Earnings per ordinary share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Basic earnings per share [abstract]
Net earnings attributable to owners of Rio Tinto	$ 11,552	$ 10,058	$ 12,392
Weighted average number of shares (in shares)	1,623.1	1,621.4	1,619.8
Basic earnings per ordinary share (in usd per share)	$ 7.117	$ 6.203	$ 7.650
Diluted earnings per share [abstract]
Effect of dilutive securities shares (in shares)	10.3	10.1	9.8
Net earnings attributable to owners of Rio Tinto	$ 11,552	$ 10,058	$ 12,392
Weighted average number of shares (in shares)	1,633.4	1,631.5	1,629.6
Diluted earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of Rio Tinto (in usd per share)	$ 7.072	$ 6.165	$ 7.604
Cross holdings of shares (in shares)	0.0	0.0	0.0
– Rio Tinto plc
Basic earnings per share [abstract]
Weighted average number of shares (in shares)	1,252.1	1,250.5	1,248.9
– Rio Tinto Limited
Basic earnings per share [abstract]
Weighted average number of shares (in shares)	371.0	370.9	370.9

The weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding plus the weighted average number of ordinary shares that would be issued on the conversion of all the dilutive potential ordinary shares into ordinary shares. [Refer: Ordinary shares [member]; Weighted average [member]]

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The amount of profit (loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent entity (the numerator) divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period (the denominator).

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The amount of profit (loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent entity (the numerator), divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period (the denominator), both adjusted for the effects of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. [Refer: Ordinary shares [member]; Weighted average [member]]

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The potential dilutive effect on the weighted average number of ordinary shares that relate to the assumed exercise of the entity's share options.

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The profit (loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent entity. [Refer: Profit (loss)]

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The profit (loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent entity, adjusted for the effects of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. [Refer: Profit (loss)]

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The number of ordinary shares outstanding at the beginning of the period, adjusted by the number of ordinary shares bought back or issued during the period multiplied by a time-weighting factor.

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Cross Holdings of Shares

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