Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	May 01, 2014 Dividend Declared [Member] Subsequent Event [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Parent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Parent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Common Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Common Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Treasury Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Treasury Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Shares Purchased Related To Stock-Based Compensation Plans [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Shares Purchased Related To Stock-Based Compensation Plans [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Shares Purchased Related To Stock-Based Compensation Plans [Member] Parent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Shares Purchased Related To Stock-Based Compensation Plans [Member] Parent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Shares Purchased Related To Stock-Based Compensation Plans [Member] Treasury Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Shares Purchased Related To Stock-Based Compensation Plans [Member] Treasury Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Shares Purchased Under Programs [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Shares Purchased Under Programs [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Shares Purchased Under Programs [Member] Parent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Shares Purchased Under Programs [Member] Parent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Shares Purchased Under Programs [Member] Treasury Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Shares Purchased Under Programs [Member] Treasury Stock [Member]
Reconciliation of the Beginning and Ending Balances of the Carrying Amounts of Equity
Balance as of beginning of period	$ 19,946	$ 18,095		$ 19,460	$ 18,032					$ 486	$ 63
Net income (loss)	836	652		828	654					8	(2)
Dividends	(133)	(111)		(133)	(111)
Stock-based compensation expense	10	11		10	11
Tax deduction in excess of stock-based compensation expense	25	24		25	24
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Stock issuances	24	38		24	38
Stock repurchases												(17)	(24)	(17)	(24)			(209)	(294)	(209)	(294)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	0	14		0	0					0	14
Distributions to public unitholders of Valero Energy Partners LP	(1)	0		0	0					(1)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(73)	13		(73)	13					0	0
Balance as of end of period	$ 20,408	$ 18,418		$ 19,915	$ 18,343					$ 493	$ 75
Share Activity
Common stock, shares, beginning balance						673,000,000	673,000,000
Treasury stock, shares, beginning balance	(137,932,138)							(138,000,000)	(121,000,000)
Stock issuances						0	0	2,000,000	3,000,000
Stock repurchases																0	0					(4,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Common stock, shares, ending balance						673,000,000	673,000,000
Treasury stock, shares, ending balance	(140,081,386)							(140,000,000)	(125,000,000)
Equity (Textual)
Dividends payable, date declared			May 01, 2014
Dividends payable, amount per share			$ 0.25
Dividends payable, date to be paid			Jun. 18, 2014
Dividends payable, date of record			May 21, 2014