2.2.0.7 false Statements of Operations (USD $) 0120 - Statement - Statements of Operations true false In Thousands, except Per Share data false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard 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 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 3 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 4 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 5 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 6 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 7 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 8 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 9 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 10 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 11 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 3 REVENUES 1 us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. 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 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false 5 false false false false 0 0 false false false 6 false false false false 0 0 false false false 7 false false false false 0 0 false false false 8 false false false false 0 0 false false false 9 false false false false 0 0 false false false 10 false false false false 0 0 false false false 11 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 4 Proceeds from sales of gold 2 gld_ProceedsFromSalesOfGold gld false credit duration Proceeds from the sale of gold for the payment of the Trust's expenses. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 true true false false 52845000 52845 false false false 2 true true false false 42780000 42780 false false false 3 true true false false 37685000 37685 false false false 4 true true false false 37288000 37288 false false false 5 true true false false 33341000 33341 false false false 6 true true false false 32173000 32173 false false false 7 true true false false 23869000 23869 false false false 8 true true false false 18852000 18852 false false false 9 true true false false 170598000 170598 false false false 10 true true false false 108235000 108235 false false false 11 true true false false 68188000 68188 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Proceeds from the sale of gold for the payment of the Trust's expenses. No authoritative reference available. false 5 Cost of gold sold to pay expenses 2 gld_CostOfGoldSoldToPayExpensesImpactOnOperations gld false debit duration The cost of gold sold for the payment of the Trust's expenses which impacts the gain or loss from operations. false false false false false false false false false false true negatedtotal false 1 false true false false -38858000 -38858 false false false 2 false true false false -30894000 -30894 false false false 3 false true false false -27664000 -27664 false false false 4 false true false false -27348000 -27348 false false false 5 false true false false -28000000 -28000 false false false 6 false true false false -27786000 -27786 false false false 7 false true false false -20102000 -20102 false false false 8 false true false false -17606000 -17606 false false false 9 false true false false -124764000 -124764 false false false 10 false true false false -93494000 -93494 false false false 11 false true false false -50202000 -50202 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The cost of gold sold for the payment of the Trust's expenses which impacts the gain or loss from operations. No authoritative reference available. true 6 Gain on gold sold to pay expenses 2 us-gaap_GrossProfit 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 13987000 13987 false false false 2 false true false false 11886000 11886 false false false 3 false true false false 10021000 10021 false false false 4 false true false false 9940000 9940 false false false 5 false true false false 5341000 5341 false false false 6 false true false false 4387000 4387 false false false 7 false true false false 3767000 3767 false false false 8 false true false false 1246000 1246 false false false 9 false true false false 45834000 45834 false false false 10 false true false false 14741000 14741 false false false 11 false true false false 17986000 17986 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Gain on gold distributed for the redemption of shares 2 gld_GainLossOnGoldDistributedForRedemptionOfShares gld false credit duration Realized gain or loss on gold distributed for the redemption of shares. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 724932000 724932 false false false 2 false true false false 53934000 53934 false false false 3 false true false false 315102000 315102 false false false 4 false true false false 245452000 245452 false false false 5 false true false false 300503000 300503 false false false 6 false true false false 116608000 116608 false false false 7 false true false false 1508000 1508 false false false 8 false true false false 75113000 75113 false false false 9 false true false false 1339420000 1339420 false false false 10 false true false false 493732000 493732 false false false 11 false true false false 2018149000 2018149 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Realized gain or loss on gold distributed for the redemption of shares. No authoritative reference available. true 8 Total gain/(loss) on gold 2 gld_TotalGainLossOnGold gld false credit duration Total realized gain or loss on the sale and distribution of gold. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 738919000 738919 false false false 2 false true false false 65820000 65820 false false false 3 false true false false 325123000 325123 false false false 4 false true false false 255392000 255392 false false false 5 false true false false 305844000 305844 false false false 6 false true false false 120995000 120995 false false false 7 false true false false 5275000 5275 false false false 8 false true false false 76359000 76359 false false false 9 false true false false 1385254000 1385254 false false false 10 false true false false 508473000 508473 false false false 11 false true false false 2036135000 2036135 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Total realized gain or loss on the sale and distribution of gold. No authoritative reference available. true 9 EXPENSES 1 us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. 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 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false 5 false false false false 0 0 false false false 6 false false false false 0 0 false false false 7 false false false false 0 0 false false false 8 false false false false 0 0 false false false 9 false false false false 0 0 false false false 10 false false false false 0 0 false false false 11 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 10 Custody fees 2 us-gaap_CustodyFees 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 8422000 8422 false false false 2 false true false false 7612000 7612 false false false 3 false true false false 6452000 6452 false false false 4 false true false false 6544000 6544 false false false 5 false true false false 5577000 5577 false false false 6 false true false false 5448000 5448 false false false 7 false true false false 4494000 4494 false false false 8 false true false false 3344000 3344 false false false 9 false true false false 29030000 29030 false false false 10 false true false false 18863000 18863 false false false 11 false true false false 12307000 12307 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Those fees charged for services related to holding, advising, and managing customer investment assets. These account fees usually charged annually or semi-annually, on a per security basis, for the costs of services. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Trustee fees 2 us-gaap_TrusteeFees 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 504000 504 false false false 2 false true false false 499000 499 false false false 3 false true false false 493000 493 false false false 4 false true false false 504000 504 false false false 5 false true false false 504000 504 false false false 6 false true false false 499000 499 false false false 7 false true false false 493000 493 false false false 8 false true false false 504000 504 false false false 9 false true false false 2000000 2000 false false false 10 false true false false 2000000 2000 false false false 11 false true false false 2000000 2000 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Fees charged annually for the professional services of a trustee, usually quoted as a percentage of the funds being managed. An offshore trust must have a Trustee who will administer the assets in the trust for the Beneficiaries. The fee for appointing an offshore Trustee is included in the trust price. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Sponsor fees 2 us-gaap_SponsorFees 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 19349000 19349 false false false 2 false true false false 17461000 17461 false false false 3 false true false false 14606000 14606 false false false 4 false true false false 14833000 14833 false false false 5 false true false false 12623000 12623 false false false 6 false true false false 12278000 12278 false false false 7 false true false false 10112000 10112 false false false 8 false true false false 6933000 6933 false false false 9 false true false false 66249000 66249 false false false 10 false true false false 41946000 41946 false false false 11 false true false false 25472000 25472 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Fees paid to advisors who provide certain management support and administrative oversight services including the organization and sale of stock, investment funds, limited partnerships and mutual funds. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Marketing agent fees 2 us-gaap_MarketingExpense 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 19349000 19349 false false false 2 false true false false 17461000 17461 false false false 3 false true false false 14606000 14606 false false false 4 false true false false 14833000 14833 false false false 5 false true false false 12623000 12623 false false false 6 false true false false 12278000 12278 false false false 7 false true false false 10112000 10112 false false false 8 false true false false 6933000 6933 false false false 9 false true false false 66249000 66249 false false false 10 false true false false 41946000 41946 false false false 11 false true false false 25472000 25472 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Expenditures for planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, and services. Costs of public relations and corporate promotions are typically considered to be marketing costs. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Other expenses 2 us-gaap_OtherExpenses us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 3989000 3989 false false false 2 false true false false 3622000 3622 false false false 3 false true false false 2959000 2959 false false false 4 false true false false 3024000 3024 false false false 5 false true false false 2392000 2392 false false false 6 false true false false 2551000 2551 false false false 7 false true false false 2071000 2071 false false false 8 false true false false 1841000 1841 false false false 9 false true false false 13594000 13594 false false false 10 false true false false 8855000 8855 false false false 11 false true false false 5322000 5322 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a sum total of expenses not separately reflected on the income statement for the period. No authoritative reference available. true 15 Total expenses 2 us-gaap_OperatingExpenses us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 51613000 51613 false false false 2 false true false false 46655000 46655 false false false 3 false true false false 39116000 39116 false false false 4 false true false false 39738000 39738 false false false 5 false true false false 33719000 33719 false false false 6 false true false false 33054000 33054 false false false 7 false true false false 27282000 27282 false false false 8 false true false false 19555000 19555 false false false 9 false true false false 177122000 177122 false false false 10 false true false false 113610000 113610 false false false 11 false true false false 70573000 70573 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Includes selling, general and administrative expense. No authoritative reference available. true 16 Net gain/(loss) from operations 1 us-gaap_ProfitLoss us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 true true false false 687306000 687306 false false false 2 true true false false 19165000 19165 false false false 3 true true false false 286007000 286007 false false false 4 true true false false 215654000 215654 false false false 5 true true false false 272125000 272125 false false false 6 true true false false 87941000 87941 false false false 7 true true false false -22007000 -22007 false false false 8 true true false false 56804000 56804 false false false 9 true true false false 1208132000 1208132 false false false 10 true true false false 394863000 394863 false false false 11 true true false false 1965562000 1965562 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph A1, A4, A5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 29 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph a Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph c(1) true 17 Net gain/(loss) per share 1 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel true 1 true true false false 1.61 1.61 false false false 2 true true false false 0.05 0.05 false false false 3 true true false false 0.78 0.78 false false false 4 true true false false 0.59 0.59 false false false 5 true true false false 0.77 0.77 false false false 6 true true false false 0.24 0.24 false false false 7 true true false false -0.07 -0.07 false false false 8 true true false false 0.23 0.23 false false false 9 true true false false 3.10 3.10 false false false 10 true true false false 1.24 1.24 false false false 11 true true false false 9.60 9.60 false false false us-types:perShareItemType decimal The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock outstanding during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 21 -Article 9 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 36, 37, 38 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 20 -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 18 -Article 7 true 18 Weighted average number of shares (000's) 1 us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic 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 427237000 427237 false false false 2 false true false false 400502000 400502 false false false 3 false true false false 365749000 365749 false false false 4 false true false false 365974000 365974 false false false 5 false true false false 354866000 354866 false false false 6 false true false false 366115000 366115 false false false 7 false true false false 309078000 309078 false false false 8 false true false false 247616000 247616 false false false 9 false true false false 389968000 389968 false false false 10 false true false false 319348000 319348 false false false 11 false true false false 204762000 204762 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Number of [basic] shares, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares and other shares not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares have been outstanding to the total time in that period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 171 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 40 -Subparagraph a Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 8 true 11 16 false Thousands Thousands NoRounding false true