XML 200 R193.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Financial instruments and risk management - Summary of capital and liquidity risk management (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
--- | --- | --- | ---
Disclosure of detailed information about hedging instruments [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (see Group balance sheet) | $ 44,711 | $ 39,290 | $ 37,349
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests (see Group balance sheet) | 6,404 | 6,440 |
Net debt | 3,845 | 9,587 | $ 13,783
Capital and liquidity risk management [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about hedging instruments [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (see Group balance sheet) | 44,711 | 39,290 |
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests (see Group balance sheet) | 6,404 | 6,440 |
Net debt | 3,845 | 9,587 |
Total capital | $ 54,960 | $ 55,317 |

X
- 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
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutHedgingInstrumentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of the entity's equity and liabilities. [Refer: Equity; Liabilities] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 55 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_55&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_EquityAndLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of equity attributable to the owners of the parent. This specifically excludes non-controlling interest. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 54 -Subparagraph r -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_54_r&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_EquityAttributableToOwnersOfParent
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of equity in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to a parent. [Refer: Subsidiaries [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph f -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=12&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_12_f&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 54 -Subparagraph q -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_54_q&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 10 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 22 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=10&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_22&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NoncontrollingInterests
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of net debt of the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_NetDebt
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_TypesOfRisksAxis=rio_CapitalAndLiquidityRiskManagementMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |