Consolidated Statements of Equity (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Valero Energy Corporation Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Non-controlling Interests [Member]
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 22,900	$ 21,991	$ 7	$ 7,039	$ (13,315)	$ 29,200	$ (940)	$ 909
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Reclassification of stranded income tax effects of Tax Reform	0	0				91	(91)
Net income	582	469				469		113
Dividends on common stock	(345)	(345)				(345)
Stock-based compensation expense	14	14		14
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	(41)	(41)		(24)	(17)
Stock purchases under purchase program	(256)	(256)			(256)
Contribution from noncontrolling interests	30							30
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(11)							(11)
Other	1	(3)		(3)	0	0	0	4
Other comprehensive income	51	48					48	3
Balance as of end of period at Mar. 31, 2018	22,925	21,877	7	7,026	(13,588)	29,415	(983)	1,048
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018	22,731	21,667	7	7,048	(14,925)	31,044	(1,507)	1,064
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Reclassification of stranded income tax effects of Tax Reform							0
Net income	167	141				141		26
Dividends on common stock	(375)	(375)				(375)
Stock-based compensation expense	10	10		10
Transactions in connection with stock-based compensation plans	(1)	(1)		(2)	1
Stock purchases under purchase program	(34)	(34)			(34)
Acquisition of Valero Energy Partners LP publicly held common units	(950)	(328)		(328)				(622)
Other	74	74		74	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income	157	155					155	2
Balance as of end of period at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 21,779	$ 21,309	$ 7	$ 6,802	$ (14,958)	$ 30,810	$ (1,352)	$ 470