Additional information about derivatives financial instruments - Options related to MBR shares (Details) EquityInstruments in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) EquityInstruments	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Derivative financial instruments.
Financial settlement inflows (outflows)	$ (324)	$ (67)	$ (240)
Options related to Mineraes Brasileiras Reunidas S.A. ("MBR") shares
Derivative financial instruments.
Notional (quantity) \| EquityInstruments		2,139
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 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 55
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_55&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DerivativeFinancialAssets
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- 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

Name:	ifrs-full_DisclosureOfFinancialInstrumentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
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 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 23B
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=7&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_23B_a&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 7
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 24A
-Subparagraph d
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=7&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_24A_d&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_NominalAmountOfHedgingInstrument
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
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

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

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfFinancialInstrumentsAxis=ifrs-full_OptionContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: