v3.25.2
Shareholder Report
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
USD ($)
Holding
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Document Type N-CSRS
Amendment Flag false
Registrant Name Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key 0001011378
Entity Investment Company Type N-1A
Document Period End Date Jun. 30, 2025
C000011741  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Discovery Portfolio
Class Name I
Trading Symbol MMGPX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about  Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Discovery Portfolio for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual Semi-Annual Shareholder Report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-800-869-6397.
Additional Information Phone Number 1-800-869-6397
Additional Information Website <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
Expenses [Text Block]

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?Footnote Reference1

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Class I
$52
0.95%Footnote Reference2
FootnoteDescription
Footnote1
Does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by your insurance company. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries.
Footnote2
Annualized
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 52
Expense Ratio, Percent 0.95% [1]
AssetsNet $ 223,823,319
Holdings Count | Holding 35
InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover 52.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]

Key Fund Statistics

Total Net Assets
$223,823,319
# of Portfolio Holdings
35
Portfolio Turnover Rate
52%
Holdings [Text Block]

Sector Allocation (% of total investments)

Group By Country Chart
Value
Value
Short-Term Investments
0.8%
Real Estate
2.4%
Consumer Staples
4.2%
Health Care
9.4%
Communication Services
10.6%
Financials
11.5%
Industrials
12.2%
Consumer Discretionary
12.4%
Information Technology
36.5%
Largest Holdings [Text Block]

Top Ten Holdings (% of total investments)Footnote Referencea

Cloudflare, Inc.
12.9%
QXO, Inc.
6.4%
Affirm Holdings, Inc.
6.4%
MicroStrategy, Inc.
6.2%
ROBLOX Corp.
5.9%
Core & Main, Inc.
5.1%
IonQ, Inc.
5.0%
Royalty Pharma PLC
4.8%
Trade Desk, Inc.
4.7%
Snowflake, Inc.
3.6%
Total
61.0%
FootnoteDescription
Footnotea
Excluding cash equivalents.
Updated Prospectus Web Address <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
C000011740  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Discovery Portfolio
Class Name II
Trading Symbol MMGTX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about  Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Discovery Portfolio for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual Semi-Annual Shareholder Report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-800-869-6397.
Additional Information Phone Number 1-800-869-6397
Additional Information Website <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
Expenses [Text Block]

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?Footnote Reference1

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Class II
$58
1.05%Footnote Reference2
FootnoteDescription
Footnote1
Does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by your insurance company. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries.
Footnote2
Annualized
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 58
Expense Ratio, Percent 1.05% [2]
AssetsNet $ 223,823,319
Holdings Count | Holding 35
InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover 52.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]

Key Fund Statistics

Total Net Assets
$223,823,319
# of Portfolio Holdings
35
Portfolio Turnover Rate
52%
Holdings [Text Block]

Sector Allocation (% of total investments)

Group By Country Chart
Value
Value
Short-Term Investments
0.8%
Real Estate
2.4%
Consumer Staples
4.2%
Health Care
9.4%
Communication Services
10.6%
Financials
11.5%
Industrials
12.2%
Consumer Discretionary
12.4%
Information Technology
36.5%
Largest Holdings [Text Block]

Top Ten Holdings (% of total investments)Footnote Referencea

Cloudflare, Inc.
12.9%
QXO, Inc.
6.4%
Affirm Holdings, Inc.
6.4%
MicroStrategy, Inc.
6.2%
ROBLOX Corp.
5.9%
Core & Main, Inc.
5.1%
IonQ, Inc.
5.0%
Royalty Pharma PLC
4.8%
Trade Desk, Inc.
4.7%
Snowflake, Inc.
3.6%
Total
61.0%
FootnoteDescription
Footnotea
Excluding cash equivalents.
Updated Prospectus Web Address <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
C000011754  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
Class Name I
Trading Symbol MEMEX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about  Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual Semi-Annual Shareholder Report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-800-869-6397.
Additional Information Phone Number 1-800-869-6397
Additional Information Website <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
Expenses [Text Block]

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?Footnote Reference1

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Class I
$66
1.25%Footnote Reference2
FootnoteDescription
Footnote1
Does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by your insurance company. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries.
Footnote2
Annualized
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 66
Expense Ratio, Percent 1.25% [3]
AssetsNet $ 162,831,213
Holdings Count | Holding 92
InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover 14.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]

Key Fund Statistics

Total Net Assets
$162,831,213
# of Portfolio Holdings
92
Portfolio Turnover Rate
14%
Holdings [Text Block]

Country Allocation (% of total investments)

Group By Country Chart
Value
Value
Other
4.1%
Saudi Arabia
1.4%
Poland
2.8%
South Africa
3.3%
United States
4.0%
Mexico
4.9%
Brazil
5.1%
Korea, Republic of
8.2%
Taiwan
20.0%
China
21.9%
India
24.3%
Largest Holdings [Text Block]

Top Ten Holdings (% of total investments)Footnote Referencea

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
12.7%
Tencent Holdings Ltd.
5.1%
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
4.4%
China Construction Bank Corp.
2.5%
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
2.4%
Reliance Industries Ltd.
2.2%
ICICI Bank Ltd.
2.1%
BYD Co. Ltd.
1.9%
HDFC Bank Ltd.
1.9%
WEG SA
1.6%
Total
36.8%
FootnoteDescription
Footnotea
Excluding cash equivalents.
Updated Prospectus Web Address <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
C000011753  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
Class Name II
Trading Symbol MSMBX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about  Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual Semi-Annual Shareholder Report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-800-869-6397.
Additional Information Phone Number 1-800-869-6397
Additional Information Website <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
Expenses [Text Block]

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?Footnote Reference1

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Class II
$69
1.30%Footnote Reference2
FootnoteDescription
Footnote1
Does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by your insurance company. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries.
Footnote2
Annualized
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 69
Expense Ratio, Percent 1.30% [4]
AssetsNet $ 162,831,213
Holdings Count | Holding 92
InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover 14.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]

Key Fund Statistics

Total Net Assets
$162,831,213
# of Portfolio Holdings
92
Portfolio Turnover Rate
14%
Holdings [Text Block]

Country Allocation (% of total investments)

Group By Country Chart
Value
Value
Other
4.1%
Saudi Arabia
1.4%
Poland
2.8%
South Africa
3.3%
United States
4.0%
Mexico
4.9%
Brazil
5.1%
Korea, Republic of
8.2%
Taiwan
20.0%
China
21.9%
India
24.3%
Largest Holdings [Text Block]

Top Ten Holdings (% of total investments)Footnote Referencea

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
12.7%
Tencent Holdings Ltd.
5.1%
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
4.4%
China Construction Bank Corp.
2.5%
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
2.4%
Reliance Industries Ltd.
2.2%
ICICI Bank Ltd.
2.1%
BYD Co. Ltd.
1.9%
HDFC Bank Ltd.
1.9%
WEG SA
1.6%
Total
36.8%
FootnoteDescription
Footnotea
Excluding cash equivalents.
Updated Prospectus Web Address <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
C000011764  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Global Strategist Portfolio
Class Name I
Trading Symbol MIMPX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about  Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Global Strategist Portfolio for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual Semi-Annual Shareholder Report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-800-869-6397.
Additional Information Phone Number 1-800-869-6397
Additional Information Website <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
Expenses [Text Block]

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?Footnote Reference1

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Class I
$46
0.88%Footnote Reference2
FootnoteDescription
Footnote1
Does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by your insurance company. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries.
Footnote2
Annualized
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 46
Expense Ratio, Percent 0.88% [5]
AssetsNet $ 82,264,133
Holdings Count | Holding 1,393
InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover 55.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]

Key Fund Statistics

Total Net Assets
$82,264,133
# of Portfolio Holdings
1,393
Portfolio Turnover Rate
55%
Holdings [Text Block]

Geographic Allocation (% of total investments)

Group By Asset Type Chart
Value
Value
Africa
0.0%Footnote Reference
South America
0.5%
Multi National
0.7%
Oceania
2.4%
Asia
8.4%
Europe
18.2%
North America
69.8%
FootnoteDescription
Footnote
Amount is less than 0.05%
Credit Quality Explanation [Text Block]

Asset Allocation (% of total investments)

Credit Rating Chart
Value
Value
Rights
0.0%Footnote Reference
Warrants
0.0%Footnote Reference
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities
0.5%
Supranational
0.7%
Asset-Backed Securities
0.8%
Mortgages - Other
1.5%
U.S. Treasury Securities
3.6%
Agency Fixed Rate Mortgages
4.0%
Corporate Bonds
8.9%
Short-Term Investments
15.7%
Sovereign
18.7%
Common Stocks
45.6%
FootnoteDescription
Footnote
Amount is less than 0.05%
Material Fund Change [Text Block]
Updated Prospectus Web Address <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
C000097939  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Global Strategist Portfolio
Class Name II
Trading Symbol MGTPX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about  Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Global Strategist Portfolio for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual Semi-Annual Shareholder Report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-800-869-6397.
Additional Information Phone Number 1-800-869-6397
Additional Information Website <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
Expenses [Text Block]

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?Footnote Reference1

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Class II
$51
0.98%Footnote Reference2
FootnoteDescription
Footnote1
Does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by your insurance company. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries.
Footnote2
Annualized
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 51
Expense Ratio, Percent 0.98% [6]
AssetsNet $ 82,264,133
Holdings Count | Holding 1,393
InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover 55.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]

Key Fund Statistics

Total Net Assets
$82,264,133
# of Portfolio Holdings
1,393
Portfolio Turnover Rate
55%
Holdings [Text Block]

Geographic Allocation (% of total investments)

Group By Asset Type Chart
Value
Value
Africa
0.0%Footnote Reference
South America
0.5%
Multi National
0.7%
Oceania
2.4%
Asia
8.4%
Europe
18.2%
North America
69.8%
FootnoteDescription
Footnote
Amount is less than 0.05%
Credit Quality Explanation [Text Block]

Asset Allocation (% of total investments)

Credit Rating Chart
Value
Value
Rights
0.0%Footnote Reference
Warrants
0.0%Footnote Reference
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities
0.5%
Supranational
0.7%
Asset-Backed Securities
0.8%
Mortgages - Other
1.5%
U.S. Treasury Securities
3.6%
Agency Fixed Rate Mortgages
4.0%
Corporate Bonds
8.9%
Short-Term Investments
15.7%
Sovereign
18.7%
Common Stocks
45.6%
FootnoteDescription
Footnote
Amount is less than 0.05%
Material Fund Change [Text Block]
Updated Prospectus Web Address <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
C000011757  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Growth Portfolio
Class Name I
Trading Symbol MEGIX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about  Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Growth Portfolio for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual Semi-Annual Shareholder Report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-800-869-6397.
Additional Information Phone Number 1-800-869-6397
Additional Information Website <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
Expenses [Text Block]

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?Footnote Reference1

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Class I
$32
0.56%Footnote Reference2
FootnoteDescription
Footnote1
Does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by your insurance company. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries.
Footnote2
Annualized
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 32
Expense Ratio, Percent 0.56% [7]
AssetsNet $ 783,364,568
Holdings Count | Holding 29
InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover 48.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]

Key Fund Statistics

Total Net Assets
$783,364,568
# of Portfolio Holdings
29
Portfolio Turnover Rate
48%
Holdings [Text Block]

Sector Allocation (% of total investments)

Group By Country Chart
Value
Value
Short-Term Investments
2.1%
Industrials
4.9%
Health Care
5.8%
Communication Services
6.0%
Financials
14.8%
Consumer Discretionary
16.4%
Information Technology
50.0%
Largest Holdings [Text Block]

Top Ten Holdings (% of total investments)Footnote Referencea

Cloudflare, Inc.
12.4%
MicroStrategy, Inc.
6.6%
Affirm Holdings, Inc.
6.6%
ROBLOX Corp.
5.9%
Tesla, Inc.
5.7%
AppLovin Corp.
5.3%
Shopify, Inc.
4.9%
DoorDash, Inc.
4.8%
MercadoLibre, Inc.
4.8%
Snowflake, Inc.
4.8%
Total
61.8%
FootnoteDescription
Footnotea
Excluding cash equivalents.
Updated Prospectus Web Address <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
C000011758  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Growth Portfolio
Class Name II
Trading Symbol MEGTX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about  Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Growth Portfolio for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual Semi-Annual Shareholder Report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-800-869-6397.
Additional Information Phone Number 1-800-869-6397
Additional Information Website <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
Expenses [Text Block]

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?Footnote Reference1

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Class II
$46
0.81%Footnote Reference2
FootnoteDescription
Footnote1
Does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by your insurance company. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries.
Footnote2
Annualized
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 46
Expense Ratio, Percent 0.81% [8]
AssetsNet $ 783,364,568
Holdings Count | Holding 29
InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover 48.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]

Key Fund Statistics

Total Net Assets
$783,364,568
# of Portfolio Holdings
29
Portfolio Turnover Rate
48%
Holdings [Text Block]

Sector Allocation (% of total investments)

Group By Country Chart
Value
Value
Short-Term Investments
2.1%
Industrials
4.9%
Health Care
5.8%
Communication Services
6.0%
Financials
14.8%
Consumer Discretionary
16.4%
Information Technology
50.0%
Largest Holdings [Text Block]

Top Ten Holdings (% of total investments)Footnote Referencea

Cloudflare, Inc.
12.4%
MicroStrategy, Inc.
6.6%
Affirm Holdings, Inc.
6.6%
ROBLOX Corp.
5.9%
Tesla, Inc.
5.7%
AppLovin Corp.
5.3%
Shopify, Inc.
4.9%
DoorDash, Inc.
4.8%
MercadoLibre, Inc.
4.8%
Snowflake, Inc.
4.8%
Total
61.8%
FootnoteDescription
Footnotea
Excluding cash equivalents.
Updated Prospectus Web Address <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
C000011752  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio
Class Name I
Trading Symbol MEMNX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about  Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual Semi-Annual Shareholder Report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-800-869-6397.
Additional Information Phone Number 1-800-869-6397
Additional Information Website <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
Expenses [Text Block]

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?Footnote Reference1

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Class I
$56
1.10%Footnote Reference2
FootnoteDescription
Footnote1
Does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by your insurance company. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries.
Footnote2
Annualized
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 56
Expense Ratio, Percent 1.10% [9]
AssetsNet $ 103,868,068
Holdings Count | Holding 284
InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover 65.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]

Key Fund Statistics

Total Net Assets
$103,868,068
# of Portfolio Holdings
284
Portfolio Turnover Rate
65%
Holdings [Text Block]

Credit Quality (% of net assets)Footnote Reference*

Group By Asset Type Chart
Value
Value
Cash and Equivalents
3.5%
Not Rated
6.8%
D
2.5%
CC
3.0%
CCC
13.9%
B
28.5%
BB
22.7%
BBB
14.4%
A
2.4%
AA
2.3%
FootnoteDescription
Footnote*
Security ratings disclosed with the exception for those labeled “not rated” is an aggregation of the highest security level rating amongst S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Services, Inc., and Fitch Ratings, each a Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization (“NRSRO”).
Credit Quality Explanation [Text Block]

Asset Allocation (% of total investments)

Credit Rating Chart
Value
Value
Warrants
2.3%
Short-Term Investments
4.9%
Senior Loan Interests
8.9%
Corporate Bonds
28.3%
Sovereign
55.6%
Material Fund Change [Text Block]
Updated Prospectus Web Address <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
C000011751  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio
Class Name II
Trading Symbol MBDBX
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about  Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. - Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual Semi-Annual Shareholder Report
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-800-869-6397.
Additional Information Phone Number 1-800-869-6397
Additional Information Website <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
Expenses [Text Block]

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?Footnote Reference1

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Class II
$59
1.15%Footnote Reference2
FootnoteDescription
Footnote1
Does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by your insurance company. You may pay fees other than the fees and expenses of the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other fees charged by financial intermediaries.
Footnote2
Annualized
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 59
Expense Ratio, Percent 1.15% [10]
AssetsNet $ 103,868,068
Holdings Count | Holding 284
InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover 65.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]

Key Fund Statistics

Total Net Assets
$103,868,068
# of Portfolio Holdings
284
Portfolio Turnover Rate
65%
Holdings [Text Block]

Credit Quality (% of net assets)Footnote Reference*

Group By Asset Type Chart
Value
Value
Cash and Equivalents
3.5%
Not Rated
6.8%
D
2.5%
CC
3.0%
CCC
13.9%
B
28.5%
BB
22.7%
BBB
14.4%
A
2.4%
AA
2.3%
FootnoteDescription
Footnote*
Security ratings disclosed with the exception for those labeled “not rated” is an aggregation of the highest security level rating amongst S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Services, Inc., and Fitch Ratings, each a Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization (“NRSRO”).
Credit Quality Explanation [Text Block]

Asset Allocation (% of total investments)

Credit Rating Chart
Value
Value
Warrants
2.3%
Short-Term Investments
4.9%
Senior Loan Interests
8.9%
Corporate Bonds
28.3%
Sovereign
55.6%
Material Fund Change [Text Block]
Updated Prospectus Web Address <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 10.6667px; font-weight: 400; grid-area: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-align-last: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">www.morganstanley.com/im/shareholderreports</span>
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