Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Net income attributable to Valero stockholders from continuing operations	$ 2,289	$ 3,990	$ 3,694
Less dividends paid:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)	461	497	526
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Total earnings per common share from continuing operations	$ 4.94	$ 8.00	$ 7.00
Earnings per common share from continuing operations – assuming dilution:
Net income attributable to Valero stockholders from continuing operations	$ 2,289	$ 3,990	$ 3,694
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)	461	497	526
Common equivalent shares:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – assuming dilution (in millions)	464	500	530
Earnings per common share from continuing operations – assuming dilution (in usd per share)	$ 4.94	$ 7.99	$ 6.97
Common Class A [Member]
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Net income attributable to Valero stockholders from continuing operations	$ 2,289	$ 3,990	$ 3,694
Less dividends paid:
Common stock	1,108	845	552
Participating securities	3	3	2
Undistributed earnings	$ 1,178	$ 3,142	$ 3,140
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)	461	497	526
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Distributed earnings (in usd per share)	$ 2.40	$ 1.70	$ 1.05
Undistributed earnings (in usd per share)	2.54	6.30	5.95
Total earnings per common share from continuing operations	$ 4.94	$ 8.00	$ 7.00
Earnings per common share from continuing operations – assuming dilution:
Net income attributable to Valero stockholders from continuing operations	$ 2,289	$ 3,990	$ 3,694
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)	461	497	526
Common equivalent shares:
Stock options (in shares)	2	2	2
Performance awards and nonvested restricted stock (in shares)	1	1	2
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – assuming dilution (in millions)	464	500	530
Earnings per common share from continuing operations – assuming dilution (in usd per share)	$ 4.94	$ 7.99	$ 6.97
Participating Securities [Member]
Less dividends paid:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)	1	2	2
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Distributed earnings (in usd per share)	$ 2.40	$ 1.70	$ 1.05
Undistributed earnings (in usd per share)	2.54	6.30	5.95
Total earnings per common share from continuing operations	$ 4.94	$ 8.00	$ 7.00
Earnings per common share from continuing operations – assuming dilution:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)	1	2	2