Common stock converted to right to receive share.

No definition available.

Name:	dvn_CommonStockConvertedToRightToReceiveShare
Namespace Prefix:	dvn_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage increase in quarterly dividend.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dvn_PercentageIncreaseInQuarterlyDividend
Namespace Prefix:	dvn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of common stock.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate par or stated value of issued nonredeemable common stock (or common stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer). This item includes treasury stock repurchased by the entity. Note: elements for number of nonredeemable common shares, par value and other disclosure concepts are in another section within stockholders' equity.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date the declared dividend will be paid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121583591&loc=d3e4304-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendPayableDateToBePaidDayMonthAndYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The per share amount of a dividend declared, but not paid, as of the financial reporting date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsPayableAmountPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of dividends declared but unpaid on equity securities issued by the entity and outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(24))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(15)(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(20))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(15)(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsPayableCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date the holder must own the stock to be entitled to the dividend, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsPayableDateOfRecordDayMonthAndYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Year the dividend will be paid, in CCYY format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsPayableDateToBePaidYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:gYearListItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of preferred stock nonredeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of stock repurchase plan authorized.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Expiration date for the purchase of an entity's own shares under a stock repurchase plan, in the CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramExpirationDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockholdersEquityNoteAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=dvn_ShareRepurchaseProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=dvn_FiveBillionShareRepurchaseProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=dvn_OneBillionDollarShareRepurchaseProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	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	Feb. 01, 2021	Jan. 07, 2021	Feb. 28, 2019
Stockholders Equity [Abstract]
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)		1,000,000,000.0	1,000,000,000.0				1,000,000,000.0								1,000,000,000.0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.10	$ 0.10				$ 0.10								$ 0.10
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized			4,500,000
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share			$ 1.00
Percentage of increase to quarterly dividend					22.00%
Common stock dividends, rate per share	$ 0.26		$ 0.11	$ 0.11	$ 0.11	$ 0.09	$ 0.09	$ 0.09	$ 0.09	$ 0.08	$ 0.08	$ 0.08	$ 0.08	$ 0.06
Dividend payable date	Oct. 01, 2020
Dividend payable date of record	Aug. 14, 2020
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)		382,000,000	382,000,000				382,000,000								382,000,000
Common stock, $0.10 par value. Authorized 1.0 billion shares; issued 382 million and 382 million shares in 2020 and 2019, respectively		$ 38	$ 38				$ 38								$ 38
Subsequent Event [Member]
Stockholders Equity [Abstract]
Dividend payable amount																$ 128
Dividends payable, per share																$ 0.19
Dividends payable, year																2021
Common stock converted to right to receive share																	0.5165
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)																	290,000,000
Common stock, $0.10 par value. Authorized 1.0 billion shares; issued 382 million and 382 million shares in 2020 and 2019, respectively																	$ 5,400
Share Repurchase Program [Member]
Stockholders Equity [Abstract]
Share-repurchase program, authorized amount											$ 4,000							$ 5,000
5.0 Billion Share Repurchase Program [Member]
Stockholders Equity [Abstract]
Share-repurchase program expiration date															Dec. 31, 2019
1.0 Billion Dollar Share Repurchase Program [Member]
Stockholders Equity [Abstract]
Share-repurchase program, authorized amount		$ 1,000					$ 1,000								$ 1,000
Share-repurchase program expiration date		Dec. 31, 2020