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Investment in Gold - Investment in Gold (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 oz		Sep. 30, 2011 oz		Sep. 30, 2010 oz
Ounces of Gold:
Opening balance	39,928.9		41,813.1		35,176.6
Creations (excluding gold receivable at September 30, 2012 - 0, at September 30, 2011 - 0 and at September 30, 2010 - 195.4)	8,225.8		11,463.0		11,001.2
Redemptions (excluding gold payable at September 30, 2012 - 339.3, at September 30, 2011 - 321.2 and at September 30, 2010 - 58.6)	(5,187.1)		(13,192.2)		(4,218.0)
Sales of gold	(164.0)		(155.0)		(146.7)
Closing balance	42,803.6		39,928.9		41,813.1
Investment in Gold (lower of cost or market):
Opening balance	$ 42,736,696	[1]	$ 37,736,064		$ 28,463,669
Creations (excluding gold receivable at September 30, 2012 - $0, at September 30, 2011 - $0, and at September 30, 2010 - $255,409)	13,956,415		17,776,506		13,004,707
Redemptions (excluding gold payable at September 30, 2012 - $602,591, at September 30, 2011 - $520,297, and at September 30, 2010 - $76,622)	(5,783,126)		(12,628,298)		(3,607,548)
Sales of gold	(183,724)		(147,576)		(124,764)
Closing balance	$ 50,726,261	[1]	$ 42,736,696	[1]	$ 37,736,064
[1] The market value of Investment in Gold at September 30, 2012 is $76,019,208 and at September 30, 2011 is $64,684,848.

X

- Definition

The cost of gold sold for the payment of the Trust's expenses which impacts the investment in gold asset.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gld_CostOfGoldSoldToPayExpensesImpactOnAssets
Namespace Prefix:	gld_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Ounces of gold received into the Trust's account in respect of creations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gld_CreationsOuncesOfGold
Namespace Prefix:	gld_
Data Type:	num:massItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Value (lower of cost or market) of gold received into the Trust's account in respect of creations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gld_CreationsValueOfGold
Namespace Prefix:	gld_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The value (lower of cost or market) of gold received by the Trust in respect of the issuance of shares.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gld_InvestmentInGold
Namespace Prefix:	gld_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gld_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Ounces of gold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gld_OuncesOfGold
Namespace Prefix:	gld_
Data Type:	num:massItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	gld_OuncesOfGoldAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	gld_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Ounces of gold paid out of the Trust's account in respect of redemptions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gld_RedemptionsOuncesOfGold
Namespace Prefix:	gld_
Data Type:	num:massItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Value (lower of cost or market) of gold paid out of the Trust's account in respect of redemptions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gld_RedemptionsValueOfGold
Namespace Prefix:	gld_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Ounces of gold sold by the Trust to meet the expenses of the Trust.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gld_SalesOfGoldOunces
Namespace Prefix:	gld_
Data Type:	num:massItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration