the Index industry (+11% vs +3%) and underweight (average weighting 12% vs 22%) Bank of New York Mellon (+17%) Overweight in Consumer Finance (average weighting 14% vs 4%) American Express (+24%) and Capital One Financial (+7%) Underweight in Financial Services (average weighting 8% vs 33%) Berkshire Hathaway (+13%) Individual Insurance holdings Chubb (+14%) and Markel (+11%) Detractors from Performance Banks - underperformed the Index industry (+12% vs +17%) U.S. Bancorp (-6%) - largest individual detractor DNB Bank (flat) and Metro Bank Holdings (-1%) Consumer Finance - underperformed the Index industry (+12% vs +19%) Individual holding Rocket Companies (-5%) | |
| 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 Financial Portfolio 26.32 % 9.85 % 9.24 % S&P 500 ® 24.56 % 15.03 % 12.85 % S&P 500 ® 24.21 % 10.57 % 10.57 % | |
| 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 | $ 51,800,000 | |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 26 | |
| Advisory Fees Paid, Amount | $ 150,500 | |
| Investment Company Portfolio Turnover | 0% | |
| 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 Industries as of 06/30/24 Net Assets Banks 45.90 % Insurance 14.97 % Consumer Finance 14.69 % Capital Markets 11.79 % Financial Services 8.35 % | |
| [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 | |
| C000009558 [Member] | ||||
| Account Value [Line Items] | ||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | Davis Financial Portfolio | |||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | 26.32% | 9.85% | 9.24% | |
| 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% | |
| S And P 500 Financials Index [Member] | ||||
| Account Value [Line Items] | ||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | S&P 500® Financials Index | |||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | 24.21% | 10.57% | 10.57% |
| Shareholder Report, Holdings (Details) - C000009558 [Member] | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| Insurance Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 14.97% |
| Capital Markets [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 11.79% |
| Financial Services Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 8.35% |
| Banks [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 45.90% |
| Consumer Finance [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 14.69% |
