Condensed Consolidating Financial Information, Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Current Assets: [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 900	$ 648	$ 413	$ 20
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	1,272	908
Inventories	1,763	1,257
Prepayments and other	216	115
Total Current Assets	4,151	2,928
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	5,148	5,170
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Long-Term Receivables from Affiliates	0	0
Other Noncurrent Assets	593	634
Total Assets	9,892	8,732	8,070
Current Liabilities: [Abstract]
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	2,831	2,344
Current maturities of debt	418	152
Total Current Liabilities	3,249	2,496
Long-Term Payables to Affiliates	0	0
Debt	1,283	1,843
Other Noncurrent Liabilities	1,382	1,178
Equity - Tesoro Corporation	3,668	3,215
Equity - Noncontrolling interest	310	0
Total Liabilities and Equity	9,892	8,732
Tesoro Corporation [Member]
Current Assets: [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	1	8
Inventories	0	0
Prepayments and other	106	29
Total Current Assets	107	37
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	4,436	4,011
Long-Term Receivables from Affiliates	1,944	2,037
Other Noncurrent Assets	42	34
Total Assets	6,529	6,119
Current Liabilities: [Abstract]
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	85	76
Current maturities of debt	299	0
Total Current Liabilities	384	76
Long-Term Payables to Affiliates	0	0
Debt	1,264	1,823
Other Noncurrent Liabilities	1,200	1,005
Equity - Tesoro Corporation	3,681	3,215
Equity - Noncontrolling interest	0
Total Liabilities and Equity	6,529	6,119
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current Assets: [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	805	612	411	20
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	1,189	719
Inventories	1,416	1,080
Prepayments and other	88	78
Total Current Assets	3,498	2,489
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	4,925	5,008
Investment in Subsidiaries	(284)	(147)
Long-Term Receivables from Affiliates	0	0
Other Noncurrent Assets	548	597
Total Assets	8,687	7,947
Current Liabilities: [Abstract]
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	2,420	1,940
Current maturities of debt	2	2
Total Current Liabilities	2,422	1,942
Long-Term Payables to Affiliates	1,922	2,125
Debt	19	20
Other Noncurrent Liabilities	177	174
Equity - Tesoro Corporation	4,147	3,686
Equity - Noncontrolling interest	0
Total Liabilities and Equity	8,687	7,947
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Current Assets: [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	95	36	2	0
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	82	181
Inventories	347	177
Prepayments and other	22	8
Total Current Assets	546	402
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	223	162
Investment in Subsidiaries	282	(5)
Long-Term Receivables from Affiliates	0	88
Other Noncurrent Assets	53	3
Total Assets	1,104	650
Current Liabilities: [Abstract]
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	326	328
Current maturities of debt	117	150
Total Current Liabilities	443	478
Long-Term Payables to Affiliates	22	0
Debt	50	0
Other Noncurrent Liabilities	5	(1)
Equity - Tesoro Corporation	274	173
Equity - Noncontrolling interest	310
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,104	650
Eliminations [Member]
Current Assets: [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Prepayments and other	0	0
Total Current Assets	0	0
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	(4,434)	(3,859)
Long-Term Receivables from Affiliates	(1,944)	(2,125)
Other Noncurrent Assets	(50)	0
Total Assets	(6,428)	(5,984)
Current Liabilities: [Abstract]
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	0	0
Current maturities of debt	0	0
Total Current Liabilities	0	0
Long-Term Payables to Affiliates	(1,944)	(2,125)
Debt	(50)	0
Other Noncurrent Liabilities	0	0
Equity - Tesoro Corporation	(4,434)	(3,859)
Equity - Noncontrolling interest	0
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ (6,428)	$ (5,984)