| 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 Risk Fund Class 1 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Fund Name | Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk 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 $11 0.22% |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 11 |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 0.22% |
| Net Assets | $ 244,271,666 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 70 |
| Investment Company, Portfolio Turnover | 46% |
| Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block] | Key Fund Statistics Fund net assets $244,271,666 Total number of portfolio holdings 70 Portfolio turnover for the reporting period 46% |
| Holdings [Text Block] | Graphical Representation of Fund The tables below show the investment makeup of the Fund represented as a percentage of Fund net assets. Derivatives are excluded from the tables unless otherwise noted. The Fund's portfolio composition is subject to change. Derivative Exposure Long Credit Risk 2.5 % Equity Risk 5.3 % Foreign Exchange Risk 3.7 % Interest Rate Risk 4.4 % Short Equity Risk 38.4 % Foreign Exchange Risk 3.0 % Interest Rate Risk 0.5 % Asset Categories |
| Largest Holdings [Text Block] | Asset Categories |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Fund Name | Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk 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 $ 0.47 % |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 24 |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 0.47% |
| Net Assets | $ 244,271,666 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 70 |
| Investment Company, Portfolio Turnover | 46% |
| Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block] | Key Fund Statistics Fund net assets $ Total number of portfolio holdings 70 Portfolio turnover for the reporting 46% |
| Holdings [Text Block] | Graphical Representation of Fund The tables below show the investment makeup of the Fund represented as a percentage of Fund net assets. Derivatives are excluded from the tables unless otherwise noted. The Fund's portfolio composition is subject to change. Derivative Exposure Long Credit Risk 2.5 % Equity Risk 5.3 % Foreign Exchange Risk 3.7 % Interest Rate Risk 4.4 % Short Equity Risk 38.4 % Foreign Exchange Risk 3.0 % Interest Rate Risk 0.5 % Asset Categories |
| Largest Holdings [Text Block] | Asset Categories |
| Shareholder Report, Holdings (Details) | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | Equity Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 55.10% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | Fixed Income Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 29% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | Money Market Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.80% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | Residential MortgageBacked Securities Agency [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 6.40% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | ExchangeTraded Fixed Income Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3.40% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | ExchangeTraded Equity Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3.30% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | Other [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 0.40% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | Credit Risk [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.50% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | Equity Risk Long [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 5.30% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | Foreign Exchange Risk Long [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3.70% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | Interest Rate Risk Long [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 4.40% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | Equity Risk Short [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 38.40% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | Foreign Exchange Risk Short [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3% |
| Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund Class 2 | Interest Rate Risk Short [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 0.50% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | Equity Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 55.10% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | Fixed Income Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 29% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | Money Market Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.80% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | Residential MortgageBacked Securities Agency [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 6.40% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | ExchangeTraded Fixed Income Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3.40% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | ExchangeTraded Equity Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3.30% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | Other [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 0.40% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | Credit Risk [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.50% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | Equity Risk Long [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 5.30% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | Foreign Exchange Risk Long [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3.70% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | Interest Rate Risk Long [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 4.40% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | Equity Risk Short [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 38.40% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | Foreign Exchange Risk Short [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3% |
| Variable Portfolio - Managed Risk Fund Class 1 | Interest Rate Risk Short [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 0.50% |
