Name:	ifrs-full_DisclosureOfDisaggregationOfRevenueFromContractsWithCustomersLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of operating income (expense) that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 85
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_85&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Name:	ifrs-full_OtherOperatingIncomeExpense
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The percentage of additional rights to gold extracts.

No definition available.

Name:	vale_AdditionalRightsToGoldExtracted
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The percentage of economic exposure to the entity's cobalt extracted

No definition available.

Name:	vale_EconomicExposureToCobalt
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of agreements the entity entered into.

No definition available.

Name:	vale_NumberOfAgreementsEnteredInto
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of identifiable components in a transaction.

No definition available.

Name:	vale_NumberOfComponentsOfTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The percentage of additional payment to be received on each pound of finished cobalt delivered.

No definition available.

Name:	vale_PercentageOfAdditionalPaymentToBeReceivedOnAchievementOfSalesMilestone
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The percentage of rights to future cobalt extracts.

No definition available.

Name:	vale_RightsToFutureCobaltEquivalentProduction
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The percentage of rights to future cobalt extracts sold

No definition available.

Name:	vale_RightsToFutureCobaltExtractSold
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The percentage of rights to future gold extracts held by another.

No definition available.

Name:	vale_RightsToFutureGoldExtractHeldByAnotherParty
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the cash inflow for upfront payment received.

No definition available.

Name:	vale_UpfrontPaymentReceivedInCash
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=vale_VoiseySBayMinePropertyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ifrs-full_CounterpartiesAxis=vale_WheatonPreciousMetalsCorpMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ifrs-full_CounterpartiesAxis=vale_Cobait27CapitalCorpMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ifrs-full_ProductsAndServicesAxis=vale_SaleOfMineralRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=vale_WheatonPreciousMetalsCorpMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=vale_SaloboCopperMinePropertyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: