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Financial instruments and risk management Financial instruments and risk management - Summary of borrowings in a hedge relationship (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
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Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Notional amount | $ 1,656 | $ 1,786
Rio Tinto Finance plc Euro Bonds 2.0% due 2020 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 2.00% | 2.00%
Rio Tinto Finance plc Euro Bonds 2.875% due 2024 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 2.875% | 2.875%
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 3.75% 2025 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 3.75% | 3.75%
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 7.125% 2028 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 7.125% | 7.125%
Alcan Inc. Debentures 7.25% due 2028 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 7.25% | 7.25%
Rio Tinto Finance plc Sterling Bonds 4.0% due 2029 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 4.00% | 4.00%
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 5.2% 2040 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 5.20% | 5.20%
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 4.75% 2042 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 4.75% | 4.75%
Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 4.125% 2042 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 4.125% | 4.125%
Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance plc Euro Bonds 2.0% due 2020 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Notional amount | $ 526 |
Carrying Value | 455 | $ 468
Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance plc Euro Bonds 2.875% due 2024 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Notional amount | 546 |
Carrying Value | 508 | 514
Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 3.75% 2025 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Notional amount | 1,200 |
Carrying Value | 1,229 | 1,170
Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 7.125% 2028 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Notional amount | 750 |
Carrying Value | 958 | 927
Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Alcan Inc. Debentures 7.25% due 2028 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Notional amount | 100 |
Carrying Value | 104 | 104
Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance plc Sterling Bonds 4.0% due 2029 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Notional amount | 807 |
Carrying Value | 647 | 633
Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 5.2% 2040 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Notional amount | 1,150 |
Carrying Value | 1,137 | 1,095
Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 4.75% 2042 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Notional amount | 500 |
Carrying Value | 483 | 462
Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 4.125% 2042 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Notional amount | 750 |
Carrying Value | $ 716 | $ 685
3 Month LIBOR, plus basis spread [Member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance plc Euro Bonds 2.0% due 2020 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Weighted average interest rate after swaps | 1.35% |
3 Month LIBOR, plus basis spread [Member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance plc Euro Bonds 2.875% due 2024 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Weighted average interest rate after swaps | 1.64% |
3 Month LIBOR, plus basis spread [Member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 3.75% 2025 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Weighted average interest rate after swaps | 1.39% |
3 Month LIBOR, plus basis spread [Member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 7.125% 2028 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Weighted average interest rate after swaps | 3.27% |
3 Month LIBOR, plus basis spread [Member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Alcan Inc. Debentures 7.25% due 2028 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Weighted average interest rate after swaps | 5.43% |
3 Month LIBOR, plus basis spread [Member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance plc Sterling Bonds 4.0% due 2029 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Weighted average interest rate after swaps | 2.65% |
3 Month LIBOR, plus basis spread [Member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 5.2% 2040 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Weighted average interest rate after swaps | 3.79% |
3 Month LIBOR, plus basis spread [Member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 4.75% 2042 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Weighted average interest rate after swaps | 3.42% |
3 Month LIBOR, plus basis spread [Member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 4.125% 2042 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Weighted average interest rate after swaps | 2.83% |
Fixed interest rate [member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance plc Euro Bonds 2.0% due 2020 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 2.00% |
Fixed interest rate [member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance plc Euro Bonds 2.875% due 2024 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 2.875% |
Fixed interest rate [member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 3.75% 2025 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 3.75% |
Fixed interest rate [member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 7.125% 2028 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 7.125% |
Fixed interest rate [member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Alcan Inc. Debentures 7.25% due 2028 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 7.25% |
Fixed interest rate [member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance plc Sterling Bonds 4.0% due 2029 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 4.00% |
Fixed interest rate [member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited Bonds 5.2% 2040 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 5.20% |
Fixed interest rate [member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 4.75% 2042 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 4.75% |
Fixed interest rate [member] | Interest rate risk [Member] | Borrowings in a Hedge Relationship [Member] | Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc Bonds 4.125% 2042 [Member] |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] |  |
Borrowings, interest rate | 4.125% |

X
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