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Other reserves and retained earnings - Summary of other reserves and retained earnings (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance $ 9,216    
Change in equity interest held by Rio Tinto   $ (165) [1] $ 3
Companies no longer consolidated (2) 8 5
Ending balance 12,284 9,216  
Parent and subsidiaries currency translation and exchange adjustments (70) 90  
Beginning balance 21,631    
Tax relating to components of other comprehensive income (153) 33 (178)
Share buy-back (2,397)    
Dividends (note 11) (4,653) (3,077) (4,391)
Employee share options and other IFRS 2 charges to the income statement 98 125 134
Ending balance 23,761 21,631  
Capital redemption reserve [Member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 34 34 28
Own shares purchased and cancelled 4   6
Ending balance 38 34 34
Hedging reserves [member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 32   12
Parent and subsidiaries' net cash flow hedge fair value gains/(losses) 62 (88) (41)
Parent and subsidiaries' net cash flow hedge (gains)/losses transferred to the income statement (62) 116 32
Tax on the above   4 (3)
Ending balance 32 32  
Available for sale revaluation reserves [member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance (126) (139) (130)
Gains/(losses) on available for sale securities 19 13 (16)
Losses on available for sale securities transferred to the income statement 6   7
Tax on the above (1)    
Transfers and other movements 122    
Ending balance 20 (126) (139)
Other reserves [member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 11,861 11,735 11,704
Change in equity interest held by Rio Tinto   108  
Own shares purchased from Rio Tinto Limited shareholders to satisfy share options (64) (43) (25)
Employee share options: value of services 31 58 58
Deferred tax on share options 10 3 (2)
Companies no longer consolidated (124)    
Ending balance 11,714 11,861 11,735
Foreign currency translation reserve [member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 9,216 9,139  
Ending balance 12,284 9,216 9,139
Beginning balance (2,585) (2,491) (492)
Parent and subsidiaries currency translation and exchange adjustments 2,942 (204) (1,940)
Equity accounted units currency translation adjustments 34 11 (57)
Currency translation reclassified on disposal 78 99 (2)
Transfers and other movements 11    
Ending balance 480 (2,585) (2,491)
Retained earnings [Member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Change in equity interest held by Rio Tinto 43 40 [1] 20
Own shares purchased from Rio Tinto Limited shareholders to satisfy share options (133)    
Companies no longer consolidated 130    
Beginning balance 21,631 19,736 26,110
Parent and subsidiaries' profit/(loss) for the year 8,423 4,298 (1,218)
Equity accounted units' profit after tax for the year 339 319 352
Actuarial gains/(losses) 1 (94) 616
Tax relating to components of other comprehensive income (150) 30 (173)
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year 8,613 4,553 (423)
Share buy-back (2,312)   (1,946)
Dividends (note 11) (4,250) (2,725) (4,076)
Companies no longer consolidated 130    
Own shares purchased/treasury shares reissued for share options and other movements (18) (37) (27)
Employee share options and other IFRS 2 charges to the income statement 57 64 78
Transfer and other movements (133)    
Ending balance $ 23,761 $ 21,631 $ 19,736
[1] The restructure of Coal & Allied Industries Limited completed on 3 February 2016. The restructure involved the exchange of a 32.4 per cent interest in Hunter Valley Operations mine for an additional 20 per cent shareholding in Coal & Allied Industries Limited, increasing Rio Tinto’s shareholding of Coal & Allied Industries Limited from 80 per cent to 100 per cent. Rio Tinto sold its 100 per cent interest in Coal & Allied Industries Limited on 1 September 2017.