Consolidated Statement of Equity (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total		Parent [Member]	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	CurrencyTranslation Adjustment	Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]	Unrealized Net Holding Gains Gain on Securities	Net Derivatives Gain (Loss) on Hedge	Deferred Compensation and Benefit Plan Trust	Deferred Compensation	Benefit Plan Trust (Common Stock)	Treasury Stock at Cost	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at January 1 at Dec. 31, 2009						$ 14,631	$ 106,289		$ (111)	$ (4,308)	$ 15	$ 83		$ (109)		$ (26,168)	$ 647
Balance at January 1, shares at Dec. 31, 2009																434,955,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Chevron Corporation	19,024	[1]					19,024
Cash dividends on common stock							(5,669)
Stock dividends							(5)
Tax (charge) benefit from dividends paid on unallocated ESOP shares and other							2
Change during year	(145)								6	(167)	(4)	20
Net reduction of ESOP debt and other														38
Purchases, shares																9,091,000
Treasury stock transactions/Purchases						165										(775)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans, shares																(8,850,000)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans																532
Balance at December 31 at Dec. 31, 2010	105,811		105,081	0	1,832	14,796	119,641	(4,466)	(105)	(4,475)	11	103	(311)	(71)	(240)	(26,411)	730
Balance at December 31, shares at Dec. 31, 2010				0	2,442,677,000								14,168,000		14,168,000	435,196,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Chevron Corporation	26,895	[1]					26,895
Cash dividends on common stock							(6,136)
Stock dividends							(3)
Tax (charge) benefit from dividends paid on unallocated ESOP shares and other							2
Change during year	(1,556)								17	(1,581)	(11)	19
Net reduction of ESOP debt and other														13
Purchases, shares																42,424,000
Treasury stock transactions/Purchases						360										(4,262)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans, shares																(16,110,000)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans																988
Balance at December 31 at Dec. 31, 2011	122,181		121,382	0	1,832	15,156	140,399	(6,022)	(88)	(6,056)	0	122	(298)	(58)	(240)	(29,685)	799
Balance at December 31, shares at Dec. 31, 2011				0	2,442,676,580								14,168,000		14,168,000	461,510,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Chevron Corporation	26,179	[1]					26,179
Cash dividends on common stock							(6,844)
Stock dividends							(3)
Tax (charge) benefit from dividends paid on unallocated ESOP shares and other							(1)
Change during year	(347)								23	(374)	1	3
Net reduction of ESOP debt and other														16
Purchases, shares																46,669,000
Treasury stock transactions/Purchases						341										(5,004)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans, shares																(12,200,000)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans																805
Balance at December 31 at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 137,832		$ 136,524	$ 0	$ 1,832	$ 15,497	$ 159,730	$ (6,369)	$ (65)	$ (6,430)	$ 1	$ 125	$ (282)	$ (42)	$ (240)	$ (33,884)	$ 1,308
Balance at December 31, shares at Dec. 31, 2012				0	2,442,676,580								14,168,000		14,168,000	495,979,000

[1] There was no effect of dividend equivalents paid on stock units or dilutive impact of employee stock-based awards on earnings.