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Operating segments - Reconciliation of net earnings/(losses) to underlying earnings (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure Of Reconciliation Of Net Earnings Losses To Underlying Earnings [Abstract] |  |  |
Impairment charges | $ (796) | $ (249) | $ (2,791)
Net gains on disposal of interests in businesses, Pre-tax | 2,344 |  |
Exchange and derivative (losses)/gains, Pre-tax: |  |  |
– Exchange (losses)/gains on external US dollar net debt and intragroup balances, Pre-tax | (613) |  |
– Gain/(losses) on currency and interest rate derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Pre-tax | 33 |  |
– (Losses)/gains on embedded commodity derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Pre-tax | (498) |  |
Rio Tinto Kennecott insurance settlement, Pre-tax | 73 |  |
Total excluded from underlying earnings, Pre-tax | 543 |  |
Net earnings/(loss), Pre-tax | 12,816 | 6,343 | (726)
Underlying earnings, Pre-tax | 12,273 |  |
Impairment charges, Tax | 141 |  |
Net gains on disposal of interests in businesses, Tax | (322) |  |
Exchange and derivative (losses)/gains, Tax: |  |  |
– Exchange (losses)/gains on external US dollar net debt and intragroup balances, Tax | 113 |  |
– Gain/(losses) on currency and interest rate derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Tax | (5) |  |
– (Losses)/gains on embedded commodity derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Tax | 146 |  |
Changes in corporate tax rates in the US and France, Tax | (439) |  |
Rio Tinto Kennecott insurance settlement, Tax | (28) |  |
Tax provision |  | 380 |
Adjustment to deferred tax assets relating to expected divestments, Tax | (202) |  |
Total excluded from underlying earnings, Tax | (596) |  |
Net earnings/(loss), Tax | (3,965) | (1,567) | (993)
Underlying earnings, Tax | (3,369) |  |
Impairment charges, Non-controlling interests | 174 |  |
Exchange and derivative (losses)/gains: |  |  |
– Exchange (losses)/gains on external US dollar net debt and intragroup balances, Non-controlling interests | 12 |  |
– Gain/(losses) on currency and interest rate derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Non-controlling interests | 2 |  |
Total excluded from underlying earnings, Non-controlling interests | 188 |  |
Net earnings/(loss), Non-controlling interests | (89) | (159) | 853
Underlying earnings, Non-controlling interests | (277) |  |
Impairment charges, Net | (481) | (183) | (1,802)
Net gains on disposal of interests in businesses, Net | 2,022 | 382 | 48
Exchange and derivative (losses)/gains: |  |  |
– Exchange (losses)/gains on external US dollar net debt and intragroup balances, Net | (488) | 516 | (3,282)
– Gain/(losses) on currency and interest rate derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Net | 30 | (12) | (88)
– (Losses)/gains on embedded commodity derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Net | (352) | 32 | 88
Changes in corporate tax rates in the US and France, Net | (439) |  |
Onerous port and rail contracts, Net |  | (329) |
Restructuring costs and global headcount reductions, Net |  | (177) | (258)
Increased closure provision for non-operating and legacy operations, Net |  | (282) | (233)
Rio Tinto Kennecott insurance settlement, Net | 45 |  | 18
Tax provision |  | (380) |
Adjustment to deferred tax assets relating to expected divestments, Net | (202) |  | 234
Other exclusions, Net |  | (50) | (131)
Total excluded from underlying earnings, Net | 135 | (483) | (5,406)
– attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (net earnings/(loss)) | 8,762 | 4,617 | (866)
Underlying earnings, Net | $ 8,627 | $ 5,100 | $ 4,540

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