2.2.0.7 false Income Statements (USD $) 00200 - Statement - Income Statements true false In Thousands, except Share data 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 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 3 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 4 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 $ 5 Revenue 3 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 xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 6 Proceeds from sales of silver to pay expenses 4 slv_ProceedsFromSalesOfSilverToPayExpenses slv false credit duration Proceeds derived from the sale of silver during the period to pay the trust's expenses. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 true true false false 6626000 6626 false false false 2 true true false false 4422000 4422 false false false 3 true true false false 13026000 13026 false false false 4 true true false false 7717000 7717 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Proceeds derived from the sale of silver during the period to pay the trust's expenses. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Cost of silver sold to pay expenses 4 slv_CostOfSilverSoldToPayExpenses slv false debit duration Cost of silver sold during the period to pay the trust's expenses. false false false false false false false false false false true negated false 1 false true false false -5038000 -5038 false false false 2 false true false false -4323000 -4323 false false false 3 false true false false -10287000 -10287 false false false 4 false true false false -7896000 -7896 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Cost of silver sold during the period to pay the trust's expenses. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Gain (loss) on sales of silver to pay expenses 4 slv_GainLossOnSalesOfSilverToPayExpenses slv false credit duration Realized gain or loss on sales of silver during the period to pay the trust's expenses. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 1588000 1588 false false false 2 false true false false 99000 99 false false false 3 false true false false 2739000 2739 false false false 4 false true false false -179000 -179 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Realized gain or loss on sales of silver during the period to pay the trust's expenses. No authoritative reference available. true 9 Gain (loss) on silver distributed for the redemption of shares 4 slv_GainLossOnSilverDistributedForRedemptionOfShares slv false credit duration Realized gain or loss on silver distributed for the redemption of shares. false false false false false false false false false false false label false 1 false true false false 56779000 56779 false false false 2 false true false false -277000 -277 false false false 3 false true false false 110206000 110206 false false false 4 false true false false -611000 -611 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Realized gain or loss on silver distributed for the redemption of shares. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Total gain (loss) on sales and distributions of silver 4 slv_TotalGainLossOnSalesAndDistributionsOfSilver slv false credit duration Total realized gain or loss on the sale and distribution of silver. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 58367000 58367 false false false 2 false true false false -178000 -178 false false false 3 false true false false 112945000 112945 false false false 4 false true false false -790000 -790 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Total realized gain or loss on the sale and distribution of silver. No authoritative reference available. true 11 Market value recovery (Note 2B) 4 slv_MarketValueRecovery slv false credit duration Income recognized for the reversal of the market value reserve during the period. Market value reserve is defined as an... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 38870000 38870 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0     false false false 4 false true false false 571784000 571784 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Income recognized for the reversal of the market value reserve during the period. Market value reserve is defined as an adjustment to the carrying value to equal the fair value of silver, when the carrying value is greater than the fair value. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Total revenue 4 us-gaap_Revenues us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 58367000 58367 false false false 2 false true false false 38692000 38692 false false false 3 false true false false 112945000 112945 false false false 4 false true false false 570994000 570994 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 true 13 Expenses 3 us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract 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 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 14 Sponsor's fees 4 slv_SponsorsFees slv false debit duration Fees paid to the sponsor of the trust. false false false false false false false false false false true negated false 1 false true false false -6690000 -6690 false false false 2 false true false false -4659000 -4659 false false false 3 false true false false -12972000 -12972 false false false 4 false true false false -8467000 -8467 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Fees paid to the sponsor of the trust. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Total expenses 4 us-gaap_OperatingExpenses us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false true negatedtotal false 1 false true false false -6690000 -6690 false false false 2 false true false false -4659000 -4659 false false false 3 false true false false -12972000 -12972 false false false 4 false true false false -8467000 -8467 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 INCOME 3 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 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 51677000 51677 false false false 2 true true false false 34033000 34033 false false false 3 true true false false 99973000 99973 false false false 4 true true false false 562527000 562527 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The portion of consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. If the entity does not present consolidated financial statements, the amount of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 19 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph d Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph A7 -Appendix A 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 SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 20 -Article 9 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 130 -Paragraph 10, 15 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 87-21 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28, 29, 30 true 17 Net income per share 3 slv_NetIncomeLossPerShare slv false na duration The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of redeemable capital shares outstanding during the reporting... false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel true 1 true true false false 0.17 0.17 false false false 2 true true false false 0.12 0.12 false false false 3 true true false false 0.33 0.33 false false false 4 true true false false 2.14 2.14 false false false us-types:perShareItemType decimal The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of redeemable capital shares outstanding during the reporting period. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Weighted-average shares outstanding 3 slv_WeightedAverageSharesOutstanding slv false na duration Number of shares determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that redeemable capital shares have... false false false false false false false false false false false label false 1 false true false false 299169780 299169780 false false false 2 false true false false 276922527 276922527 false false false 3 false true false false 303233978 303233978 false false false 4 false true false false 263348343 263348343 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Number of shares determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that redeemable capital shares have been outstanding to the total time in that period. No authoritative reference available. false 4 14 false Thousands NoRounding NoRounding false true