Name:	ifrs-full_DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of expense arising from cash-settled share-based payment transactions in which the goods or services received did not qualify for recognition as assets. [Refer: Expense from share-based payment transactions in which goods or services received did not qualify for recognition as assets]

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2020-01-01
-Paragraph 112
-Subparagraph c
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2020-01-01

Name:	ifrs-full_ExpenseFromCashsettledSharebasedPaymentTransactionsInWhichGoodsOrServicesReceivedDidNotQualifyForRecognitionAsAssets
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The percentage of award that will be paid in the fourth year of the award. The award is paid in cash equivalent to the market value of the determined number of common shares.

No definition available.

Name:	vale_LongTermCompensationProgramPaymentInFourthYear
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The percentage of award that will be paid in the second year of the award. The award is paid in cash equivalent to the market value of the determined number of common shares.

No definition available.

Name:	vale_LongTermCompensationProgramPaymentInSecondYear
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The percentage of award that will be paid in the third year of the award. The award is paid in cash equivalent to the market value of the determined number of common shares.

No definition available.

Name:	vale_LongTermCompensationProgramPaymentInThirdYear
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The percentage of performance factor based on indicators of environmental, social and governance "ESG" Indicators

No definition available.

Name:	vale_PercentageOfPerformanceFactorBasedOnEnvironmentalSocialAndGovernanceIndicator
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The percentage of performance factor measured based on total return to the shareholders metrics.

No definition available.

Name:	vale_PercentageOfPerformanceFactorBasedOnTotalReturnToShareholderMetrics
Namespace Prefix:	vale_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The term of vesting cycle of long-term compensation plan under defined benefit plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.