Loans - Summary of estimated fair value of loans and lending commitments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Schedule Of Estimated Fair Value Of Loans And Lending Commitments That Are Not Accounted For At Fair Value [Line Items]
Loans, Carrying Value	$ 111,843	$ 108,904
Loans, Estimated Fair Value	13,881	14,386
Level 2 [Member]
Schedule Of Estimated Fair Value Of Loans And Lending Commitments That Are Not Accounted For At Fair Value [Line Items]
Loans, Estimated Fair Value	11,054	12,496
Level 3 [Member]
Schedule Of Estimated Fair Value Of Loans And Lending Commitments That Are Not Accounted For At Fair Value [Line Items]
Loans, Estimated Fair Value	2,827	1,890
Amortized cost [Member]
Schedule Of Estimated Fair Value Of Loans And Lending Commitments That Are Not Accounted For At Fair Value [Line Items]
Loans, Carrying Value	95,456	89,195
Loans, Estimated Fair Value	96,615	89,186
Amortized cost [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Schedule Of Estimated Fair Value Of Loans And Lending Commitments That Are Not Accounted For At Fair Value [Line Items]
Loans, Estimated Fair Value	43,823	52,091
Amortized cost [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Schedule Of Estimated Fair Value Of Loans And Lending Commitments That Are Not Accounted For At Fair Value [Line Items]
Loans, Estimated Fair Value	52,792	37,095
Held for sale [Member]
Schedule Of Estimated Fair Value Of Loans And Lending Commitments That Are Not Accounted For At Fair Value [Line Items]
Loans, Carrying Value	2,506	5,323
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	2,506	5,323
Loans, Estimated Fair Value	2,513	5,409
Held for sale [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Schedule Of Estimated Fair Value Of Loans And Lending Commitments That Are Not Accounted For At Fair Value [Line Items]
Loans, Estimated Fair Value	1,438	4,157
Held for sale [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Schedule Of Estimated Fair Value Of Loans And Lending Commitments That Are Not Accounted For At Fair Value [Line Items]
Loans, Estimated Fair Value	$ 1,075	$ 1,252

No definition available.

Name:	gs_ScheduleOfEstimatedFairValueOfLoansAndLendingCommitmentsThatAreNotAccountedForAtFairValueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	gs_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after allowance and deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements and loans held for sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121593590&loc=d3e4428-111522

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of loan receivable, including, but not limited to, mortgage loans held for investment, finance receivables held for investment, policy loans on insurance contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2196772

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, before valuation allowance, of financing receivable classified as held-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121593590&loc=d3e4428-111522

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120238483&loc=d3e48678-111004

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableHeldForSaleAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	gs_FairValueMeasurementBasisAxis=gs_AmortizedCostMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	gs_FairValueMeasurementBasisAxis=gs_HeldForSaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: