Equity (Details) - USD ($)			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Nov. 02, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Reconciliation of the Beginning and Ending Balances of the Carrying Amounts of Equity
Balance as of beginning of period					$ 21,354,000,000	$ 21,244,000,000
Net income			$ 645,000,000	$ 1,373,000,000	2,001,000,000	3,706,000,000
Dividends					(840,000,000)	(608,000,000)
Stock-based compensation expense					33,000,000	27,000,000
Tax deduction in excess of stock-based compensation expense					0	33,000,000
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Stock issuances					4,000,000	29,000,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests					(54,000,000)	(39,000,000)
Transfers from noncontrolling interests, net of tax	[1]				(25,000,000)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(118,000,000)	(266,000,000)	(186,000,000)	(428,000,000)
Balance as of end of period			21,130,000,000	21,868,000,000	21,130,000,000	21,868,000,000
Dividend Declared [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Equity (Textual)
Dividends payable, date declared		Nov. 02, 2016
Dividends payable, amount per share		$ 0.60
Dividends payable, date to be paid		Dec. 15, 2016
Dividends payable, date of record		Nov. 22, 2016
Valero Energy Partners LP [Member]
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Noncontrolling interest increase from subsidiary equity issuance					6,000,000	0
VIEs Other than Valero Energy Partners LP [Member]
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Noncontrolling interest increase from subsidiary equity issuance					0	5,000,000
Stock-Based Compensation Plans Purchase Program [Member]
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Stock purchases					(43,000,000)	(136,000,000)
Common Stock Purchase Program [Member]
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Stock purchases					(1,120,000,000)	(1,965,000,000)
$2.5 Billion Program Approved September 2016 [Member]
Equity (Textual)
Authorized amount under stock purchase program			2,500,000,000		2,500,000,000
Parent [Member]
Reconciliation of the Beginning and Ending Balances of the Carrying Amounts of Equity
Balance as of beginning of period					20,527,000,000	20,677,000,000
Net income					1,922,000,000	3,692,000,000
Dividends					(840,000,000)	(608,000,000)
Stock-based compensation expense					33,000,000	27,000,000
Tax deduction in excess of stock-based compensation expense					0	33,000,000
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Stock issuances					4,000,000	29,000,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests					0	0
Transfers from noncontrolling interests, net of tax	[1]				43,000,000	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)					(187,000,000)	(428,000,000)
Balance as of end of period			20,339,000,000	21,321,000,000	20,339,000,000	21,321,000,000
Parent [Member] | Valero Energy Partners LP [Member]
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Noncontrolling interest increase from subsidiary equity issuance					0	0
Parent [Member] | VIEs Other than Valero Energy Partners LP [Member]
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Noncontrolling interest increase from subsidiary equity issuance					0	0
Parent [Member] | Stock-Based Compensation Plans Purchase Program [Member]
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Stock purchases					(43,000,000)	(136,000,000)
Parent [Member] | Common Stock Purchase Program [Member]
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Stock purchases					(1,120,000,000)	(1,965,000,000)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Reconciliation of the Beginning and Ending Balances of the Carrying Amounts of Equity
Balance as of beginning of period	[2]				827,000,000	567,000,000
Net income	[2]				79,000,000	14,000,000
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	[2]				(54,000,000)	(39,000,000)
Transfers from noncontrolling interests, net of tax	[1],[2]				(68,000,000)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	[2]				1,000,000	0
Balance as of end of period	[2]		$ 791,000,000	$ 547,000,000	791,000,000	547,000,000
Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Valero Energy Partners LP [Member]
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Noncontrolling interest increase from subsidiary equity issuance	[2]				6,000,000	0
Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | VIEs Other than Valero Energy Partners LP [Member]
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans:
Noncontrolling interest increase from subsidiary equity issuance	[2]				$ 0	$ 5,000,000

[1] “Transfers from noncontrolling interests, net of tax” reflects an adjustment to reallocate VLP equity activity between our ownership interest in VLP and that of the noncontrolling interests. This reallocation occurred due to the expiration of the subordination period on August 10, 2016 and as a result of a change in ownership interest resulting from VLP’s issuances of equity following that date. During the subordination period, we held certain common units in VLP that were subordinate to other common units held by us and VLP’s public unitholders. Upon expiration of the subordination period, all unitholders have equal ownership rights.

[2] The noncontrolling interests relate to third-party ownership interests in VIEs for which we are the primary beneficiary and therefore consolidate. See Note 9 for information about our consolidated VIEs.