Consolidated Statement of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	Total	Parent [Member]	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Currency translation adjustment	Unrealized net holding (loss) gain on securities	Net derivatives (loss) gain on hedge transactions	Pension and other postretirement benefit plans	Deferred Compensation and Benefit Plan Trust	Benefit Plan Trust (Common Stock)	Treasury Stock at Cost	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at January 1 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014														563,028
Balance at January 1 at Dec. 31, 2014					$ 16,041	$ 184,987		$ (96)	$ (8)	$ (2)	$ (4,753)			$ (42,733)	$ 1,163
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Chevron Corporation	$ 4,587					4,587
Cash dividends on common stock						(7,992)
Stock dividends						(3)
Tax (charge) benefit from dividends paid on unallocated ESOP shares and other						(1)
Change during year	568							(44)	(21)	0	633
Purchases (in shares)														15
Purchases					289									$ (2)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans (in shares)														(3,180)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans														$ 242
Balance at December 31 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015			0	2,442,677								14,168	14,168	559,863
Balance at December 31 at Dec. 31, 2015	153,886	$ 152,716	$ 0	$ 1,832	16,330	181,578	$ (4,291)	(140)	(29)	(2)	(4,120)	$ (240)	$ (240)	$ (42,493)	1,170
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Chevron Corporation	(497)					(497)
Cash dividends on common stock						(8,032)
Stock dividends						(3)
Tax (charge) benefit from dividends paid on unallocated ESOP shares and other						0
Change during year	448							(22)	27	0	443
Purchases (in shares)														20
Purchases					265									$ (2)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans (in shares)														(8,713)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans														$ 661
Balance at December 31 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			0	2,442,677								14,168	14,168	551,170
Balance at December 31 at Dec. 31, 2016	146,722	145,556	$ 0	$ 1,832	16,595	173,046	(3,843)	(162)	(2)	(2)	(3,677)	$ (240)	$ (240)	$ (41,834)	1,166
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Chevron Corporation	9,195					9,195
Cash dividends on common stock						(8,132)
Stock dividends						(3)
Tax (charge) benefit from dividends paid on unallocated ESOP shares and other						0
Change during year	254						254	57	(3)	0	200
Purchases (in shares)														10
Purchases					253									$ (1)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans (in shares)														(13,205)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans														$ 1,002
Balance at December 31 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			0	2,442,677								14,168	14,168	537,975
Balance at December 31 at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 149,319	$ 148,124	$ 0	$ 1,832	$ 16,848	$ 174,106	$ (3,589)	$ (105)	$ (5)	$ (2)	$ (3,477)	$ (240)	$ (240)	$ (40,833)	$ 1,195