| 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 International | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Fund Name | Wanger International |
| Class Name | Wanger International |
| Trading Symbol | WSCAX |
| 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. You can also request more information by contacting us at 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 International $ 1.14% |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 56 |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 1.14% |
| Net Assets | $ 306,644,138 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 73 |
| Investment Company, Portfolio Turnover | 11% |
| Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block] | Key Fund Statistics Fund net assets $ Total number of portfolio holdings 73 Portfolio turnover for the reporting period 11% |
| Holdings [Text Block] | Graphical Representation of Fund The tables below show the investment makeup of the Fund represented as a percentage of Fund net asse ts. Top Holdings Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.191% 3.4% Auto Trader Group PLC 3.2% Munters Group AB 2.9% Belimo Holding AG, Registered Shares 2.8% Pro Medicus Ltd. 2.7% Intermediate Capital Group PLC 2.5% Hypoport SE 2.3% BE Semiconductor Industries NV 2.2% IMCD NV 2.1% Rightmove PLC 2.1% Equity Sector Allocation Geographic Allocation |
| Largest Holdings [Text Block] | Top Holdings Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.191% 3.4% Auto Trader Group PLC 3.2% Munters Group AB 2.9% Belimo Holding AG, Registered Shares 2.8% Pro Medicus Ltd. 2.7% Intermediate Capital Group PLC 2.5% Hypoport SE 2.3% BE Semiconductor Industries NV 2.2% IMCD NV 2.1% Rightmove PLC 2.1% |
| Shareholder Report, Holdings (Details) - Wanger International | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 5.191%01/07/2022 [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3.40% |
| Auto Trader Group PLC [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3.20% |
| Munters Group AB [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.90% |
| Belimo Holding AG, Registered Shares [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.80% |
| Pro Medicus Ltd. [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.70% |
| Intermediate Capital Group PLC [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.50% |
| Hypoport SE [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.30% |
| BE Semiconductor Industries NV [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.20% |
| IMCD NV [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.10% |
| Rightmove PLC [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 2.10% |
| Industrial Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 27.50% |
| Information Technology Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 17.60% |
| Healthcare Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 14% |
| Communications Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 10.80% |
| Financial Services Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.70% |
| Real Estate Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.30% |
| Consumer Staples Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 4.60% |
| Materials Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 4.10% |
| Consumer Discretionary Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 3.70% |
| Energy Sector [Member] | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 1.70% |
| Other | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 23.30% |
| JAPAN | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 16.10% |
| UNITED KINGDOM | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 15.50% |
| GERMANY | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 9.50% |
| SWITZERLAND | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 7.70% |
| AUSTRALIA | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 6.40% |
| UNITED STATES | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 6.10% |
| TAIWAN | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 5.80% |
| CANADA | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 4.40% |
| NETHERLANDS | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 4.30% |
| INDIA | |
| Holdings [Line Items] | |
| Percent of Net Asset Value | 4.10% |
