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Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of significant accounting policies [Abstract]
Increase To Provision For Uncertain Tax Positions	$ 44
Increase To Lease Liability	1,248
Additions to right-of-use assets	1,067
Adjustments To Other Assets And Liabilities	110
Adjustment to retained earnings due to IFRS 16	$ 69
Borrowing rate applied to lease liabilities (as a percent)		4.70%
Operating lease commitments reported as at 31 December 2018 under IAS 17		$ 1,717
Lease liability opening balance reported as at 1 January 2019 under IFRS 16		$ 1,292

X

- Definition

The amount of additions to right-of-use assets. [Refer: Right-of-use assets]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Note Effective 2019-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 16
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 53
-Subparagraph h
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_53_h&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of liabilities related to the entity's leases. Lease is a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to use an underlying asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Note Effective 2019-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 16
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 47
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_47_b&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The weighted average lessee's incremental borrowing rate applied to lease liabilities recognised in the statement of financial position at the date of initial application of IFRS 16. The incremental borrowing rate is the rate of interest that a lessee would have to pay to borrow over a similar term, and with a similar security, the funds necessary to obtain an asset of a similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Note Effective 2019-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 16
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph C12
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_C12_a&doctype=Appendix&seq=3
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Adjustments To Other Assets And Liabilities

+ References

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Adjustment to retained earnings due to IFRS 16

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Disclosure of significant accounting policies [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Increase through new leases, liabilities arising from new accounting standards

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rio_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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X

- Definition

Increase To Provision For Uncertain Tax Positions

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rio_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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X

- Definition

Operating Lease Commitment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rio_OperatingLeaseCommitment
Namespace Prefix:	rio_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration