Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended											12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Data
Operating revenues	$ 20,712	$ 19,649	$ 19,584	[1]	$ 15,714	[2]	$ 18,777	[3]	$ 22,579	$ 25,118	$ 21,330	$ 75,659	[4]	$ 87,804	[4]	$ 130,844	[4]
Operating income	620	892	1,231	[1]	829	[2]	646	[3]	2,139	2,078	1,495	3,572		6,358		5,902
Net income	416	645	843	[1]	513	[2]	395	[3]	1,373	1,365	968	2,417		4,101		3,711
Net income attributable to Valero Energy Corporation stockholders	$ 367	$ 613	$ 814	[1]	$ 495	[2]	$ 298	[3]	$ 1,377	$ 1,351	$ 964	$ 2,289		$ 3,990		$ 3,630
Earnings per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0.81	$ 1.33	$ 1.74	[1]	$ 1.05	[2]	$ 0.62	[3]	$ 2.79	$ 2.67	$ 1.87	$ 4.94		$ 8.00		$ 6.88
Earnings per common share - assuming dilution (in usd per share)	$ 0.81	$ 1.33	$ 1.73	[1]	$ 1.05	[2]	$ 0.62	[3]	$ 2.79	$ 2.66	$ 1.87	$ 4.94		$ 7.99		$ 6.85
Quarterly Financial Data (Textual)
Lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment			$ (454)		$ (293)		$ 790					$ (747)		$ 790		$ 0
Asset impairment loss			$ 56									$ 56		$ 0		$ 0

[1] Operating income for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 reflects a favorable noncash lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment of $454 million as described in Note 4 and an asset impairment loss of $56 million related to the Aruba Disposition as described in Note 2.

[2] Operating income for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 reflects a favorable noncash lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment of $293 million as described in Note 4.

[3] Operating income for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 reflects an unfavorable noncash lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment of $790 million as described in Note 4.

[4] Includes excise taxes on sales by certain of our international operations of $5,493 million, $5,980 million, and $5,901 million.