2.2.0.7 false Balance Sheets (USD $) 00100 - Statement - Balance Sheets true false In Thousands false false 1 USD false false Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Unit13 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit1 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 2 USD false false Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Unit1 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit13 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 5 ASSETS 3 us-gaap_AssetsAbstract 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 xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 6 Silver bullion inventory (fair value of $5,516,245 and $5,185,449, respectively) 4 slv_SilverBullionInventory slv false debit instant Carrying amount of silver bullion as of the balance sheet date. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 true true false false 4131105000 4131105 false false false 2 true true false false 4210142000 4210142 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Carrying amount of silver bullion as of the balance sheet date. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Payable for capital shares redeemed 4 slv_PayableForCapitalSharesRedeemed slv false credit instant Carrying amount of silver bullion payable for capital shares redeemed as of the balance sheet date. false false false false false false false false false false true negated false 1 false true false false -9601000 -9601 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Carrying amount of silver bullion payable for capital shares redeemed as of the balance sheet date. No authoritative reference available. false 8 TOTAL ASSETS 4 us-gaap_Assets us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 4121504000 4121504 false false false 2 false true false false 4210142000 4210142 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (CON) -Number 6 -Paragraph 25 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 18 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 12 -Article 7 true 9 LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CAPITAL SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) 3 slv_LiabilitiesRedeemableCapitalSharesAndShareholdersEquityDeficitAbstract slv false na duration LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CAPITAL SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) [Abstract] false false false false false true false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CAPITAL SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) [Abstract] false 10 Sponsor's fees payable 4 slv_SponsorsFeesPayable slv false credit instant Carrying amount due to the sponsor of the trust as of the balance sheet date. false false false false false false false false false false true negated false 1 false true false false 2241000 2241 false false false 2 false true false false 2295000 2295 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Carrying amount due to the sponsor of the trust as of the balance sheet date. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Total liabilities 4 us-gaap_Liabilities us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false true negatedtotal false 1 false true false false 2241000 2241 false false false 2 false true false false 2295000 2295 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all liabilities that are recognized. Liabilities are probable future sacrifices of economic benefits arising from present obligations of an entity to transfer assets or provide services to other entities in the future. No authoritative reference available. true 12 Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 5) 4 us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingencies2009 us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false 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 Represents the caption on the face of the balance sheet to indicate that the entity has entered into (1) purchase or supply arrangements that will require expending a portion of its resources to meet the terms thereof, and (2) is exposed to potential losses or, less frequently, gains, arising from (a) possible claims against a company's resources due to future performance under contract terms, and (b) possible losses or likely gains from uncertainties that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events that are deemed likely to occur do occur or fail to occur. This caption alerts the reader that one or more notes to the financial statements disclose pertinent information about the entity's commitments and contingencies. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 19 -Article 7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 8, 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 25 -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 17 -Article 9 false 13 Redeemable capital shares, no par value, unlimited amount authorized (at redemption value) - 300,400,000 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2010 and 310,700,000 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2009 4 slv_RedeemableCapitalShares slv false credit instant Dollar value of issued and outstanding shares false false false false false false false false false false true negated false 1 false true false false 5514003000 5514003 false false false 2 false true false false 5183154000 5183154 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Dollar value of issued and outstanding shares No authoritative reference available. false 14 Shareholders' equity (deficit) 4 slv_ShareholdersEquityDeficit slv false credit instant The cumulative amount of the reporting entity's undistributed earnings or deficit and adjustment to redeemable capital shares... false false false false false false false false false false true negated false 1 false true false false -1394740000 -1394740 false false false 2 false true false false -975307000 -975307 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The cumulative amount of the reporting entity's undistributed earnings or deficit and adjustment to redeemable capital shares to redemption value. No authoritative reference available. false 15 TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CAPITAL SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) 4 slv_TotalLiabilitiesRedeemableCapitalSharesAndShareholdersEquityDeficit slv false credit instant Total of all Liabilities, Redeemable Capital Shares and Shareholder's Equity (Deficit). false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 true true false false 4121504000 4121504 false false false 2 true true false false 4210142000 4210142 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Total of all Liabilities, Redeemable Capital Shares and Shareholder's Equity (Deficit). No authoritative reference available. true 2 11 false Thousands UnKnown UnKnown false true