<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:us-gaap="http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2019-01-31"
  xmlns:val="http://www.enscoplc.com/20200429"
  xmlns:xbrldi="http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="val-20200429.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="D2020Q2">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">val:FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A4.875SeniorNotesDue2022MemberMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">val:A4.875SeniorNotesDue2022MemberMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A5.40SeniorNotesDue2042Member">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">val:A5.40SeniorNotesDue2042Member</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentySixMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">val:SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentySixMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyFourMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">val:FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyFourMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FourPointSevenZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">val:FourPointSevenZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_ClassAOrdinarySharesUS0.40ParValueMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">val:ClassAOrdinarySharesUS0.40ParValueMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A4.75SeniorNotesDue2024MemberMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">val:A4.75SeniorNotesDue2024MemberMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A5.85SeniorNotesDue2044Member">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">val:A5.85SeniorNotesDue2044Member</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A7.38SeniorNotesDue2025Member">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">val:A7.38SeniorNotesDue2025Member</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FivePointTwoPercentSeniorNotesMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">val:FivePointTwoPercentSeniorNotesMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_EightPointZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyFourMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">val:EightPointZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyFourMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q1SD">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000314808</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-02-20</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-02-20</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="D2020Q1SD"
      id="Fact-CBCA81A5C1B559EF8094699392252816-wk-Fact-CBCA81A5C1B559EF8094699392252816">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="D2020Q1SD"
      id="Fact-84045A498D8A5ED793A8EAF2FF4A5DC1-wk-Fact-84045A498D8A5ED793A8EAF2FF4A5DC1">0000314808</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e109-wk-Fact-28335B2C4E5E51B7B52208522324D6E2">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e126-wk-Fact-1C3FA0187264584281A4BCF945755A9F">2020-04-29</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e131-wk-Fact-946D0DA371A959338F00C950B72A65C9">Valaris plc</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e181-wk-Fact-9C1792EA375253459345133DEAABC40C">X0</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e191-wk-Fact-0B12977D4EE1522182CE4F012BF52988">1-8097</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e201-wk-Fact-26ABC5B2577053628DE8DB5EFA2590E8">98-0635229</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e240-wk-Fact-CB1962813BA45769BC6ABE54A340C725">110 Cannon Street</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e246-wk-Fact-CC47B4612E3B5C02B3444C3C739F7CA0">London</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressCountry
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e251-wk-Fact-412E44D0456E5A34B0D32B075A1B9394">GB</dei:EntityAddressCountry>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e256-wk-Fact-E621E3D872DE547691092818A9351F9A">EC4N6EU</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e267-wk-Fact-0F9519B488645376B11FB37C7079B290">44 (0)</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e272-wk-Fact-F3984F4F3ECD5D84A7470EA4EBE1333B">20 7659 4660</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e301-wk-Fact-8634BF0B78E650AF84F8FEAA502E1661">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e321-wk-Fact-A4438F34D06E5971A3BA6BB722706C8E">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e341-wk-Fact-ED71A366EA0B5FFFA0B1C44C684174E3">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e362-wk-Fact-AC7B62E1B7675607B802EDE5878AA683">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_ClassAOrdinarySharesUS0.40ParValueMember"
      id="d115361749e435-wk-Fact-CB71BC12DA4D5CD2816917B6DA79B0F6">Class A ordinary shares, U.S. $0.40 par value</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_ClassAOrdinarySharesUS0.40ParValueMember"
      id="d115361749e445-wk-Fact-23328F816FC555F48DD72B33F8EED78B">VAL</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_ClassAOrdinarySharesUS0.40ParValueMember"
      id="d115361749e455-wk-Fact-8B42B3A58C8D549481F6591F54B34737">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FourPointSevenZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember"
      id="d115361749e461-wk-Fact-EF7EB8EFAB875171920020F37CA832C3">4.70% Senior Notes due 2021</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FourPointSevenZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember"
      id="d115361749e471-wk-Fact-4A11B6BE7CCE58ED8ED0815A50E5BBF2">VAL21</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FourPointSevenZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember"
      id="d115361749e481-wk-Fact-893CDCAAD0B3591BB86955F75C160E5C">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A4.875SeniorNotesDue2022MemberMember"
      id="d115361749e487-wk-Fact-7A1207E93136718507C9BEC07854AD81">4.875% Senior Note due 2022</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A4.875SeniorNotesDue2022MemberMember"
      id="d115361749e497-wk-Fact-8F54DF9EA7F45E9CA31CBEC2676625F6">VAL/22</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A4.875SeniorNotesDue2022MemberMember"
      id="d115361749e507-wk-Fact-9CC0EE169C118B987C40BEC080BC27CF">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyFourMember"
      id="d115361749e513-wk-Fact-514662ADF4585A94AA142ADE8ECE5820">4.50% Senior Notes due 2024</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyFourMember"
      id="d115361749e523-wk-Fact-5E4551866B6A5D87A32843847599721A">VAL24</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyFourMember"
      id="d115361749e533-wk-Fact-47FA13A87D2554DE95C0B16FFDC7B2B0">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A4.75SeniorNotesDue2024MemberMember"
      id="d115361749e539-wk-Fact-A3C1EF0F7EB0B1DA950FBEC0905B7940">4.75% Senior Note due 2024</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A4.75SeniorNotesDue2024MemberMember"
      id="d115361749e549-wk-Fact-F5E7903C938DBA4D89D4BEC26A2B59AC">VAL/24</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A4.75SeniorNotesDue2024MemberMember"
      id="d115361749e559-wk-Fact-A3E51409B4C6CE544D50BEC096761EAD">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_EightPointZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyFourMember"
      id="d115361749e565-wk-Fact-6371DAADFBAB5806910148040483E086">8.00% Senior Notes due 2024</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_EightPointZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyFourMember"
      id="d115361749e575-wk-Fact-7F9E8595D0635C76B1D5B94B562F3AC0">VAL24A</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_EightPointZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyFourMember"
      id="d115361749e585-wk-Fact-CE3E7F266F51567895E71C4543380FFB">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FivePointTwoPercentSeniorNotesMember"
      id="d115361749e591-wk-Fact-CF9C09D99C0958A2BE4CCE0721B99ABF">5.20% Senior Notes due 2025</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FivePointTwoPercentSeniorNotesMember"
      id="d115361749e601-wk-Fact-3CA339AEE85F56F88E24A958226D0F8A">VAL25A</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FivePointTwoPercentSeniorNotesMember"
      id="d115361749e611-wk-Fact-445CB6E5378E5811932AEB0F647299E4">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A7.38SeniorNotesDue2025Member"
      id="d115361749e617-wk-Fact-F68178E1037B2E8F6B44BEC0A921C5AE">7.375% Senior Note due 2025</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A7.38SeniorNotesDue2025Member"
      id="d115361749e627-wk-Fact-4ED25EAE56F6BAF707C4BEC270AC846A">VAL/25</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A7.38SeniorNotesDue2025Member"
      id="d115361749e637-wk-Fact-93EF59602F61E4C9DE97BEC0AFABE99C">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentySixMember"
      id="d115361749e643-wk-Fact-825962CED760551A82F9BD360C2D0250">7.75% Senior Notes due 2026</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentySixMember"
      id="d115361749e653-wk-Fact-6A6B3CCC878D59B7BF30589465A022CB">VAL26</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentySixMember"
      id="d115361749e663-wk-Fact-C4D7F17297CB512CB87F29FA43A155D5">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A5.40SeniorNotesDue2042Member"
      id="d115361749e669-wk-Fact-4809835B86EA62BB6EF0BEC0BBDD2B86">5.4% Senior Note due 2042</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A5.40SeniorNotesDue2042Member"
      id="d115361749e679-wk-Fact-BBB06777D4DF27AFBD87BEC27609B466">VAL/42</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A5.40SeniorNotesDue2042Member"
      id="d115361749e689-wk-Fact-49FEEAFC5EBF3E341A38BEC0C44F3030">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember"
      id="d115361749e696-wk-Fact-D0DC147CCE3455CC88E658F9F25BE7E0">5.75% Senior notes due 2044</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember"
      id="d115361749e706-wk-Fact-344A417AA681575F9AD1E6919C400FC6">VAL44</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember"
      id="d115361749e716-wk-Fact-76D84415C4DB5794A4B21598FDC796A7">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A5.85SeniorNotesDue2044Member"
      id="d115361749e722-wk-Fact-6E9144516B1FF60C605EBEC0D213ACFC">5.85% Senior Note due 2044</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A5.85SeniorNotesDue2044Member"
      id="d115361749e732-wk-Fact-86645AA1D47981B98ADEBEC279F5F301">VAL/44</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_val_A5.85SeniorNotesDue2044Member"
      id="d115361749e742-wk-Fact-8DC2C45192553AD9C50FBEC0D82FC406">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="D2020Q2"
      id="d115361749e766-wk-Fact-91D7EACC6AA05D3B85F808A15B4C4B4C">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
