The amount of the estimated financial effect of contingent liabilities. [Refer: Contingent liabilities [member]]

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 37
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 86
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=37&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_86_a&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_EstimatedFinancialEffectOfContingentLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vale_BrumadinhosDamFailureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents iron ore and pellets sold during the reported period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vale_IronOreAndPelletsSold
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:massItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents reduction in production of iron ore due to stoppage in operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vale_ReductionInProductionOfIronOreDueToStoppageInOperations
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:massItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents reduction in sale of iron ore as a result of stoppage in other operations due to judicial decisions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vale_ReductionInSaleOfIronOreDueToStoppageInOtherOperations
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:massItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfContingentLiabilitiesAxis=vale_DeCharacterizationOfUpstreamDamsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Brumadinho's dam failure - Operation stoppages and de-characterization of the upstream dams (Details) T in Millions, R$ in Billions, $ in Billions		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 27, 2019 T	Dec. 31, 2018 T	Jan. 29, 2019 BRL (R$)	Jan. 29, 2019 USD ($)
Brumadinho's dam failure
Potential reduction in sale of iron ore due to stoppage in other operations	52.8
Iron ore and pellets sold		365.0
De-characterization of upstream dams
Brumadinho's dam failure
Estimated financial effect of contingent liabilities			R$ 5	$ 1.3
Potential reduction in production of iron ore due to stoppage of operations	40.0