Consolidated Statements of Equity (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Valero Energy Corporation Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Non-controlling Interests [Member]
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 22,900	$ 21,991	$ 7	$ 7,039	$ (13,315)	$ 29,200	$ (940)	$ 909
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Reclassification of stranded income tax effects of Tax Reform	0	0				91	(91)
Net income	1,457	1,314				1,314		143
Dividends on common stock	(690)	(690)				(690)
Stock-based compensation expense	29	29		29
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	(134)	(134)		(34)	(100)
Stock purchases under purchase program	(508)	(508)			(508)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	32							32
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(50)							(50)
Other	1	(2)		(2)	0	0	0	3
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(233)	(231)					(231)	(2)
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2018	22,804	21,769	7	7,032	(13,923)	29,915	(1,262)	1,035
Balance as of beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2018	22,925	21,877	7	7,026	(13,588)	29,415	(983)	1,048
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Net income	875	845				845		30
Dividends on common stock	(345)	(345)				(345)
Stock-based compensation expense	15	15		15
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	(93)	(93)		(10)	(83)
Stock purchases under purchase program	(252)	(252)			(252)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	2							2
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(39)							(39)
Other	0	1		1	0	0	0	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(284)	(279)					(279)	(5)
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2018	22,804	21,769	7	7,032	(13,923)	29,915	(1,262)	1,035
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018	22,731	21,667	7	7,048	(14,925)	31,044	(1,507)	1,064
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Reclassification of stranded income tax effects of Tax Reform							0
Net income	815	753				753		62
Dividends on common stock	(751)	(751)				(751)
Stock-based compensation expense	21	21		21
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	(2)	(2)		(3)	1
Stock purchases under purchase program	(246)	(246)			(246)
Acquisition of Valero Energy Partners LP publicly held common units	(950)	(328)		(328)				(622)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(18)							(18)
Other	74	74		74	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	163	157					157	6
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2019	21,837	21,345	7	6,812	(15,170)	31,046	(1,350)	492
Balance as of beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2019	21,779	21,309	7	6,802	(14,958)	30,810	(1,352)	470
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Net income	648	612				612		36
Dividends on common stock	(376)	(376)				(376)
Stock-based compensation expense	11	11		11
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	(1)	(1)		(1)	0
Stock purchases under purchase program	(212)	(212)			(212)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(18)							(18)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	6	2					2	4
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 21,837	$ 21,345	$ 7	$ 6,812	$ (15,170)	$ 31,046	$ (1,350)	$ 492