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Stockholders' equity - Shares in treasury (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019
Stockholders' equity |  |
Assignment and transfer of shares | $ 14 | $ 22
Treasury stocks |  |
Stockholders' equity |  |
Number of treasury shares re-issued as compensation | 1,628,485 | 2,024,059
Assignment and transfer of shares | $ 14 | $ 22

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- Definition Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount of assignment and transfer of shares. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | vale_
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Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The number of treasury shares re-issued as compensation. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | vale_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Period Type: |