<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.2.0.7</Version>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>00 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R1.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0110 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Statements of Financial Condition</LongName>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Statements of Financial Condition</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/BalanceSheets</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R2.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0111 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Statements of Financial Condition (Footnote Amounts)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Statements of Financial Condition (Footnote Amounts)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/StatementOfConditionParenthetical</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R3.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0120 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Statements of Operations</LongName>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Statements of Operations</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/StatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R4.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0130 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/StatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R5.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0140 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Deficit</LongName>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Deficit</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/StatementOfChangesInShareholdersEquity</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R6.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0201 - Disclosure - Organization</LongName>
      <ShortName>Organization</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/Organization</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R7.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0202 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies</LongName>
      <ShortName>Significant accounting policies</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/SignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R8.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0203 - Disclosure - Investment in Gold</LongName>
      <ShortName>Investment in Gold</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/InvestmentInGold</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R9.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0204 - Disclosure - Related Parties - Sponsor, Trustee, Custodian and Marketing Agent Fees</LongName>
      <ShortName>Related Parties - Sponsor, Trustee, Custodian and Marketing Agent Fees</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/RelatedPartiesSponsorTrusteeCustodianAndMarketingAgentFees</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R10.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0205 - Disclosure - Concentration of Risk</LongName>
      <ShortName>Concentration of Risk</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/ConcentrationOfRisk</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R11.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0206 - Disclosure - Indemnification</LongName>
      <ShortName>Indemnification</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/Indemnification</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R12.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0207 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events</LongName>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Events</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/SubsequentEvents</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R13.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0402 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Significant accounting policies (Policies)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/SignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R14.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0502 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies (Tables)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Significant accounting policies (Tables)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/SignificantAccountingPoliciesTables</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R15.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0503 - Disclosure - Investment in Gold (Tables)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Investment in Gold (Tables)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/InvestmentInGoldTables</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R16.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0504 - Disclosure - Related Parties - Sponsor, Trustee, Custodian and Marketing Agent Fees (Tables)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Related Parties - Sponsor, Trustee, Custodian and Marketing Agent Fees (Tables)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/RelatedPartiesSponsorTrusteeCustodianAndMarketingAgentFeesTables</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R17.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0601 - Disclosure - Organization (Details)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Organization (Details)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/OrganizationDetails</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R18.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0602 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies (Details)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Significant accounting policies (Details)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/SignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R19.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0603 - Disclosure - Investment in Gold (Details)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Investment in Gold (Details)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/InvestmentInGoldDetails</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R20.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0604 - Disclosure - Related Parties - Sponsor, Trustee, Custodian and Marketing Agent Fees (Details)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Related Parties - Sponsor, Trustee, Custodian and Marketing Agent Fees (Details)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://spdrgoldshares.com/role/RelatedPartiesSponsorTrusteeCustodianAndMarketingAgentFeesDetails</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R21.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
      <Role />
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName />
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <ContextCount>25</ContextCount>
  <SegmentCount>6</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <UnitCount>5</UnitCount>
  <ElementCount>96</ElementCount>
  <FootnotesReported>true</FootnotesReported>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>NineMonthsEnded_30June2010_Custodian_Tier_One_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_02Aug2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Sep2009_Marketing_Agent_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>NineMonthsEnded_30June2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>26</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Mar2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Mar2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_30Sep2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>12</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Sep2009_Sponsor_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>NineMonthsEnded_30June2010_Trustee_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>ThreeMonthsEnded_30Jun2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>26</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>October-01-2009_June-30-2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>72</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Sep2008</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>5</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>NineMonthsEnded_30June2010_Marketing_Agent_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30June2010_Marketing_Agent_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30June2010_Custodian_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>NineMonthsEnded_30June2010_Custodian_Tier_Two_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30June2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>20</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>ThreeMonthsEnded_30Jun2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>26</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Sep2009_Custodian_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Sep2009_Trustee_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30June2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30June2010_Sponsor_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Sep2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>19</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>NineMonthsEnded_30June2010_Sponsor_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30June2010_Trustee_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
  </ContextSummary>
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
