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	0	0				91	(91)
Net income	2,331	2,170				2,170		161
Dividends on common stock	(1,031)	(1,031)				(1,031)
Stock-based compensation expense	40	40		40
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	(149)	(149)		(34)	(115)
Stock purchases under purchase program	(904)	(904)			(904)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	32							32
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(63)							(63)
Other	7	(3)		(3)	0	0	0	10
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(203)	(204)					(204)	1
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2018	22,960	21,910	7	7,042	(14,334)	30,430	(1,235)	1,050
Balance as of beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2018	22,804	21,769	7	7,032	(13,923)	29,915	(1,262)	1,035
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Net income	874	856				856		18
Dividends on common stock	(341)	(341)				(341)
Stock-based compensation expense	11	11		11
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	(15)	(15)		0	(15)
Stock purchases under purchase program	(396)	(396)			(396)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(13)							(13)
Other	6	(1)		(1)	0	0	0	7
Other comprehensive income (loss)	30	27					27	3
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2018	22,960	21,910	7	7,042	(14,334)	30,430	(1,235)	1,050
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							0
Net income	1,454	1,362				1,362		92
Dividends on common stock	(1,123)	(1,123)				(1,123)
Stock-based compensation expense	30	30		30
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	(1)	(1)		(6)	5
Stock purchases under purchase program	(552)	(552)			(552)
Acquisition of Valero Energy Partners LP publicly held common units	(950)	(328)		(328)				(622)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(57)							(57)
Other	74	74		74	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(18)	(22)					(22)	4
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2019	21,588	21,107	7	6,818	(15,472)	31,283	(1,529)	481
Balance as of beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2019	21,837	21,345	7	6,812	(15,170)	31,046	(1,350)	492
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Net income	639	609				609		30
Dividends on common stock	(372)	(372)				(372)
Stock-based compensation expense	9	9		9
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	1	1		(3)	4
Stock purchases under purchase program	(306)	(306)			(306)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(39)							(39)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(181)	(179)					(179)	(2)
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 21,588	$ 21,107	$ 7	$ 6,818	$ (15,472)	$ 31,283	$ (1,529)	$ 481