Other Comprehensive Income Information (Schedule Of Income Tax (Expense)/Credit For Components Of Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Other Comprehensive Income Information Tax [Abstract]
Foreign exchange translation adjustment	$ 8		$ 15
Postretirement benefits reserves adjustment (excluding amortization)	52	$ 10	(10)	$ 20
Amortization and settlement of postretirement benefits reserves adjustment included in net periodic benefit costs	(57)	(50)	(115)	(102)
Total	$ 3	$ (40)	$ (110)	$ (82)

Amount of tax expense (benefit) for (increase) decrease in value of benefit obligation for change in actuarial assumptions and increase (decrease) in value of plan assets from experience different from that assumed of defined benefit plan, that has not been recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit.

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of tax expense (benefit), after reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e640-108580

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of tax expense (benefit) of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for gain (loss) of defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansForNetGainLossTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of tax expense (benefit) allocated to other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4569643-111683

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 19
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4569616-111683

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109239629&loc=SL4573702-111684

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xom_ComprehensiveIncomeTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNonControllingInterestAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	xom_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration