Document and Entity Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 shares
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	Vale S.A.
Entity Central Index Key	0000917851
Document Type	20-F
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Common share
Document and Entity Information
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	5,126,258,410
Golden shares
Document and Entity Information
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	12