v3.26.1
Investment Strategy
Dec. 31, 2025
BlackRock High Yield V.I. Fund  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Strategy [Heading] Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]
The Fund invests primarily in non-investment grade bonds with maturities of ten years or less. The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in high yield bonds. The Fund’s investments in derivatives will be counted toward the Fund’s 80% policy to the extent that they provide investment exposure to the securities included within that policy or to one or more market risk factors associated with such securities. The Fund may also invest in convertible and preferred securities. These securities will be counted toward the Fund’s 80% policy to the extent they have characteristics similar to the securities included within that policy. The high yield securities (commonly called “junk bonds”) acquired by the Fund will generally be in the lower rating categories of the major rating agencies (BB or lower by S&P Global Ratings or Fitch Ratings, Inc., or Ba or lower by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.) or will be determined by the Fund management team to be of similar quality. Split rated bonds and other fixed-income securities (securities that receive different ratings from two or more rating agencies) are valued as follows: if three agencies rate a security, the security will be considered to have the median credit rating; if two of the three agencies rate a security, the security will be considered to have the lower credit rating. The Fund may invest up to 30% of its assets in non-dollar denominated bonds of issuers located outside of the United States. The Fund’s investment in non-dollar denominated bonds may be on a currency hedged or unhedged basis.
To add additional diversification, the management team can invest in a wide range of securities including corporate bonds, mezzanine investments, collateralized bond obligations, bank loans and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. The Fund can also invest, to the extent consistent with its investment objective, in non‑U.S. and emerging market securities and currencies. The Fund may invest in securities of any rating, and may invest up to 10% of its assets (measured at the time of investment) in distressed securities that are in default or the issuers of which are in bankruptcy.
The Fund may buy or sell options or futures on a security, or enter into credit default swaps and interest rate or foreign currency transactions, including swaps (collectively, commonly known as derivatives). The Fund may use derivative instruments to hedge its investments or to seek to enhance returns. The Fund may seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls). The Fund may invest in indexed securities.
The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to achieve its principal investment strategies.
BlackRock Total Return V.I. Fund  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Strategy [Heading] Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]
The Fund seeks to provide current income by investing in securities that pay interest or dividends. Dividends include exempt interest, ordinary income and capital gains paid to shareholders. Dividends may be reinvested in additional Fund shares as they are paid. The Fund may also seek growth of capital by looking for investments that will increase in value. However, the Fund’s investments emphasize current income more than growth of capital.
The Fund under normal circumstances will invest at least 80%, and typically invests 90% or more, of its assets in fixed-income securities such as corporate bonds and notes, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, convertible securities, preferred stocks, government obligations and money market securities. Both U.S. and foreign companies and governments may issue these securities, including issuers in emerging markets. The Fund invests primarily in fixed-income securities rated investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”). Fixed-income securities in any of the four highest rating categories can be called “investment grade.” The Fund may also invest in fixed-income securities that are rated below investment grade (commonly called “junk bonds”). The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities of any maturity or duration. The Fund’s investments in derivatives will be counted toward the Fund’s 80% policy to the extent that they provide investment exposure to the securities included within that policy or to one or more market risk factors associated with such securities.
The Fund may invest up to 30% of its net assets in securities of foreign issuers, of which 20% (as a percentage of the Fund’s net assets) may be in emerging markets issuers. Investments in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers, excluding issuers from emerging markets, are permitted beyond the 30% limit. This means that the Fund may invest in such U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers without limit. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements and mortgage dollar rolls. The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments, including, but not limited to, interest rate, total return and credit default swaps, options, futures, options on futures and swaps, both for hedging purposes and to seek to enhance its returns. The Fund may also invest in credit linked notes, credit linked trust certificates, structured notes, or other instruments evidencing interests in special purpose vehicles, trusts, or other entities that hold or represent interests in fixed-income securities.
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), of which 10% (as a percentage of the Fund’s net assets) may be in collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”). CDOs are types of asset-backed securities. CLOs are ordinarily issued by a trust or other special purpose entity and are typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and non‑U.S. senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans, held by such issuer.
The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to seek to achieve its primary investment strategies.