| Form N-CSR Cover | 6 Months Ended |
| Jun. 30, 2024 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | N-CSRS |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Registrant Name | Wanger Advisors Trust |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000929521 |
| 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 | Wanger Advisors Trust |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000929521 |
| Entity Investment Company Type | N-1A |
| Document Period End Date | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| Wanger Acorn | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Fund Name | Wanger Acorn |
| Class Name | Wanger Acorn |
| Trading Symbol | WUSAX |
| 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) Fund Costs of a $10,000 investment Cost paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment Wanger Acorn $48 0.95% |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 48 |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 0.95% |
| Net Assets | $ 505,578,805 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 103 |
| Investment Company, Portfolio Turnover | 41% |
| Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block] | Key Fund Statistics Fund $ Total number of portfolio holdings 103 Portfolio tur nov porti 41% |
| 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. Top Holdings Churchill Downs, Inc. 3.0% SPX Technologies, Inc. 2.4% Bio-Techne Corp. 2.4% Five Below, Inc. 2.3% BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. 2.1% Parsons Corp. 2.1% Natera, Inc. 2.0% Colliers International Group, Inc. 2.0% Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., Class A 2.0% WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. 1.9% Asset Categories Equity Sector Allocation |
| Largest Holdings [Text Block] | Top Holdings Churchill Downs, Inc. 3.0% SPX Technologies, Inc. 2.4% Bio-Techne Corp. 2.4% Five Below, Inc. 2.3% BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. 2.1% Parsons Corp. 2.1% Natera, Inc. 2.0% Colliers International Group, Inc. 2.0% Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., Class A 2.0% WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. 1.9% |
| Shareholder Report, Holdings (Details) - Wanger Acorn | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| Churchill Downs, Inc. [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3% |
| SPX Technologies, Inc. [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.40% |
| Bio-Techne Corp. [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.40% |
| Five Below, Inc. [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.30% |
| BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.10% |
| Parsons Corp. [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.10% |
| Natera, Inc. [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2% |
| Colliers International Group, Inc. [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2% |
| Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., Class A [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2% |
| WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.90% |
| Industrial Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 22.40% |
| Healthcare Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 20% |
| Information Technology Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 19.20% |
| Consumer Discretionary Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 19.20% |
| Financial Services Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.50% |
| Consumer Staples Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3% |
| Real Estate Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2% |
| Energy Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2% |
| Communications Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.70% |
| Unclassified Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 0.80% |
| Common Stocks [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 97.80% |
| Money Market Fund [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.30% |
| ExchangeTraded Equity Funds [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.20% |
| Other [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 0.60% |
