| Form N-CSR Cover | 6 Months Ended |
| Jun. 30, 2024 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | N-CSRS |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Registrant Name | Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000815425 |
| 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 | Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000815425 |
| Entity Investment Company Type | N-1A |
| Document Period End Date | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 1 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Fund Name | Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Growth Fund |
| Class Name | Class 1 |
| No Trading Symbol Flag | true |
| Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] | This semiannual shareholder report |
| Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual | semi-annual shareholder report |
| Additional Information [Text Block] | You can find additional information about the Fund at columbiathreadneedleus.com/resources/literature 1-800-345-6611. |
| Additional Information Phone Number | 1-800-345-6611 |
| Additional Information Website | columbiathreadneedleus.com/resources/literature |
| Expenses [Text Block] | What were the Fund costs for the reporting period? (Based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment) Class Costs of a $10,000 investment Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment Class 1 $ 0.26% |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 13 |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 0.26% |
| Net Assets | $ 11,422,514,970 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 89 |
| Investment Company, Portfolio Turnover | 61% |
| Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block] | Key Fund Statistics Fund net assets $ Total number of portfolio holdings 89 Portfolio turnover for the reporting period 61% |
| Holdings [Text Block] | Graphical Representation of Fund The tables below show the investment makeup of the Fund rep rese Derivative Exposure Long Equity Risk 26.7% Foreign Exchange Risk 9.6% Interest Rate Risk 2.9% Short Equity Risk 50.0% Foreign Exchange Risk 2.0% Asset Categories |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 2 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Fund Name | Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Growth Fund |
| Class Name | Class 2 |
| No Trading Symbol Flag | true |
| Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] | This semiannual shareholder report |
| Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual | semi-annual shareholder report |
| Additional Information [Text Block] | You can find additional information about the Fund at columbiathreadneedleus.com/resources/literature 1-800-345-6611. |
| Additional Information Phone Number | 1-800-345-6611 |
| Additional Information Website | columbiathreadneedleus.com/resources/literature |
| Expenses [Text Block] | What were the Fund costs for the reporting period? (Based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment) Class Costs of a $10,000 investment Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment Class 2 $26 0.51% |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 26 |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 0.51% |
| Net Assets | $ 11,422,514,970 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 89 |
| Investment Company, Portfolio Turnover | 61% |
| Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block] | Key Fund Statistics Fund net assets $ Total number of portfolio holdings 89 Portfolio turnover for the reporting period 61% |
| Holdings [Text Block] | Graphical Representation of Fund The tables below show the investment makeup of the Fund re pres Derivative Exposure Long Equity Risk 26.7% Foreign Exchange Risk 9.6% Interest Rate Risk 2.9% Short Equity Risk 50.0% Foreign Exchange Risk 2.0% Asset Categories |
| Shareholder Report, Holdings (Details) | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 2 | Long Equity Risk [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 26.70% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 2 | Long Foreign Exchange Risk [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 9.60% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 2 | Long Interest Rate Risk [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.90% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 2 | Short Equity Risk [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 50% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 2 | Short Foreign Exchange Risk [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 2 | Equity Fund [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 63.20% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 2 | Money Market Fund [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 21.70% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 2 | Fixed Income Fund [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 10.40% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 2 | Residential Mortgage Backed Securities Agency [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3.40% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 2 | Exchange Traded Fixed Income Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.90% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 2 | Other [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.30% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 1 | Long Equity Risk [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 26.70% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 1 | Long Foreign Exchange Risk [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 9.60% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 1 | Long Interest Rate Risk [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.90% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 1 | Short Equity Risk [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 50% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 1 | Short Foreign Exchange Risk [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 1 | Equity Fund [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 63.20% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 1 | Money Market Fund [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 21.70% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 1 | Fixed Income Fund [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 10.40% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 1 | Residential Mortgage Backed Securities Agency [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3.40% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 1 | Exchange Traded Fixed Income Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.90% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Growth Fund Class 1 | Other [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.30% |
