Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	[1]	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Data
Operating revenues	$ 18,777		$ 22,579	$ 25,118	$ 21,330	$ 27,859	$ 34,408	$ 34,914	$ 33,663	$ 87,804	[2]	$ 130,844	[2]	$ 138,074	[2]
Operating income	646		2,139	2,078	1,495	1,796	1,670	1,085	1,351	6,358		5,902		3,957
Net income	395		1,373	1,365	968	1,220	1,062	593	836	4,101		3,711		2,728
Net income attributable to Valero Energy Corporation stockholders	$ 298		$ 1,377	$ 1,351	$ 964	$ 1,155	$ 1,059	$ 588	$ 828	$ 3,990		$ 3,630		$ 2,720
Earnings per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0.62		$ 2.79	$ 2.67	$ 1.87	$ 2.22	$ 2.01	$ 1.11	$ 1.55	$ 8.00		$ 6.88		$ 4.99
Earnings per common share - assuming dilution (in usd per share)	$ 0.62		$ 2.79	$ 2.66	$ 1.87	$ 2.22	$ 2.00	$ 1.10	$ 1.54	$ 7.99		$ 6.85		$ 4.97
Quarterly Financial Data (Textual)
Lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment										$ 790		$ 0		$ 0

[1] Operating income for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 reflects a noncash lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment of $790 million, as described in Note 6.

[2] Includes excise taxes on sales by certain of our international operations of $5,980 million, $5,901 million, and $5,459 million.