Percentage of voting equity interests acquired in the business combination.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 68
-Subparagraph c

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The difference between the sale price or salvage price and the book value of an asset that was sold or retired during the reporting period. This element refers to the gain (loss) and not to the cash proceeds of the sale. This element is a noncash adjustment to net income when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method. There is also a more specific element for realized gain (loss) on the sale of property, plant, and equipment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 28

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of a business, net of the cash acquired from the purchase.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 15, 17

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Assets held For Sale Cash Received On Sale.

+ Details

Name:	vale_AssetsHeldForSaleCashReceivedOnSale
Namespace Prefix:	vale
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Assets held for sale equity ownership amount on sale based on closing share price at the date on the date of the transaction.

+ Details

Name:	vale_AssetsHeldForSaleEquityOwnershipAmountOnSaleBasedOnClosingSharePriceAtDateOnDateOfTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	vale
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Assets held For Sale Equity Ownership Percent On Sale.

+ Details

Name:	vale_AssetsHeldForSaleEquityOwnershipPercentOnSale
Namespace Prefix:	vale
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Assets Held for Sale Number of Shares on Sale.

+ Details

Name:	vale_AssetsHeldForSaleNumberOfSharesOnSale
Namespace Prefix:	vale
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business Acquisition Percentage Of Capital Acquired.

+ Details

Name:	vale_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfCapitalAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	vale
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Business Acquisition Percentage Of Capital Acquired Initial.

+ Details

Name:	vale_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfCapitalAcquiredInitial
Namespace Prefix:	vale
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of total participation.

+ Details

Name:	vale_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfParticipation
Namespace Prefix:	vale
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Major Acquisitions And Disposals.

+ Details

Name:	vale_MajorAcquisitionsAndDisposalsTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	vale
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Paragominas And Mineral Right Expected Sale Amount.

+ Details

Name:	vale_ParagominasAndMineralRightExpectedSaleAmount
Namespace Prefix:	vale
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of Paragominas And Mineral Right Sale Agreement.

+ Details

Name:	vale_PercentageOfParagominasAndMineralRightSaleAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	vale
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Remaing percentage of stake in Paragominas and mineral rights.

+ Details

Name:	vale_RemainingPercentageOfStakeInParagominasAndMineralRights
Namespace Prefix:	vale
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Major Acquisitions and Disposals (Details Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2011 Fertilizers Businesses Acquisition [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Vale Fosfatados S A Member	Dec. 31, 2010 Vale Fertilizantes S.A [Member]
Major Acquisitions and Disposals (Textuals)
Percentage of equity capital acquired						58.60%
Business acquisition percentage of total capital acquired in Vale Fertilizantes	78.92%
Percentage stake acquired					100.00%	99.83%
Payment made for business acquisition				$ 5,795,000,000
Percentage of stake in Paragominas and mineral rights	60.00%
Cash received for transactions	1,081,000
Number of shares in Hydro's	447,834,465
Percentage of stake in Hydro	22.00%
Cash Received for Hydro's common shares outstanding	3,500,000,000
Cash received by selling the Paragominas in each tranches		200,000,000	200,000,000
Percentage of Paragominas to be sold	40.00%
Gain on sale of assets	$ 1,513,000,000
Percentage of total participation	84.27%