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Stock-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Stock-based Compensation Arrangements Activity      
Stock-based compensation expense $ 60us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation $ 64us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation $ 58us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Tax benefit recognized on stock-based compensation expense 21us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 22us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 20us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
Tax benefit realized for tax deductions resulting from exercises and vestings 64us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 66us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 45us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
Effect of tax deductions in excess of recognized stock-based compensation expense reported as a financing cash flow 47us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities 47us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities 27us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding Rollforward      
Stock options outstanding as of beginning of year 8,558,093us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber    
Number of stock options, granted 126,095us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross    
Number of stock options, exercised (2,564,125)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised    
Number of stock options, expired (1,449,986)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod    
Number of stock options, forfeited (856)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod    
Stock options outstanding as of end of year 4,669,221us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 8,558,093us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber  
Number of stock options, exercisable as of December 31, 2014 4,315,414us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber    
Weighted-average exercise price per share outstanding, beginning balance $ 27.88us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice    
Weighted-average exercise price per share, granted $ 48.57us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice    
Weighted-average exercise price per share, exercised $ 18.64us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice    
Weighted-average exercise price per share, expired $ 66.67us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice    
Weighted average exercise price per share, forfeited $ 17.68us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice    
Weighted-average exercise price per share outstanding, ending balance $ 21.48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 27.88us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice  
Weighted-average exercise price per share, exercisable as of December 31, 2014 $ 19.99us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice    
Weighted-average remaining contractual term, outstanding as of December 31, 2014 4 years 6 months    
Weighted-average remaining contractual term, exercisable as of December 31, 2014 4 years 2 months    
Aggregate intrinsic value, outstanding as of December 31, 2014 131us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue    
Aggregate intrinsic value, exercisable as of December 31, 2014 127us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1    
Nonvested Shares or Awards Other Than Options Rollforward      
Shares or awards, granted 225,829us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod    
Employee Stock Option [Member]      
Summary of Weighted-Average Assumptions Used in Fair Value Measurements      
Expected life in years 6 years 6 years 6 years
Expected volatility 43.21%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
49.63%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
49.11%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Expected dividend yield 2.27%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
2.27%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
2.39%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Risk-free interest rate 1.74%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
1.77%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
0.85%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding Rollforward      
Weighted average grant date fair value of stock option $ 17.31us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 15.83us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 10.98us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Intrinsic value of stock options exercised 85us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
101us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
78us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Cash received from exercise of stock options 47us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
59us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
59us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Stock Based Compensation (Textual)      
Vesting period of stock-based payment awards granted 3 years    
Unrecognized share-based compensation cost related to outstanding unvested awards 1us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average period of recognition for unrecognized compensation costs on nonvested awards 2 years    
Employee Stock Option [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Stock Based Compensation (Textual)      
Expiration period of stock-based compensation awards 7 years    
Employee Stock Option [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Stock Based Compensation (Textual)      
Expiration period of stock-based compensation awards 10 years    
Restricted Stock Awards - Nonemployee [Member]      
Stock Based Compensation (Textual)      
Vesting period of stock-based payment awards granted 3 years    
Restricted Stock [Member]      
Nonvested Shares or Awards Other Than Options Rollforward      
Nonvested shares or awards, beginning balance 2,205,314us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
   
Shares or awards, granted 969,671us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
   
Awards, vested (1,402,753)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
   
Shares or awards, forfeited (14,082)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
   
Nonvested shares or awards, ending balance 1,758,150us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
2,205,314us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
 
Nonvested Awards Other Than Options Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Rollforward      
Weighted average grant date fair value, beginning balance $ 32.23us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
   
Weighted average grant date fair value, granted $ 49.40us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
   
Weighted average grant date fair value, vested $ 31.90us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
   
Weighted average grant date fair value, forfeited $ 32.56us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
   
Weighted average grant date fair value, ending balance $ 41.96us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
$ 32.23us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
 
Stock Based Compensation (Textual)      
Vesting period of stock-based payment awards granted 3 years    
Unrecognized share-based compensation cost related to outstanding unvested awards 45us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
   
Weighted-average period of recognition for unrecognized compensation costs on nonvested awards 2 years    
Total fair value of restricted stock vested 60us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
74us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
47us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
Performance Awards [Member]      
Nonvested Shares or Awards Other Than Options Rollforward      
Nonvested shares or awards, beginning balance 947,165us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Shares or awards, granted 225,829us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Awards, vested (534,028)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Shares or awards, forfeited (24,576)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Nonvested shares or awards, ending balance 614,390us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
947,165us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
 
Vested Awards Other Than Options Rollforward      
Vested awards, beginning balance 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Awards, vested 534,028vlo_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsVestedinPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Awards, converted (534,028)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsExercised
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Awards, forfeited 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsForfeitures
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Vested awards, ending balance 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
 
Performance Awards Converted [Abstract]      
Vested awards converted 534,028vlo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsConverted
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Converted shares issued 866,634us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Stock Based Compensation (Textual)      
Vesting period of stock-based payment awards granted 1 year    
Unrecognized share-based compensation cost related to outstanding unvested awards 11us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Total fair value of restricted stock vested $ 15us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
$ 12us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
$ 3us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
Performance award vesting rights 33.33%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Number of vesting tranches under performance awards granted 3vlo_NumberOfVestingTranchesUnderPerformanceAwardsGranted
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Performance Awards [Member] | Award Year 2010 [Member]      
Performance Awards Converted [Abstract]      
Vested awards converted 201,422vlo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsConverted
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYMinus3AwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Actual conversion rate of common shares 100.00%vlo_ActualConversionRateOfCommonShares
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYMinus3AwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Converted shares issued 201,422us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYMinus3AwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Performance Awards [Member] | Award Year 2011 [Member]      
Performance Awards Converted [Abstract]      
Vested awards converted 227,571vlo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsConverted
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYMinus2AwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Actual conversion rate of common shares 200.00%vlo_ActualConversionRateOfCommonShares
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYMinus2AwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Converted shares issued 455,142us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYMinus2AwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Performance Awards [Member] | Award Year 2012 [Member]      
Performance Awards Converted [Abstract]      
Vested awards converted 102,855vlo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsConverted
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYMinus1AwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Actual conversion rate of common shares 200.00%vlo_ActualConversionRateOfCommonShares
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYMinus1AwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Converted shares issued 205,710us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYMinus1AwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Performance Awards [Member] | Award Year 2012 [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Three [Member]      
Nonvested Shares or Awards Other Than Options Rollforward      
Shares or awards, granted 99,023us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYMinus1AwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheThreeMember
   
Nonvested Awards Other Than Options Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Rollforward      
Weighted average grant date fair value, granted $ 47.47us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYMinus1AwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheThreeMember
   
Expected conversion rate of common stock shares 1.00vlo_ExpectedConversionRateOfCommonStockShares
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYMinus1AwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheThreeMember
   
Performance Awards [Member] | Award Year 2013 [Member]      
Performance Awards Converted [Abstract]      
Vested awards converted 2,180vlo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsConverted
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYAwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Actual conversion rate of common shares 200.00%vlo_ActualConversionRateOfCommonShares
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYAwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Converted shares issued 4,360us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYAwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Performance Awards [Member] | Award Year 2013 [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two [Member]      
Nonvested Shares or Awards Other Than Options Rollforward      
Shares or awards, granted 76,232us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYAwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember
   
Nonvested Awards Other Than Options Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Rollforward      
Weighted average grant date fair value, granted $ 47.47us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYAwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember
   
Expected conversion rate of common stock shares 1.00vlo_ExpectedConversionRateOfCommonStockShares
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_PYAwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember
   
Performance Awards [Member] | Award Year 2014 [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One [Member]      
Nonvested Shares or Awards Other Than Options Rollforward      
Shares or awards, granted 50,574us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_CYAwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember
   
Nonvested Awards Other Than Options Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Rollforward      
Weighted average grant date fair value, granted $ 48.57us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_CYAwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember
   
Expected conversion rate of common stock shares 1.00vlo_ExpectedConversionRateOfCommonStockShares
/ us-gaap_AwardDateAxis
= vlo_CYAwardYearMember
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember
   
Performance Awards [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Stock Based Compensation (Textual)      
Performance awards range of conversion rates 0.00%vlo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardTermsOfAwardConversionRates
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
   
Performance Awards [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Stock Based Compensation (Textual)      
Performance awards range of conversion rates 200.00%vlo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardTermsOfAwardConversionRates
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Stock Compensation Plan [Member]      
Stock Based Compensation (Textual)      
Number of shares of common stock available to be awarded under stock-based compensation plans 13,536,081us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockCompensationPlanMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= vlo_OmnibusStockIncentivePlanMember
   
Formerly Maintained Plans [Member] | Stock Compensation Plan [Member]      
Stock Based Compensation (Textual)      
Number of shares of common stock available to be awarded under stock-based compensation plans 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockCompensationPlanMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= vlo_FormerlyMaintainedPlansMember