Additional information about derivatives financial instruments - Options related to MBR shares (Details) EquityInstruments in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) R$ / shares EquityInstruments	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) EquityInstruments	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Derivative financial instruments.
Financial settlement inflows (outflows)	$ (67)	$ (240)	$ (1,602)
Options related to Mineraes Brasileiras Reunidas S.A. ("MBR") shares
Derivative financial instruments.
Notional (quantity) \| EquityInstruments	2,139	2,139
Average strike per share \| R$ / shares	1.7
Fair value of assets	$ 279	$ 251
Value at risk	15
Options related to Mineraes Brasileiras Reunidas S.A. ("MBR") shares \| 2019+
Derivative financial instruments.
Fair value of assets	$ 279

The amount of financial assets classified as derivative instruments. [Refer: Financial assets; Derivatives [member]]

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 55
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_55&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The nominal amount of a hedging instrument. [Refer: Hedging instruments [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 7
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 23B
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_23B_a&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 7
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 24A
-Subparagraph d
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_24A_d&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The measure of a potential loss exposure as a result of future market movements, based on a specified confidence interval and measurement horizon.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 7
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 41
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_41&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The average strike rate per share.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of cash outflow (inflow) from settlement of derivatives.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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