Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Data
Revenues		$ 27,879	$ 27,249	$ 28,933	$ 24,263	$ 28,730	$ 30,849	$ 31,015	$ 26,439	$ 108,324	[1]	$ 117,033	[1]	$ 93,980	[1]
Gross profit	[2]	2,003	1,119	1,123	533	1,546	1,451	1,535	1,062
Operating income		1,739	881	908	308	1,299	1,219	1,253	801	3,836		4,572		3,563
Net income		1,330	639	648	167	1,022	874	875	582	2,784		3,353		4,156
Net income attributable to Valero Energy Corporation stockholders		$ 1,060	$ 609	$ 612	$ 141	$ 952	$ 856	$ 845	$ 469	$ 2,422		$ 3,122		$ 4,065
Earnings per common share (in usd per share)		$ 2.58	$ 1.48	$ 1.47	$ 0.34	$ 2.26	$ 2.01	$ 1.96	$ 1.09	$ 5.84		$ 7.30		$ 9.17
Earnings per common share – assuming dilution (in usd per share)		$ 2.58	$ 1.48	$ 1.47	$ 0.34	$ 2.24	$ 2.01	$ 1.96	$ 1.09	$ 5.84		$ 7.29		$ 9.16

[1] Includes excise taxes on sales by certain of our international operations of $5,595 million, $5,626 million, and $5,573 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

[2] Gross profit is calculated as revenues less total cost of sales.