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, 2018	$ 22,731	$ 21,667	$ 7	$ 7,048	$ (14,925)	$ 31,044	$ (1,507)	$ 1,064
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Net income (loss)	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
Open market stock purchases	(246)	(246)			(246)
Acquisition of Valero Energy Partners LP (VLP) 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 (loss)	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
Open market stock purchases	(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
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019	22,536	21,803	7	6,821	(15,648)	31,974	(1,351)	733
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Net income (loss)	(419)	(598)				(598)		179
Dividends on common stock	(801)	(801)				(801)
Stock-based compensation expense	36	36		36
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	(15)	(15)		(33)	18
Open market stock purchases	(130)	(130)			(130)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(127)							(127)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(446)	(448)					(448)	2
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2020	20,634	19,847	7	6,824	(15,760)	30,575	(1,799)	787
Balance as of beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2020	19,685	18,842	7	6,814	(15,764)	29,722	(1,937)	843
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Net income (loss)	1,335	1,253				1,253		82
Dividends on common stock	(400)	(400)				(400)
Stock-based compensation expense	12	12		12
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	2	2		(2)	4
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(126)							(126)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	126	138					138	(12)
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 20,634	$ 19,847	$ 7	$ 6,824	$ (15,760)	$ 30,575	$ (1,799)	$ 787