2.2.0.7 false Significant accounting policies (Details) (USD $) 0602 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies (Details) true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 2 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 3 Valuation of Gold 1 gld_ValuationOfGoldAbstract gld false na duration Valuation of Gold. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Valuation of Gold. false 4 Investment in gold - average cost 2 gld_InvestmentInGold gld false debit instant Investment in Gold at lower of cost or market. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 true true false false 37550656000 37550656000 [1] false false false 2 true true false false 28463669000 28463669000 [1],[2] false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Investment in Gold at lower of cost or market. No authoritative reference available. false 5 Unrealized gain loss on investment in gold 2 gld_UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestmentInGold gld false credit instant The unrealized gain/loss on the Investment In Gold held by the Trust. false false false false false false false false false false true negatedtotal false 1 false true false false 15090939000 15090939000 false false false 2 false true false false 6563463000 6563463000 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The unrealized gain/loss on the Investment In Gold held by the Trust. No authoritative reference available. true 6 Investment in gold - market value 2 gld_MarketValueOfInvestmentInGold gld false debit instant Market value of investment in gold. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 52641595000 52641595000 false false false 2 false true false false 35027132000 35027132000 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Market value of investment in gold. No authoritative reference available. true 8 Number of Redeemable Shares: 2 gld_NumberOfRedeemableSharesAbstract gld false na duration Number of Redeemable Shares. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Number of Redeemable Shares. false 9 Opening Balance 3 us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued us-gaap true na instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false true false false periodstartlabel false 1 false true false false 358900000 358900000 false false false 2 false true false false 246500000 246500000 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false 10 Creations 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 95800000 95800000 false false false 2 false true false false 159000000 159000000 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Number of new stock issued during the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 10 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30 -Article 5 false 11 Redemptions 3 us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false -20800000 -20800000 false false false 2 false true false false -46600000 -46600000 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 10 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 43 -Chapter 1 -Section B -Paragraph 11A true 12 Closing Balance 3 us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued us-gaap true na instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false true false periodendlabel false 1 false true false false 433900000 433900000 false false false 2 false true false false 358900000 358900000 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false 13 Redeemable Shares: 2 us-gaap_CommonStockNumberOfSharesParValueAndOtherDisclosuresAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 14 Opening Balance 3 us-gaap_CommonStockValue us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false true false false periodstartlabel false 1 false true false false 35054043000 35054043000 [2],[3] false false false 2 false true false false 21471084000 21471084000 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Dollar value of issued common stock whether issued at par value, no par or stated value. This item includes treasury stock repurchased by the entity. Note: elements for number of common shares, par value and other disclosure concepts are in another section within stockholders' equity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false 15 Creations 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 10990097000 10990097000 false false false 2 false true false false 14408547000 14408547000 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Value of new stock issued during the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 10 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30, 31 -Article 5 false 16 Redemptions 3 us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false -2300422000 -2300422000 false false false 2 false true false false -4081786000 -4081786000 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents the value of stock that has been repurchased during the period and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30, 31 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 10 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 43 -Chapter 1 -Section B -Paragraph 11A false 17 Adjustment to redemption value 3 gld_AdjustmentOfRedeemableSharesToRedemptionValue gld false debit duration Adjustment reflecting the difference between cost and redemption value of redeemable shares. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 9048302000 9048302000 false false false 2 false true false false 3256198000 3256198000 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Adjustment reflecting the difference between cost and redemption value of redeemable shares. No authoritative reference available. true 18 Closing Balance 3 us-gaap_CommonStockValue us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false true false periodendlabel false 1 false true false false 52792020000 52792020000 [3] false false false 2 false true false false 35054043000 35054043000 [2],[3] false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Dollar value of issued common stock whether issued at par value, no par or stated value. This item includes treasury stock repurchased by the entity. Note: elements for number of common shares, par value and other disclosure concepts are in another section within stockholders' equity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false 19 Redemption Value per Redeemable Share at Period End 2 gld_RedemptionValuePerRedeemableShareAtPeriodEnd gld false na instant Redemption value per redeemable share at period end. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel true 1 true true false false 121.67 121.67 false false false 2 true true false false 97.67 97.67 false false false xbrli:decimalItemType decimal Redemption value per redeemable share at period end. No authoritative reference available. true 20 Significant accounting policies (Textual) 1 gld_SignificantAccountingPoliciesTextualAbstract gld false na duration Significant accounting policies. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Significant accounting policies. false 21 Gold receivable 2 us-gaap_ReceivablesNetCurrent us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 true true false false 170337467 170337467 false false false 2 true true false false 39068311 39068311 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The total amount due to the entity within one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from outside sources, including trade accounts receivable, notes and loans receivable, as well as any other types of receivables, net of allowances established for the purpose of reducing such receivables to an amount that approximates their net realizable value. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 4 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 false 22 Minimum block of shares issued redeemed against gold 2 gld_MinimumBlockOfSharesIssuedRedeemedAgainstGold gld false na duration Minimum block of shares issued or redeemed against gold deposits or distributions. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 100000 100000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Minimum block of shares issued or redeemed against gold deposits or distributions. No authoritative reference available. false 1 The market value of Investment in Gold at June 30, 2010 is $ 52,641,595 and at September 30, 2009, is $35,027,132. 2 Derived from audited statement of condition as of September 30, 2009. 3 Authorized share capital is unlimited and the par value of the Shares is $0.00. Shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2010 was 433,900,000 and at September 30, 2009 was 358,900,000. 2 19 false NoRounding NoRounding UnKnown true true