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	Deferred Compensation	Benefit Plan Trust (Common Stock)	Treasury Stock at Cost	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at January 1, shares at Dec. 31, 2012																495,979
Balance at January 1 at Dec. 31, 2012						$ 15,497	$ 159,730		$ (65)	$ 1	$ 125	$ (6,430)		$ (42)		$ (33,884)	$ 1,308
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Chevron Corporation	$ 21,423	[1]					21,423
Cash dividends on common stock							(7,474)
Stock dividends							(3)
Tax (charge) benefit from dividends paid on unallocated ESOP shares and other							1
Change during year	2,790								42	(7)	(73)	2,828
Net reduction of ESOP debt and other														42
Purchases, shares																41,676
Purchases						216										$ (5,004)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans, shares																(8,581)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans																$ 598
Balance at December 31, shares at Dec. 31, 2013				0	2,442,677								14,168		14,168	529,074
Balance at December 31 at Dec. 31, 2013	150,427		$ 149,113	$ 0	$ 1,832	15,713	173,677	$ (3,579)	(23)	(6)	52	(3,602)	$ (240)	0	$ (240)	$ (38,290)	1,314
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Chevron Corporation	19,241	[1]					19,241
Cash dividends on common stock							(7,928)
Stock dividends							(3)
Tax (charge) benefit from dividends paid on unallocated ESOP shares and other							0
Change during year	(1,280)								(73)	(2)	(54)	(1,151)
Net reduction of ESOP debt and other														0
Purchases, shares																41,592
Purchases						328										$ (5,006)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans, shares																(7,638)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans																$ 563
Balance at December 31, shares at Dec. 31, 2014				0	2,442,677								14,168		14,168	563,028
Balance at December 31 at Dec. 31, 2014	156,191		155,028	$ 0	$ 1,832	16,041	184,987	(4,859)	(96)	(8)	(2)	(4,753)	$ (240)	0	$ (240)	$ (42,733)	1,163
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Chevron Corporation	4,587	[1]					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
Net reduction of ESOP debt and other														0
Purchases, shares																15
Purchases						289										$ (2)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans, shares																(3,180)
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans																$ 242
Balance at December 31, 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)	$ 0	$ (240)	$ (42,493)	$ 1,170

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