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Borrowings and other financial liabilities - Summary of detailed information about borrowings (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 14,624 $ 16,913
Current borrowings including overdrafts 552 717
Total borrowings $ 15,176 17,630
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 9.0% 2019 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing   1,235
Total borrowings   $ 1,235
Borrowings, interest rate 9.00% 9.00%
Borrowing maturity 2019 2019
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 3.5% 2020 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing   $ 464
Total borrowings   $ 464
Borrowings, interest rate 3.50% 3.50%
Borrowing maturity 2020 2020
Rio Tinto Finance plc Euro Bonds 2.0% due 2020 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 921 $ 817
Total borrowings $ 921 $ 817
Borrowings, interest rate 2.00% 2.00%
Borrowing maturity 2020 2020
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 4.125% 2021 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 428 $ 573
Total borrowings $ 428 $ 573
Borrowings, interest rate 4.125% 4.125%
Borrowing maturity 2021 2021
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 3.750% 2021 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 347 $ 621
Total borrowings $ 347 $ 621
Borrowings, interest rate 3.75% 3.75%
Borrowing maturity 2021 2021
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 3.5% 2022 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 227 $ 459
Total borrowings $ 227 $ 459
Borrowings, interest rate 3.50% 3.50%
Borrowing maturity 2022 2022
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 2.875% 2022 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 377 $ 509
Total borrowings $ 377 $ 509
Borrowings, interest rate 2.875% 2.875%
Borrowing maturity 2022 2022
Rio Tinto Finance plc Euro Bonds 2.875% due 2024 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 644 $ 577
Total borrowings $ 644 $ 577
Borrowings, interest rate 2.875% 2.875%
Borrowing maturity 2024 2024
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 3.75% 2025 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 1,192 $ 1,195
Total borrowings $ 1,192 $ 1,195
Borrowings, interest rate 3.75% 3.75%
Borrowing maturity 2025 2025
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 7.125% 2028 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 965 $ 980
Total borrowings $ 965 $ 980
Borrowings, interest rate 7.125% 7.125%
Borrowing maturity 2028 2028
Alcan Inc. Debentures 7.25% due 2028 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 105 $ 105
Total borrowings $ 105 $ 105
Borrowings, interest rate 7.25% 7.25%
Borrowing maturity 2028 2028
Rio Tinto Finance plc Sterling Bonds 4.0% due 2029 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 669 $ 609
Total borrowings $ 669 $ 609
Borrowings, interest rate 4.00% 4.00%
Borrowing maturity 2029 2029
Alcan Inc. Debentures 7.25% due 2031 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 422 $ 425
Total borrowings $ 422 $ 425
Borrowings, interest rate 7.25% 7.25%
Borrowing maturity 2031 2031
Alcan Inc. Global Notes 6.125% due 2033 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 740 $ 741
Total borrowings $ 740 $ 741
Borrowings, interest rate 6.125% 6.125%
Borrowing maturity 2033 2033
Alcan Inc. Global Notes 5.75% due 2035 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 287 $ 287
Total borrowings $ 287 $ 287
Borrowings, interest rate 5.75% 5.75%
Borrowing maturity 2035 2035
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 5.2% 2040 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 1,102 $ 1,103
Total borrowings $ 1,102 $ 1,103
Borrowings, interest rate 5.20% 5.20%
Borrowing maturity 2040 2040
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 4.75% 2042 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 467 $ 466
Total borrowings $ 467 $ 466
Borrowings, interest rate 4.75% 4.75%
Borrowing maturity 2042 2042
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 4.125% 2042 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 691 $ 690
Total borrowings $ 691 $ 690
Borrowings, interest rate 4.125% 4.125%
Borrowing maturity 2042 2042
Oyu Tolgoi LLC Secured Loan due 2027 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 2,262 $ 2,259
Total borrowings $ 2,262 $ 2,259
Borrowing maturity 2027 2027
Oyu Tolgoi LLC Secured Loan due 2028 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 255 $ 247
Total borrowings $ 255 $ 247
Borrowing maturity 2028 2028
Oyu Tolgoi LLC Secured Loan due 2029 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 869 $ 866
Total borrowings $ 869 $ 866
Borrowing maturity 2029 2029
Oyu Tolgoi LLC Secured Loan due 2030 [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing $ 761 $ 754
Total borrowings $ 761 $ 754
Borrowing maturity 2030 2030
Loans from equity accounting units [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Current borrowings including overdrafts $ 31 $ 49
Total borrowings 31 49
Other secured loans [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing 451 530
Current borrowings including overdrafts 79 127
Total borrowings 530 657
Other unsecured loans [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing 393 377
Current borrowings including overdrafts 435 508
Total borrowings 828 885
Finance leases [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Non-current borrowing 49 24
Current borrowings including overdrafts 4 21
Total borrowings 53 45
Bank overdrafts [member]    
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [Line Items]    
Current borrowings including overdrafts 3 12
Total borrowings $ 3 $ 12