Income Taxes - Schedule of Movement in Deferred Income Tax Liabilities and Assets (Detail) - CAD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Deferred income tax liabilities, beginning balance	$ 4,046	$ 4,146
Deferred income tax assets, beginning balance	(1,454)	(948)
Net deferred income tax liabilities, beginning balance	2,592	3,198
Deferred income tax liabilities, ending balance	4,515	4,046
Deferred income tax assets, ending balance	(778)	(1,454)
Net deferred income tax liabilities, ending balance	3,737	2,592
Unused Tax Losses
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Deferred income tax assets, beginning balance	(655)	(659)
Deferred income tax assets, ending balance	(156)	(655)
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Earnings	(17)	(159)
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities \| Husky Energy, Inc.
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions		59
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities \| Sunrise Oil Sands Partnership
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions	486
Deferred Income Tax Assets
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Earnings	659	611
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions	0	(1,121)
Charged (Credited) to Other Comprehensive Income	17	4
Deferred Income Tax Assets \| Unused Tax Losses
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Earnings	490	668
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions	0	(656)
Charged (Credited) to Other Comprehensive Income	9	(8)
Net Deferred Income Tax Liabilities
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Earnings	642	452
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions	486	(1,062)
Charged (Credited) to Other Comprehensive Income	17	4
PP&E
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Deferred income tax liabilities, beginning balance	3,949	4,124
Deferred income tax liabilities, ending balance	4,460	3,949
PP&E \| Deferred Income Tax Liabilities
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Earnings	25	(234)
PP&E \| Deferred Income Tax Liabilities \| Husky Energy, Inc.
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions		59
PP&E \| Deferred Income Tax Liabilities \| Sunrise Oil Sands Partnership
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions	486
Risk Management
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Deferred income tax liabilities, beginning balance	0	0
Deferred income tax assets, beginning balance	(11)	(13)
Deferred income tax liabilities, ending balance	11	0
Deferred income tax assets, ending balance	0	(11)
Risk Management \| Deferred Income Tax Liabilities
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Earnings	11	0
Risk Management \| Deferred Income Tax Liabilities \| Husky Energy, Inc.
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions		0
Risk Management \| Deferred Income Tax Liabilities \| Sunrise Oil Sands Partnership
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions	0
Risk Management \| Deferred Income Tax Assets
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Earnings	11	1
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions	0	1
Charged (Credited) to Other Comprehensive Income	0	0
Other
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Deferred income tax liabilities, beginning balance	97	22
Deferred income tax assets, beginning balance	(788)	(276)
Deferred income tax liabilities, ending balance	44	97
Deferred income tax assets, ending balance	(622)	(788)
Other \| Deferred Income Tax Liabilities
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Earnings	(53)	75
Other \| Deferred Income Tax Liabilities \| Husky Energy, Inc.
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions		0
Other \| Deferred Income Tax Liabilities \| Sunrise Oil Sands Partnership
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions	0
Other \| Deferred Income Tax Assets
Reconciliation Of Changes In Deferred Tax Liability Asset [Line Items]
Charged (Credited) to Earnings	158	(58)
Charged (Credited) to Acquisitions	0	(466)
Charged (Credited) to Other Comprehensive Income	$ 8	$ 12

Deferred tax expense (income) recognised in other comprehensive income.

No definition available.

Name:	cve_DeferredTaxExpenseIncomeRecognisedInOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	cve_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reconciliation of changes in deferred tax liability asset.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cve_ReconciliationOfChangesInDeferredTaxLiabilityAssetLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	cve_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amounts of income taxes recoverable in future periods in respect of: (a) deductible temporary differences; (b) the carryforward of unused tax losses; and (c) the carryforward of unused tax credits. [Refer: Temporary differences [member]; Unused tax credits [member]; Unused tax losses [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 12
-IssueDate 2022-03-24
-Paragraph 81
-Subparagraph g
-Clause i
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2022-en-r&anchor=para_81_g_i&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2022-03-24

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2022-03-24
-Paragraph 54
-Subparagraph o
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2022-en-r&anchor=para_54_o&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2022-03-24

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2022-03-24
-Paragraph 56
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2022-en-r&anchor=para_56&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2022-03-24

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DeferredTaxAssets
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of tax expense or income relating to changes in deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, recognised in profit or loss. [Refer: Deferred tax assets; Deferred tax expense (income); Deferred tax liabilities]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 12
-IssueDate 2022-03-24
-Paragraph 81
-Subparagraph g
-Clause ii
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2022-en-r&anchor=para_81_g_ii&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2022-03-24

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DeferredTaxExpenseIncomeRecognisedInProfitOrLoss
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amounts of income taxes payable in future periods in respect of taxable temporary differences. [Refer: Temporary differences [member]]

+ References

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DeferredTaxLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of deferred tax liabilities or assets. [Refer: Deferred tax liabilities; Deferred tax assets]

+ References

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DeferredTaxLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The increase (decrease) in deferred tax liability (asset) resulting from business combinations. [Refer: Deferred tax liability (asset)]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 12
-IssueDate 2022-03-24
-Paragraph 81
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2022-en-r&anchor=para_81&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2022-03-24

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_IncreaseDecreaseThroughBusinessCombinationsDeferredTaxLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_TemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsAxis=ifrs-full_UnusedTaxLossesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_AssetsAndLiabilitiesAxis=cve_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BusinessCombinationsAxis=cve_HuskyEnergyIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BusinessCombinationsAxis=cve_SunriseOilSandsPartnershipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_AssetsAndLiabilitiesAxis=cve_DeferredIncomeTaxAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_AssetsAndLiabilitiesAxis=cve_NetDeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfAssetsAxis=ifrs-full_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfAssetsAxis=cve_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfAssetsAxis=ifrs-full_OtherAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: