Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Net income attributable to Valero stockholders from continuing operations	$ 3,990	$ 3,694	$ 2,714
Less dividends paid:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)	497	526	542
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Total earnings per common share from continuing operations	$ 8.00	$ 7.00	$ 4.98
Earnings per common share from continuing operations – assuming dilution:
Net income attributable to Valero stockholders from continuing operations	$ 3,990	$ 3,694	$ 2,714
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)	497	526	542
Common equivalent shares:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – assuming dilution (in millions)	500	530	548
Earnings per common share from continuing operations – assuming dilution (in usd per share)	$ 7.99	$ 6.97	$ 4.96
Common Class A [Member]
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Net income attributable to Valero stockholders from continuing operations	$ 3,990	$ 3,694	$ 2,714
Less dividends paid:
Common stock	845	552	460
Participating securities	3	2	2
Undistributed earnings	$ 3,142	$ 3,140	$ 2,252
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)	497	526	542
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Distributed earnings (in usd per share)	$ 1.70	$ 1.05	$ 0.85
Undistributed earnings (in usd per share)	6.30	5.95	4.13
Total earnings per common share from continuing operations	$ 8.00	$ 7.00	$ 4.98
Earnings per common share from continuing operations – assuming dilution:
Net income attributable to Valero stockholders from continuing operations	$ 3,990	$ 3,694	$ 2,714
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)	497	526	542
Common equivalent shares:
Stock options (in shares)	2	2	4
Performance awards and nonvested restricted stock (in shares)	1	2	2
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – assuming dilution (in millions)	500	530	548
Earnings per common share from continuing operations – assuming dilution (in usd per share)	$ 7.99	$ 6.97	$ 4.96
Participating Securities [Member]
Less dividends paid:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)	2	2	3
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Distributed earnings (in usd per share)	$ 1.70	$ 1.05	$ 0.85
Undistributed earnings (in usd per share)	6.30	5.95	4.13
Total earnings per common share from continuing operations	$ 8.00	$ 7.00	$ 4.98
Earnings per common share from continuing operations – assuming dilution:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)	2	2	3