XML 25 R26.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8

Investment in Gold - Investment in Gold (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 oz		Sep. 30, 2012 oz		Sep. 30, 2011 oz
Ounces of Gold:
Opening balance	42,803.6		39,928.9		41,813.1
Creations (excluding gold receivable at September 30, 2013 - 0, at September 30, 2012 - 0 and at September 30, 2011 - 0)	4,944.8		8,225.8		11,463.0
Redemptions (excluding gold payable at September 30, 2013 - 115.9, at September 30, 2012 - 339.3 and at September 30, 2011 - 321.2)	(18,348.0)		(5,187.1)		(13,192.2)
Sales of gold	(156.0)		(164.0)		(155.0)
Closing balance	29,244.4		42,803.6		39,928.9
Investment in Gold (lower of cost or market):
Opening balance	$ 50,726,261	[1]	$ 42,736,696		$ 37,736,064
Creations (excluding gold receivable at September 30, 2013 - $0, at September 30, 2012 - $0, and at September 30, 2011 - $0)	7,734,465		13,956,415		17,776,506
Redemptions (excluding gold payable at September 30, 2013 - $ 153,680, September 30, 2012 - $602,591, and at September 30, 2011 - $520,297)	(22,459,232)		(5,783,126)		(12,628,298)
Sales of gold	(188,717)		(183,724)		(147,576)
Closing balance	$ 35,812,777	[1]	$ 50,726,261	[1]	$ 42,736,696
[1] The market value of Investment in Gold at September 30, 2013 is $38,792,631 and at September 30, 2012 is $76,019,208.

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

Name:	gld_InvestmentInGoldLowerOfCostOrMarketAbstract
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