XML 320 R117.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Net operating costs (excluding items shown separately) - Summary of net operating costs (excluding items shown separately) (Parenthetical) (Detail) £ in Millions, $ in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Nov. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 GBP (£) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Disclosure Of Operating Costs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease expenses |  | $ 787.0 | $ 555.0 |  | $ 541.0
Purchases of the other investors' share of production |  | 332.0 | 229.0 |  | 383.0
Pre-tax gains on disposals of property, plant and equipment | $ 549.0 | 586.0 | 138.0 |  | $ 354.0
United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Costs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Financial penalty |  |  | $ 36.4 | £ 27.4 |
Kitimat [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Operating Costs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gains on disposals of property, plant and equipment |  | $ 549.0 |  |  |

X
- Definition The gain on the disposal of property, plant and equipment. [Refer: Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 98 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_98_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_GainsOnDisposalsOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disclosure of operating costs. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_DisclosureOfOperatingCostsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Financial penalty payment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_FinancialPenaltyPayment
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Operating lease expenses. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_OperatingLeaseExpenses
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Purchases of other investors share of production accounted for using equity method investment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_PurchasesOfOtherInvestorsShareOfProductionAccountedForUsingEquityMethodInvestment
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CounterpartiesAxis=rio_UnitedKingdomsFinancialConductAuthorityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CounterpartiesAxis=rio_KitimatMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |