XML 176 R169.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Borrowings and other financial liabilities - Summary of detailed information about borrowings (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
--- | --- | ---
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Cumulative amount utilised from debt issuance | $ 2,200 | $ 1,900
Carrying value of bonds | 2,200 | 2,000
Borrowings | 15,176 | 17,630
Subsidiary borrowings | 2,700 | 2,800
Debt instrument restrictive covenants | 4,700 | 4,800
European debt issuance programme [member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items] |  |
Notional amount | $ 10,000 | $ 10,000

X
- Definition The amount of bonds issued by the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 112 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_BondsIssued
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of outstanding funds that the entity is obligated to repay. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -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_Borrowings
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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_DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The nominal or face amount of a financial instrument, used to calculate payments made on that instrument. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 112 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Cumulative amount utilised from debt issuance. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_CumulativeAmountUtilisedFromDebtIssuance
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Debt instruments restrictive covenants. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_DebtInstrumentsRestrictiveCovenants
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Subsidiary borrowings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_SubsidiaryBorrowings
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | rio_PlansNameAxis=rio_EuropeanDebtIssuanceProgrammeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |