Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Credit Facility, Textual [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vlo_CreditFacilityTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	vlo_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=vlo_ValeroRevolverMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=vlo_ValeroRevolverLetterofCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=vlo_VLPRevolverMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=vlo_VLPRevolverLetterofCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=vlo_CanadianRevolverMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=vlo_CanadianRevolverLetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=vlo_ARSalesFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=vlo_CommittedLetterofCreditFacilityExpiresJuneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=vlo_CommittedLetterofCreditFacilityExpiresNovemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=vlo_OtherLetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Credit Facilities (Details) CAD in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 CAD	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016
Valero Revolver [Member] \| Credit Facilities [Member]
Line of Credit Facility
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 3,000
Line of credit facility, expiration date	Nov. 30, 2020
Amount outstanding		0
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity		2,850
Valero Revolver Letter of Credit [Member] \| Credit Facilities [Member]
Line of Credit Facility
Amount outstanding		150
VLP Revolver [Member] \| Credit Facilities [Member]
Line of Credit Facility
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		750
Line of credit facility, expiration date	Nov. 30, 2020
Amount outstanding		30
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity		$ 720
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Weighted-average interest rate	2.3125%	2.3125%	2.3125%
VLP Revolver Letter of Credit [Member] \| Credit Facilities [Member]
Line of Credit Facility
Amount outstanding		$ 0
Canadian Revolver [Member] \| Credit Facilities [Member]
Line of Credit Facility
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity \| CAD	CAD 25
Line of credit facility, expiration date	Nov. 30, 2017
Amount outstanding \| CAD	CAD 0
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity \| CAD	15
Canadian Revolver Letter of Credit [Member] \| Credit Facilities [Member]
Line of Credit Facility
Amount outstanding \| CAD	CAD 10
A/R Sales Facility [Member] \| Credit Facilities [Member]
Line of Credit Facility
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		1,300
Line of credit facility, expiration date	Jul. 31, 2017
Amount outstanding		100
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity		$ 1,183
Credit Facilities (Textual)
Weighted-average interest rate	1.4805%	1.4805%	1.3422%
Committed Letter of Credit Facility [Member] \| Credit Facilities [Member]
Line of Credit Facility
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 225
Amount outstanding		0
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity		225
Committed Letter of Credit Facility Expires June 2017 [Member] \| Credit Facilities [Member]
Line of Credit Facility
Line of credit facility, expiration date	Jun. 30, 2017
Committed Letter of Credit Facility Expires November 2017 [Member] \| Credit Facilities [Member]
Line of Credit Facility
Line of credit facility, expiration date	Nov. 30, 2017
Uncommitted Letter of Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility
Amount outstanding		$ 235