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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, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance $ 12,284    
Change in equity interest held by Rio Tinto [1]     $ (165)
Own shares purchased from Rio Tinto shareholders to satisfy share options (254) [2] $ (82) [2] (80)
Companies no longer consolidated   (2) 8
Ending balance 8,661 12,284  
Parent and subsidiaries currency translation and exchange adjustments 213 (70)  
Beginning balance 23,761    
Tax relating to components of other comprehensive income (325) (153) 33
Dividends (5,771) (4,653) (3,077)
Employee share options and other IFRS 2 charges to the income statement 111 98 125
Ending balance 27,025 23,761  
Capital redemption reserve [Member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 38 34 34
Own shares purchased and cancelled 9 4  
Ending balance 47 38 34
Cash flow hedge reserve [member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 32 32  
Adjustment for transition to new accounting standards (note 45) (4)    
Cash flow hedge gains/(losses) 156 62 (88)
Cash flow hedge losses/(gains) transferred to the income statement 40 (62) 116
Tax on the above (54)   4
Transfers and other movements 25    
Ending balance 195 32 32
Available for sale revaluation reserves [member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 20 (126) (139)
Adjustment for transition to new accounting standards (note 45) (20)    
Gains on available for sale securities   19 13
Losses on available for sale securities transferred to the income statement   6  
Tax on the above   (1)  
Transfers and other movements   122  
Ending balance   20 (126)
Fair Value through Other Comprehensive Income reserve [member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Adjustment for transition to new accounting standards (note 45) 8    
Losses on equity investments (11)    
Transfers to retained earnings (3)    
Ending balance (6)    
Cost of Hedging Reserve [Member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Adjustment for transition to new accounting standards (note 45) 26    
Cost of hedging deferred to reserves during the year (36)    
Transfer of cost of hedging to the income statement (3)    
Ending balance (13)    
Other reserves [member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 11,714 11,861 11,735
Change in equity interest held by Rio Tinto     108
Own shares purchased from Rio Tinto Limited shareholders to satisfy share options (114) (64) (43)
Own shares purchased from Rio Tinto shareholders to satisfy share options 52 31 58
Deferred tax on share options (2) 10 3
Companies no longer consolidated   (124)  
Ending balance 11,650 11,714 11,861
Foreign currency translation reserve [member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Beginning balance 12,284 9,216  
Ending balance 8,661 12,284 9,216
Beginning balance 480 (2,585) (2,491)
Parent and subsidiaries currency translation and exchange adjustments (3,658) 2,942 (204)
Equity accounted units currency translation adjustments (48) 34 11
Currency translation reclassified on disposal 14 78 99
Transfers and other movements   11  
Ending balance (3,212) 480 (2,585)
Retained earnings [Member]      
Disclosure Of Other Reserves And Retained Earnings [Line Items]      
Change in equity interest held by Rio Tinto 60 43 40 [1]
Own shares purchased from Rio Tinto Limited shareholders to satisfy share options (22) (133)  
Own shares purchased from Rio Tinto shareholders to satisfy share options (140) [2] (18) [2] (37)
Companies no longer consolidated   130  
Beginning balance 23,761 21,631 19,736
Adjustment for transition to new accounting standards (note 45) (179)    
Parent and subsidiaries' profit for the year 13,125 8,423 4,298
Equity accounted units' profit after tax for the year 513 339 319
Actuarial gains/(losses) 894 1 (94)
Tax relating to components of other comprehensive income (269) (150) 30
Total comprehensive income for the year 14,263 8,613 4,553
Share buy-back programme (5,423) (2,312)  
Dividends (5,356) (4,250) (2,725)
Companies no longer consolidated   130  
Employee share options and other IFRS 2 charges to the income statement 61 57 64
Transfer from FVOCI reserve 3    
Transfers and other movements (25) (133)  
Ending balance $ 27,025 $ 23,761 $ 21,631
[1] The restructure of Coal & Allied Industries Limited completed on 3 February 2016. The restructure involved the exchange of a 32.4% interest in Hunter Valley Operations mine for an additional 20% shareholding in Coal & Allied Industries Limited, increasing Rio Tinto’s shareholding of Coal & Allied Industries Limited from 80% to 100%. Rio Tinto sold its 100% interest in Coal & Allied Industries Limited on 1 September 2017.
[2] Net of contributions received from employees for share options.