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)	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
Open market stock purchases	(552)	(552)			(552)
Acquisition of Valero Energy Partners LP (VLP) 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 (loss)	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
Open market stock purchases	(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
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)	(798)	(1,062)				(1,062)		264
Dividends on common stock	(1,200)	(1,200)				(1,200)
Stock-based compensation expense	48	48		48
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	(16)	(16)		(35)	19
Open market stock purchases	(130)	(130)			(130)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(208)							(208)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(216)	(220)					(220)	4
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2020	20,016	19,223	7	6,834	(15,759)	29,712	(1,571)	793
Balance as of beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2020	20,634	19,847	7	6,824	(15,760)	30,575	(1,799)	787
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Net income (loss)	(379)	(464)				(464)		85
Dividends on common stock	(399)	(399)				(399)
Stock-based compensation expense	12	12		12
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	(1)	(1)		(2)	1
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(81)							(81)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	230	228					228	2
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 20,016	$ 19,223	$ 7	$ 6,834	$ (15,759)	$ 29,712	$ (1,571)	$ 793