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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName GMO TRUST
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jun. 30, 2012
GMO Trust | GMO Emerging Domestic Opportunities Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading GMO EMERGING DOMESTIC OPPORTUNITIES FUND
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Total return.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock The tables below describe the fees and expenses that you may pay for each class of shares if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund operating expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination June 30, 2013
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities. A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its fiscal year ended February 29, 2012, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term investments) was 459% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 459.00%
Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text] rr_ExpensesRestatedToReflectCurrent “Other expenses” have been restated to reflect current fees.

The amount has been restated to reflect current fees of certain underlying funds.
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same as those shown in the table. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption If you sell your shares
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption If you do not sell your shares
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock The Fund typically makes equity investments directly and indirectly (e.g., through underlying funds or derivatives) in companies whose prospects are linked to the internal (“domestic”) development and growth of the world’s non-developed markets (“emerging markets”), including companies that provide goods and services to emerging market consumers. “Emerging markets” include all markets that are not treated as “developed markets” in the MSCI World Index or MSCI EAFE Index.

The term “equity investments” refers to direct and indirect investments in common stocks and other stock-related securities, such as preferred stocks, convertible securities, depositary receipts, and exchange-traded equity REITs and income trusts. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests directly and indirectly at least 80% of its assets in investments related to emerging markets (see “Name Policies”). The Fund’s investments are not limited to investments in companies located in any particular country or geographic region, and may include investments in companies located in developed markets (e.g., the U.S.) that are related to, or whose prospects are linked to, emerging markets. The Manager does not seek to manage the Fund to, or control the Fund’s risk relative to, any index or benchmark.

The Manager uses primarily fundamental analysis to evaluate and select countries, sectors and companies that it believes are most likely to benefit from domestic growth in emerging markets. In evaluating and selecting investments, the Manager may consider many factors, including the Manager’s assessment of a country’s and/or sector’s fundamentals or growth prospects as well as a company’s positioning relative to its competitors.

As a substitute for direct investments in equities, the Manager may use exchange-traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). The Manager also may use derivatives and ETFs: (i) in an attempt to reduce investment exposures (which may result in a reduction below zero); (ii) in an attempt to adjust elements of the Fund’s investment exposure; and (iii) as a substitute for securities lending. Derivatives used may include options, futures, warrants, swap contracts, and reverse repurchase agreements. The Fund’s non-U.S. currency exposure may differ from the currency exposure represented by its equity investments. In addition, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities.

The Fund may choose to make some or all of its investments through one or more wholly-owned, non-U.S. subsidiaries. GMO may serve as the investment manager to these companies but will not receive any additional management or other fees for its services.

For cash management purposes, the Fund may invest in U.S. Treasury Fund and unaffiliated money market funds.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal risks of investing in the Fund
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock The value of the Fund’s shares changes with the value of the Fund’s investments. Many factors can affect this value, and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund is a non-diversified investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and therefore a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. For a more complete discussion of these risks, see “Description of Principal Risks.”
  • Market Risk – Equity Securities – The market price of equity investments may decline due to factors affecting the issuing companies, their industries, or the economy and equity markets generally. If the Fund purchases equity investments at a discount from their value as determined by the Manager, the Fund runs the risk that the market prices of these investments will not appreciate to or decline from that value for a variety of reasons, one of which may be the Manager’s overestimation of the value of those investments. Because the Fund normally does not take temporary defensive positions, declines in stock market prices generally are likely to reduce the net asset value of the Fund’s shares.
  • Non-U.S. Investment Risk – The market prices of many non-U.S. securities fluctuate more than those of U.S. securities. Many non-U.S. markets are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. markets, and the cost of trading in those markets often is higher than in U.S. markets. Non-U.S. portfolio transactions generally involve higher commission rates, transfer taxes, and custodial costs than similar transactions in the U.S. In addition, the Fund may be subject to non-U.S. taxes, including potentially on a retroactive basis, on (i) capital gains it realizes or dividends or interest it receives on non-U.S. securities, (ii) transactions in those securities and (iii) the repatriation of proceeds generated from the sale of those securities. Also, many non-U.S. markets require a license for the Fund to invest directly in those markets, and the Fund is subject to the risk that it could not invest if its license were terminated or suspended. In some non-U.S. markets, prevailing custody and trade settlement practices (e.g., the requirement to pay for securities prior to receipt) expose the Fund to credit and other risks with respect to participating brokers, custodians, clearing banks or other clearing agents, escrow agents and issuers. Further, adverse changes in investment regulations, capital requirements or exchange controls could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. These and other risks (e.g., nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation of assets of non-U.S. issuers) tend to be greater for investments related to emerging markets, the economies of which tend to be more volatile than the economies of developed markets.
  • Currency Risk – Fluctuations in exchange rates can adversely affect the market value of the Fund’s non-U.S. currency holdings and investments denominated in non-U.S. currencies.
  • Liquidity Risk – Low trading volume, lack of a market maker, large position size, or legal restrictions may limit or prevent the Fund from selling particular securities or unwinding derivative positions at desirable prices.
  • Focused Investment Risk – The Fund’s investments in companies whose prospects are linked to the internal development and growth of emerging markets create additional risk because the performance of those companies is likely to be highly correlated.
  • Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk – Geopolitical and other events may disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Those events, as well as other changes in non-U.S. and U.S. economic and political conditions, could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments.
  • Smaller Company Risk – Smaller companies may have limited product lines, markets, or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, or may lack managers with experience or depend on a few key employees. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.
  • Large Shareholder Risk – To the extent that a large number of shares of the Fund is held by a single shareholder (e.g., an institutional investor or another GMO Fund) or a group of shareholders with a common investment strategy (e.g., GMO asset allocation accounts), the Fund is subject to the risk that a redemption by those shareholders of all or a large portion of their Fund shares will disrupt the Fund’s operations.
  • Management and Operational Risk – The Fund runs the risk that GMO’s investment techniques will fail to produce desired results. The Fund’s portfolio managers may use quantitative analyses and models, and any imperfections or limitations in those analyses and models could affect the ability of the portfolio managers to implement the strategies they wish to pursue. By necessity, these analyses and models make simplifying assumptions that limit their efficacy. Models that appear to explain prior market data can fail to predict future market events. Further, the data used in models may be inaccurate and may not include the most recent information about a company or a security. The Fund also runs the risk that GMO’s fundamental assessment of an investment may be wrong or that deficiencies in GMO’s or another service provider’s internal systems or controls will cause losses for the Fund or impair Fund operations. The Fund is also subject to risk because GMO does not seek to manage the Fund to, or control the Fund’s risk relative to, any index or benchmark.
  • Derivatives Risk – The use of derivatives involves the risk that their value may not move as expected relative to the value of the relevant underlying assets, rates, or indices. Derivatives also present other risks, including market risk, liquidity risk, currency risk and counterparty risk.
  • Counterparty Risk – The Fund runs the risk that the counterparty to an OTC derivatives contract or a borrower of the Fund’s securities will be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations.
  • Fund of Funds Risk – The Fund is indirectly exposed to all of the risks of an investment in the underlying funds in which it invests, including the risk that those funds (including ETFs) will not perform as expected.
  • Leveraging Risk – The use of reverse repurchase agreements and other derivatives and securities lending creates leverage. Leverage increases the magnitude of the Fund’s losses when the value of its investments (including derivatives) declines.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney Many factors can affect this value, and you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus The Fund is a non-diversified investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and therefore a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock Because the Fund had not yet completed a full calendar year of operations as of the date of this Prospectus, performance information for the Fund is not included.
Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess Because the Fund had not yet completed a full calendar year of operations as of the date of this Prospectus, performance information for the Fund is not included.
GMO Trust | GMO Emerging Domestic Opportunities Fund | Class II
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Purchase premium (as a percentage of amount invested) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 0.80%
Redemption fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption 0.80%
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75% [1]
Shareholder service fee rr_DistributionOrSimilarNon12b1FeesOverAssets 0.22% [1]
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.13% [2]
Acquired fund fees and expenses (underlying fund expenses) rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.07% [3]
Total annual operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.17%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.02%) [1]
Total annual operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.15% [4]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 279 [5]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 536
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 812
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,603
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 196 [5]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 447
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 717
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,487
GMO Trust | GMO Emerging Domestic Opportunities Fund | Class III
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Purchase premium (as a percentage of amount invested) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 0.80%
Redemption fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption 0.80%
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75% [1]
Shareholder service fee rr_DistributionOrSimilarNon12b1FeesOverAssets 0.15% [1]
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.13% [2]
Acquired fund fees and expenses (underlying fund expenses) rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.07% [3]
Total annual operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.10%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.02%) [1]
Total annual operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.08% [4]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 272 [5]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 514
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 776
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,524
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 189 [5]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 425
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 679
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,408
GMO Trust | GMO Emerging Domestic Opportunities Fund | Class IV
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Purchase premium (as a percentage of amount invested) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 0.80%
Redemption fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption 0.80%
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75% [1]
Shareholder service fee rr_DistributionOrSimilarNon12b1FeesOverAssets 0.105% [1]
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.13% [2]
Acquired fund fees and expenses (underlying fund expenses) rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.07% [3]
Total annual operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.06%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.02%) [1]
Total annual operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.04% [4]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 268 [5]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 500
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 750
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,468
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 185 [5]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 410
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 654
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,351
GMO Trust | GMO Emerging Domestic Opportunities Fund | Class V
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Purchase premium (as a percentage of amount invested) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 0.80%
Redemption fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption 0.80%
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75% [1]
Shareholder service fee rr_DistributionOrSimilarNon12b1FeesOverAssets 0.085% [1]
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.13% [2]
Acquired fund fees and expenses (underlying fund expenses) rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.07% [3]
Total annual operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.04%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.02%) [1]
Total annual operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.02% [4]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 266 [5]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 493
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 740
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,446
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 183 [5]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 404
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 643
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,328
GMO Trust | GMO Emerging Domestic Opportunities Fund | Class VI
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Purchase premium (as a percentage of amount invested) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 0.80%
Redemption fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption 0.80%
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75% [1]
Shareholder service fee rr_DistributionOrSimilarNon12b1FeesOverAssets 0.055% [1]
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.13% [2]
Acquired fund fees and expenses (underlying fund expenses) rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.07% [3]
Total annual operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.01%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.02%) [1]
Total annual operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.99% [4]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 263 [5]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 484
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 724
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,411
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 180 [5]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 395
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 627
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,294
[1] Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC (the "Manager" or "GMO") has contractually agreed to reimburse the Fund for the following expenses to the extent that they are borne by the Fund: audit expenses, fund accounting expenses, pricing service expenses, non-investment related tax expenses, transfer agency expenses, non-investment related legal expenses provided to the Fund by or at the direction of the Manager, federal securities law filing expenses, printing expenses, state and federal registration fees and any portion of custody expenses that exceeds 0.10% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Manager also has agreed to waive and/or reduce the Fund's management fees and shareholder service fees to the extent necessary to offset the management fees and shareholder service fees directly or indirectly paid to the Manager as a result of the Fund's direct or indirect investments in other GMO Funds. Management fees and shareholder service fees will not be waived below zero. These waivers and reimbursements will continue through at least June 30, 2013, and may not be terminated prior to this date without the action or consent of the Fund's Board of Trustees.
[2] "Other expenses" have been restated to reflect current fees.
[3] The amount has been restated to reflect current fees of certain underlying funds. These indirect expenses include commission fees ("transaction fees") charged by certain underlying funds. Net fees and expenses of underlying funds (before addition of transaction fees and as restated) and indirect transaction fees were 0.01% and 0.06%, respectively.
[4] Total annual operating expenses after expense reimbursement (Fund and underlying fund expenses)
[5] After reimbursement