| Form N-CSR Cover | 6 Months Ended |
| Jun. 30, 2024 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | N-CSRS |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Registrant Name | Northern Lights Variable Trust |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001352621 |
| Entity Investment Company Type | N-1A |
| 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 | Northern Lights Variable Trust |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001352621 |
| Entity Investment Company Type | N-1A |
| Document Period End Date | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| C000125279 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Fund Name | BTS Tactical Fixed Income VIT Fund |
| Class Name | Class 1 |
| Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] | This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about BTS Tactical Fixed Income VIT Fund for the period of January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024. |
| Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual | Semi-Annual Shareholder Report |
| Additional Information [Text Block] | You can find additional information about the Fund at www.btsfunds.com. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-877-287-9820. |
| Additional Information Phone Number | 1-877-287-9820 |
| Additional Information Website | www.btsfunds.com |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 101 |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 2.02% |
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | The Fund’s past performance is not a good predictor of how the Fund will perform in the future. |
| No Deduction of Taxes [Text Block] | The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares. |
| Material Change Date | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| AssetsNet | $ 7,826,078 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 7 |
| Advisory Fees Paid, Amount | $ 18,660 |
| InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover | 32% |
| Updated Prospectus Web Address | www.btsfunds.com |
| C000125280 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Fund Name | BTS Tactical Fixed Income VIT Fund |
| Class Name | Class 2 |
| Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] | This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about BTS Tactical Fixed Income VIT Fund for the period of January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024. |
| Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual | Semi-Annual Shareholder Report |
| Additional Information [Text Block] | You can find additional information about the Fund at www.btsfunds.com. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-877-287-9820. |
| Additional Information Phone Number | 1-877-287-9820 |
| Additional Information Website | www.btsfunds.com |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 125 |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 2.52% |
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | The Fund’s past performance is not a good predictor of how the Fund will perform in the future. |
| No Deduction of Taxes [Text Block] | The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares. |
| Material Change Date | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| AssetsNet | $ 7,826,078 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 7 |
| Advisory Fees Paid, Amount | $ 18,660 |
| InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover | 32% |
| Updated Prospectus Web Address | www.btsfunds.com |
| Shareholder Report, Line Graph (Details) - USD ($) | 6 Months Ended | ||||||||||
| Jun. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2024 | Jun. 30, 2023 | Jun. 30, 2022 | Jun. 30, 2021 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2015 | |
| C000125279 | |||||||||||
| Account Value [Line Items] | |||||||||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | BTS Tactical Fixed Income VIT Fund | ||||||||||
| Account Value | $ 10,000 | $ 10,022 | $ 9,712 | $ 9,826 | $ 11,510 | $ 11,253 | $ 10,909 | $ 10,803 | $ 11,081 | $ 10,400 | $ 9,820 |
| C000125280 | |||||||||||
| Account Value [Line Items] | |||||||||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | BTS Tactical Fixed Income VIT Fund | ||||||||||
| Account Value | $ 10,000 | 9,551 | 9,271 | 9,437 | 11,156 | 11,022 | 10,804 | 10,765 | 11,165 | 10,477 | 9,867 |
| Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | |||||||||||
| Account Value [Line Items] | |||||||||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | ||||||||||
| Account Value | $ 10,000 | 11,430 | 11,137 | 11,243 | 12,533 | 12,575 | 11,564 | 10,720 | 10,763 | 10,797 | 10,186 |
| Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | |||||||||||
| Account Value [Line Items] | |||||||||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | ||||||||||
| Account Value | $ 10,000 | $ 11,430 | $ 11,137 | $ 11,243 | $ 12,533 | $ 12,575 | $ 11,564 | $ 10,720 | $ 10,763 | $ 10,797 | $ 10,186 |
| Shareholder Report, Average Annual Return (Details) | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 60 Months Ended | 120 Months Ended | |
| Jun. 30, 2024 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2024 | Jun. 30, 2024 | Jun. 30, 2024 | |
| C000125279 | |||||
| Average Annual Return [Line Items] | |||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | BTS Tactical Fixed Income VIT Fund | ||||
| C000125280 | |||||
| Average Annual Return [Line Items] | |||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | BTS Tactical Fixed Income VIT Fund | ||||
| Without Sales Load [Member] | C000125279 | |||||
| Average Annual Return [Line Items] | |||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | 0.50% | 3.18% | (1.68%) | 0.02% | |
| Without Sales Load [Member] | C000125280 | |||||
| Average Annual Return [Line Items] | |||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | 0.53% | 3.02% | (2.44%) | (0.46%) | |
| Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | |||||
| Average Annual Return [Line Items] | |||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | ||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | (0.71%) | 2.63% | (0.23%) | 1.35% | |
| Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | |||||
| Average Annual Return [Line Items] | |||||
| Line Graph and Table Measure Name | Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | ||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | (0.71%) | 2.63% | (0.23%) | 1.35% | |
| Shareholder Report, Holdings (Details) | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| C000125279 | 233051432 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 35.10% |
| C000125279 | 464288513 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 23.10% |
| C000125279 | 78468R622 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 20% |
| C000125279 | 46435U853 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 10% |
| C000125279 | 78464A359 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 5.10% |
| C000125279 | 92189H409 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 5% |
| C000125279 | 316175108 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.70% |
| C000125279 | Money Market Funds | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.70% |
| C000125279 | Fixed Income | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 98.30% |
| C000125279 | InvestmentType_Exchange-Traded Funds | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Total Investments | 98.30% |
| C000125279 | InvestmentType_Short-Term Investments | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Total Investments | 1.70% |
| C000125280 | 233051432 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 35.10% |
| C000125280 | 464288513 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 23.10% |
| C000125280 | 78468R622 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 20% |
| C000125280 | 46435U853 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 10% |
| C000125280 | 78464A359 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 5.10% |
| C000125280 | 92189H409 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 5% |
| C000125280 | 316175108 | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.70% |
| C000125280 | Money Market Funds | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.70% |
| C000125280 | Fixed Income | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 98.30% |
| C000125280 | InvestmentType_Exchange-Traded Funds | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Total Investments | 98.30% |
| C000125280 | InvestmentType_Short-Term Investments | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Total Investments | 1.70% |
