| Label | Element | Value | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk/Return [Heading] | oef_RiskReturnHeading | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | ||||||||||||
| Objective [Heading] | oef_ObjectiveHeading | Investment Objective | ||||||||||||
| Objective, Primary [Text Block] | oef_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund seeks capital appreciation. |
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| Expense Heading [Optional Text] | oef_ExpenseHeading | Fees and Expenses | ||||||||||||
| Expense Narrative [Text Block] | oef_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock | The tables below describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. |
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| Shareholder Fees Caption [Optional Text] | oef_ShareholderFeesCaption | Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||||||||||
| Operating Expenses Caption [Optional Text] | oef_OperatingExpensesCaption | Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||||||||||
| Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] | oef_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates | Classes 4 and 5 were unfunded as of December 31, 2025. Therefore, Other Expenses have been estimated for these Classes based on the Other Expenses of Class 2 shares. | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example [Heading] | oef_ExpenseExampleHeading | Example of Expenses | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] | oef_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock | The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, regardless of whether or not you redeem your shares at the end of such periods. It also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. |
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| Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] | oef_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption | Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your expenses would be: | ||||||||||||
| Portfolio Turnover [Heading] | oef_PortfolioTurnoverHeading | Portfolio Turnover | ||||||||||||
| Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] | oef_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock | The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may lead to higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These transaction costs, which are not reflected in “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” or in the “Example of Expenses” above, affect the Fund’s performance. During the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 30% of the average value of its portfolio. |
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| Portfolio Turnover, Rate | oef_PortfolioTurnoverRate | 30.00% | ||||||||||||
| Strategy [Heading] | oef_StrategyHeading | Principal Investment Strategies | ||||||||||||
| Strategy Narrative [Text Block] | oef_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock | The Fund seeks to meet its objective by investing in a global, diversified portfolio of common stocks and other equity securities of issuers located in countries of developed and emerging markets. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities. The Fund invests predominantly in a diversified portfolio of securities issued by companies located in countries represented in the MSCI ACWI Index. The Fund invests in a range of companies globally. The Fund ordinarily invests in securities of issuers located in at least three different countries. In addition, under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 40% of its total assets in securities of companies located outside the U.S. when market conditions are favorable, but, when market conditions are not favorable, the Fund invests at least 30% of its total assets in companies located outside the U.S. The Fund invests in equity securities either directly or indirectly, such as through depositary receipts, and may invest in preferred stocks, convertible securities, rights and warrants. The Fund does not apply specific constraints with respect to market capitalization and may participate in initial public offerings (“IPOs”). In addition, investment is permitted in securities offerings that are not registered in the U.S. The portfolio managers employ a bottom-up approach to stock selection, seeking to identify companies they believe have attractive long-term growth prospects, and select companies without being constrained by the MSCI ACWI benchmark. The portfolio managers focus on company research and the long-term outlook of companies and industries. Ideas can come from a wide variety of sources, including, but not limited to, research trips, company meetings, and relationships with industry thought leaders and academic institutions. Stock ideas are normally researched to assess a range of factors, including: long-term growth potential, geographic and industry positioning, competitive advantage, management, financial strength and valuation. Under normal circumstances, the intended outcome is a diversified portfolio typically consisting of between 70 and 120 growth companies with the potential to outperform the Fund’s benchmark over the long term. The process can result in significant exposure to a single country or a small number of countries. The Fund aims to hold securities for long periods (typically at least 5 years), which generally results in relatively low portfolio turnover and is in line with the portfolio managers’ long-term investment outlook. When assessing a company’s long-term growth prospects, the portfolio managers seek to identify and to incorporate a range of factors that are material to managing the Fund’s investment risks and maximizing capital appreciation. Such factors potentially include the environmental, social, and/or governance characteristics of the company, such as stewardship, sustainable business practices, and/or corporate culture. The Fund may invest without limitation in securities quoted or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and may hold such currencies. The Fund does not expect to engage in currency hedging and thus expects to be fully exposed to currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar. |
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| Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] | oef_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading | Performance | ||||||||||||
| Performance Narrative [Text Block] | oef_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock | The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s annual total returns from year to year and by comparing the Fund’s average annual total returns with those of the Fund’s benchmark. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future performance. |
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| Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] | oef_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns | The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s annual total returns from year to year and by comparing the Fund’s average annual total returns with those of the Fund’s benchmark. | ||||||||||||
| Performance Availability Website Address [Text] | oef_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress | http://USmutualfund.bailliegifford.com | ||||||||||||
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | oef_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture | Past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future performance. | ||||||||||||
| Bar Chart [Heading] | oef_BarChartHeading | Annual Total Returns – Class 2 Shares | ||||||||||||
| Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] | oef_BarChartClosingTextBlock | Highest Quarterly Return: 28.09% (Q2, 2020) Lowest Quarterly Return: ‑18.92% (Q1, 2020) |
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| Highest Quarterly Return, Label [Optional Text] | oef_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel | Highest Quarterly Return | ||||||||||||
| Highest Quarterly Return, Date | oef_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate | Jun. 30, 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Highest Quarterly Return | oef_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn | 28.09% | ||||||||||||
| Lowest Quarterly Return, Label [Optional Text] | oef_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel | Lowest Quarterly Return | ||||||||||||
| Lowest Quarterly Return, Date | oef_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate | Mar. 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Lowest Quarterly Return | oef_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn | (18.92%) | ||||||||||||
| Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, or Taxes [Text] | oef_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes | (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes) | ||||||||||||
| Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate | oef_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate | In the table below, after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. | ||||||||||||
| Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred | oef_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred | After-tax returns shown are not relevant if you are tax-exempt or if you hold your Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account. | ||||||||||||
| Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] | oef_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown | After-tax returns are shown for Class 2 shares only, and after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. | ||||||||||||
| Performance Table Narrative | oef_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock | In the table below, after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown for Class 2 shares only, and after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant if you are tax-exempt or if you hold your Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account. A description of the Fund’s comparative index and details regarding the calculation of the Fund’s class-by-class performance are provided in the section of the Prospectus entitled “Additional Performance Information.” |
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| Performance Table Closing [Text Block] | oef_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock | Updated information on the Fund’s investment performance can be obtained by visiting http://USmutualfund.bailliegifford.com. |
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| Average Annual Return, Caption [Optional Text] | oef_AverageAnnualReturnCaption | Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Risk Not Insured [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. | ||||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Risk Lose Money [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | You could lose money by investing in the Fund. | ||||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Investment Style Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Investment Style Risk – Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited (the “Manager”) actively makes investment decisions for the Fund through bottom-up stock selection. Accordingly, the Fund will have risk characteristics that differ from its benchmark index. The Manager’s judgments about the attractiveness, relative value, or potential appreciation of a particular stock may prove to be incorrect and cause the Fund to lose money or underperform compared to its benchmark index. There can be no assurance that the Manager’s investment decisions will produce the desired results. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Growth Stock Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Growth Stock Risk – The prices of growth stocks may be based largely on expectations of future earnings, and their prices can decline rapidly and significantly in reaction to negative news. Growth stocks may underperform stocks in other broad style categories (and the stock market as a whole) over any period of time and may shift in and out of favor with investors generally, sometimes rapidly, depending on changes in market, economic, and other factors. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Long-Term Investment Strategy Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Long-Term Investment Strategy Risk – The Fund pursues a long-term investment approach, typically seeking returns over a period of several years. This investment style may cause the Fund to lose money or underperform compared to its benchmark index or other mutual funds over extended periods of time, and the Fund may not perform as expected in the long term. An investment in the Fund may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of short- or medium-term fluctuations in the value of the Fund’s portfolio. See also “Selected Investment Techniques and Topics—Our Stewardship Approach.” |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Market Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Market Risk – The value of the Fund’s investments will be affected by fluctuations in the stock markets in which the Fund is invested, factors affecting a particular industry or industries, real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. Declines in securities market prices may reduce the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Asia Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Asia Risk – Investing in securities of companies located in or with exposure to Asian countries involves certain risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers, including different financial reporting standards, currency exchange rate fluctuations, and highly regulated markets with the potential for government interference. The economies of many Asian countries are heavily dependent on international trade and on only a few industries or commodities and, as a result, can be adversely affected by trade barriers, exchange controls and other measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. Some Asian securities may be less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities. See “China Risk” for additional details regarding the risks of investing in that country. Additionally, many of the economies of countries in Asia are considered emerging market or frontier market economies. These Asian economies are often characterized by high inflation, undeveloped financial service sectors, frequent currency fluctuations, devaluations, or restrictions, political and social instability, and less efficient markets. See “Emerging Markets Risk” for additional details regarding the risks of investing in such countries. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | China Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — China Risk – Investing in securities of Chinese issuers involves certain risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers, including, among others, more frequent trading suspensions and government interventions (including by nationalization of assets), currency exchange rate fluctuations or blockages, limits on the use of brokers and on foreign ownership, different financial reporting standards, higher dependence on exports and international trade, potential for increased trade tariffs, sanctions, embargoes and other trade limitations, custody risks, risks associated with investments in variable interest entities, and potential adverse tax consequences. U.S. sanctions or other investment restrictions could preclude the Fund from investing in certain Chinese issuers or cause the Fund to sell investments at a disadvantageous time. Significant portions of the Chinese securities markets may become rapidly illiquid, as Chinese issuers have the ability to suspend the trading of their equity securities, and have shown a willingness to exercise that option in response to market volatility and other events. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Conflicts of Interest Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Conflicts of Interest Risk – The Manager’s relationships with the Fund’s institutional investor base may give rise to various conflicts of interest, since the Manager will sometimes have an incentive to favor those shareholders over other shareholders in the Fund. In addition, the Manager serves as investment adviser to various clients other than the Fund, some of whom may pursue strategies that are substantially similar or nearly identical to investment strategies pursued by the Fund. This “side-by-side” management may give rise to various conflicts of interest, including, for example, in connection with the fair allocation of trades among the Manager’s clients or the sharing of different, more, or more timely information regarding investment performance, portfolio holdings, strategy developments and/or the Manager’s general market outlook. Furthermore, if investment personnel of the Manager hold board or other positions at outside companies, they could be exposed to material non-public information potentially impeding or delaying a Fund’s ability to buy or sell certain investments, or they could otherwise be restricted in their ability to participate in a Fund’s investment process. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Currency Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Currency Risk – The Fund may realize a loss if it has exposure to a non-U.S. currency, and this non-U.S. currency declines in value, relative to the U.S. dollar. The Fund does not expect to engage in currency hedging and thus expects to be fully exposed to currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Developed Markets Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Developed Markets Risk – Investing in securities of companies located in, or with exposure to, developed countries will subject the Fund to the regulatory, political, currency, security, economic and other risks associated with such countries. Developed market countries tend to represent a significant portion of the global economy and in recent periods, countries with developed markets have generally experienced slower economic growth than some less developed countries. Services sectors (e.g., the financial services sector) generally tend to represent the primary source of economic growth in developed markets, which can make them susceptible to the risks of individual service sectors. In addition, developed countries will be impacted by changes to the economic conditions of certain key trading partners, regulatory burdens, and the price or availability of certain commodities, among other things. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Emerging Markets Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Emerging Markets Risk – To the extent the Fund invests in emerging market securities, the Fund may be exposed to greater market, credit, currency, liquidity, legal, political, technical and other risks different from, or greater than, the risks of investing in developed markets. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Equity Securities Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Equity Securities Risk – Equity securities may react more strongly to changes in an issuer’s financial condition or prospects than other securities of the same issuer. Investing in equity securities indirectly, such as through participatory notes or depositary receipts, may involve other risks such as the risk that the counterparty may default or that the investment does not track the underlying security as expected. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | ESG Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — ESG Risk – To the extent that the Fund’s portfolio managers incorporate environmental, social and/or governance considerations (“ESG Factors”) into the Fund’s investment process as a part of the Fund’s long-term investment approach, the Fund is subject to the risk that it may underperform funds that do not take ESG Factors into account. The consideration of ESG Factors may prioritize long-term rather than short-term returns, and therefore may negatively impact the relative performance of the Fund over the short, medium or even long term depending on how successfully those ESG Factors are incorporated and whether such investments are in or out of favor. In considering ESG Factors, the portfolio managers may be dependent upon information and data obtained through voluntary reporting by issuers or third-party research that may be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which could impact the portfolio managers’ assessment of relative risks and opportunities. See also “Long-Term Investment Strategy Risk” and “Selected Investment Techniques and Topics—Our Stewardship Approach.” |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Focused Investment Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Focused Investment Risk – Should the Fund focus its investments in related, or a limited number of, countries, regions, sectors, or companies, this would create more risk and greater volatility than if the Fund’s investments were less focused. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Government and Regulatory Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Government and Regulatory Risk – Governmental and regulatory authorities in the United States and other countries, have taken, and may in the future take, actions intervening in the markets in which the Fund invests and in the economy more generally. Governmental and regulatory authorities may also act to increase the scope or burden of regulations applicable to the Fund or to the companies in which the Fund invests. The effects of these actions on the markets generally, and the Fund’s investment program in particular, can be uncertain and could restrict the ability of the Fund to fully implement its investment strategies, either generally, or with respect to certain securities, industries, or countries. By contrast, markets in some non-U.S. countries historically have been subject to little regulation or oversight by governmental or regulatory authorities, which could heighten the risk of loss due to fraud or market failures in those countries. Governments, agencies, or other regulatory bodies in any country may adopt or change laws or regulations that could adversely affect the Fund or the market value of an instrument held by the Fund. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Information Technology Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Information Technology Risk – Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, the securities markets generally, other market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | IPO Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — IPO Risk – The Fund may purchase securities in IPOs. These securities are subject to many of the same risks of investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Large-Capitalization Securities Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Large-Capitalization Securities Risk – Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and medium-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and medium-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to achieve or maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and medium-sized companies. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Liquidity Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Liquidity Risk – The Fund’s investments may be subject to low trading volume, lack of a market maker, contractual lock-in periods or regulatory restrictions, and the Fund may hold large positions in particular securities. As a result, it may not be possible to sell an investment at a particular time or at an acceptable price. Liquidity risk may be magnified during periods of changing interest rates, significant shareholder redemptions or market turmoil. Illiquid investments may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. In some cases, due to unanticipated levels of illiquidity the Fund may seek to meet its redemption obligations wholly or in part by distributions of assets in-kind. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk – The value of the Fund’s investments could be adversely affected by events that disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global markets such as war, terrorism, public health crises, and geopolitical events and by changes in non-U.S. and U.S. economic and political conditions. These disruptions could prevent the Fund from implementing its investment strategies and achieving its investment objective, and increase the Fund’s exposure to other risks detailed in this Prospectus. As a result, the Fund could lose money, experience significant redemptions, encounter operational difficulties, and suffer other negative impacts. Certain locations and industries may be particularly susceptible to this risk, and other risks may be heightened by such events. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Non-U.S. Investment Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Non-U.S. Investment Risk – Non-U.S. securities are subject to additional risks, including less liquidity, increased volatility, less transparency, withholding or other taxes, increased vulnerability to adverse changes in local and global economic conditions, less regulation, and possible fluctuation in value due to adverse political conditions. Foreign portfolio transactions generally involve higher commission rates, transfer taxes, and custodial costs than similar transactions in the U.S. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Service Provider Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Service Provider Risk – The Fund will be affected by the Manager’s investment techniques, analyses, assessments and employee retention. Similarly, adverse events or performance failures at a service provider, such as human error, inadequate controls or insolvency, have the ability to adversely affect the Fund. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Settlement Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Settlement Risk – The Fund may experience delays in settlement due to the different clearance and settlement procedures in non-U.S. countries. Such delays may increase credit risk to the Fund, limit the ability of the Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a sale of securities, or prevent the Fund from selling securities at times and prices it considers desirable. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Small- and Medium-Capitalization Securities Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Small- and Medium-Capitalization Securities Risk – Securities of small- and medium-capitalization companies can be more volatile due to various factors including more limited product lines, financial and management resources and market distribution channels, as well as shorter operating histories and potentially reduced liquidity, especially during market declines, than the securities of larger, more established companies. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Valuation Risk [Member] | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Risk [Text Block] | oef_RiskTextBlock | — Valuation Risk – In certain circumstances, some of the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be valued on the basis of factors other than market quotations by employing fair value procedures. This may occur more often in times of market turmoil or reduced liquidity. Portfolio holdings that are valued using techniques other than market quotations, including “fair valued” securities, may be subject to greater fluctuation in their valuations from one day to the next than if market quotations were used. There is no assurance that the Fund could sell or close out a portfolio position for the value established for it at any time, and it is possible that the Fund would incur a loss because a portfolio position is sold or closed out at a discount to the valuation established by the Fund at that time. |
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| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Class 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Shareholder Fee, Other | oef_ShareholderFeeOther | $ 0 | ||||||||||||
| Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) | oef_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.40% | ||||||||||||
| Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees | oef_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.17% | [1] | |||||||||||
| Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): | oef_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.09% | ||||||||||||
| Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) | oef_ExpensesOverAssets | 0.66% | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | oef_ExpenseExampleYear01 | $ 67 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 211 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 368 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 822 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 67 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 211 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 368 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 822 | ||||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Class 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Shareholder Fee, Other | oef_ShareholderFeeOther | $ 0 | ||||||||||||
| Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) | oef_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.40% | ||||||||||||
| Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees | oef_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.10% | [1] | |||||||||||
| Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): | oef_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.09% | ||||||||||||
| Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) | oef_ExpensesOverAssets | 0.59% | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | oef_ExpenseExampleYear01 | $ 60 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 189 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 329 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 738 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 60 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 189 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 329 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 738 | ||||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Class 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Shareholder Fee, Other | oef_ShareholderFeeOther | $ 0 | ||||||||||||
| Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) | oef_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.40% | ||||||||||||
| Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees | oef_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.07% | [1] | |||||||||||
| Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): | oef_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.09% | [2] | |||||||||||
| Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) | oef_ExpensesOverAssets | 0.56% | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | oef_ExpenseExampleYear01 | $ 57 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 179 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 313 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 701 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 57 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 179 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 313 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 701 | ||||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund | Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Class 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Shareholder Fee, Other | oef_ShareholderFeeOther | $ 0 | ||||||||||||
| Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) | oef_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.40% | ||||||||||||
| Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees | oef_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.02% | [1] | |||||||||||
| Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): | oef_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.09% | [2] | |||||||||||
| Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) | oef_ExpensesOverAssets | 0.51% | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | oef_ExpenseExampleYear01 | $ 52 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 164 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 285 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 640 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 52 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 164 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 285 | ||||||||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | oef_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | $ 640 | ||||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | MSCI ACWI Index(4) | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 22.87% | [3] | |||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 11.70% | [3] | |||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 12.27% | [3] | |||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Class 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Annual Return [Percent] | oef_AnnlRtrPct | 4.95% | ||||||||||||
| Annual Return [Percent] | oef_AnnlRtrPct | 34.56% | ||||||||||||
| Annual Return [Percent] | oef_AnnlRtrPct | (9.44%) | ||||||||||||
| Annual Return [Percent] | oef_AnnlRtrPct | 32.56% | ||||||||||||
| Annual Return [Percent] | oef_AnnlRtrPct | 36.31% | ||||||||||||
| Annual Return [Percent] | oef_AnnlRtrPct | 7.65% | ||||||||||||
| Annual Return [Percent] | oef_AnnlRtrPct | (29.08%) | ||||||||||||
| Annual Return [Percent] | oef_AnnlRtrPct | 19.61% | ||||||||||||
| Annual Return [Percent] | oef_AnnlRtrPct | 10.92% | ||||||||||||
| Annual Return [Percent] | oef_AnnlRtrPct | 17.46% | ||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 17.46% | ||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 3.53% | ||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 10.64% | ||||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Class 2 | After Taxes on Distributions | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 8.86% | ||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 0.62% | ||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 8.05% | ||||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Class 2 | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 16.00% | ||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 2.50% | ||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 8.29% | ||||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Class 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 17.46% | [4] | |||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 3.53% | [4] | |||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 10.64% | [4] | |||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Class 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 17.46% | [5] | |||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 3.53% | [5] | |||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 10.64% | [5] | |||||||||||
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities Fund - Class 2,3,4 & 5 Prospectus | Class 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Prospectus [Line Items] | oef_ProspectusLineItems | |||||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 17.46% | [6] | |||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 3.53% | [6] | |||||||||||
| Average Annual Return, Percent | oef_AvgAnnlRtrPct | 10.64% | [6] | |||||||||||
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