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Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value and Credit Risk of Financial Instruments - Additional information (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Nov. 26, 2014 bbl | Sep. 10, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Jun. 01, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2015 bbl
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transfers between levels of fair value hierarchy | $ 0 gfi_FairValueTransfersBetweenLevelsAmount | $ 0 gfi_FairValueTransfersBetweenLevelsAmount |  |  |  |  |
Oil derivative contracts | 10,300,000 us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity Contract |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Average recorded price net of refining charges (per ton) | 6,026 gfi_AverageRecordedPriceNetOfRefiningCharges / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember | 6,575 gfi_AverageRecordedPriceNetOfRefiningCharges / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |  |  | 7,322 gfi_AverageRecordedPriceNetOfRefiningCharges / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |  |
Applicable three month forward copper price | 6,378 us-gaap_DerivativeAverageForwardPrice / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity cash settle and swap transaction, volume |  |  | 283,500 gfi_VolumeOfCommoditySold / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |  |  |  |
Derivative contracts, price per barrel |  |  | 96.00 gfi_CommodityFixedPrice / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |  |  |  |
Derivative contracts, percent of usage |  |  |  | 50.00%gfi_DerivativeContractsPercentOfUsage / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |  |  |
Derivative contracts, spot price per barrel |  |  |  | 99.10 gfi_CommoditySpotPrice / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |  |  |
Commodity cash settled and swap transaction | 7,500 barrels per month effective 1 June 2013 until 31 March 2014 |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity cash settle and swap transaction outstanding, volume |  | 30,000 gfi_VolumeOfCommodityOutstanding / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |  |  |  |  |
Commodity cash settle and swap transaction, mark-to-market value |  | 300,000 us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |  |  |  |  |
Commodity Contract | Sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on mark-to-market value of contracts | $ (8,100,000)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_SalesMember | $ (7,900,000)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_SalesMember |  |  | $ 15,600,000 us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_SalesMember |  |
Commodity Contract | London Metal Exchange |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
LME copper prices, average price per ton | 6,881 gfi_CommodityAveragePrice / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis = exch_XLME | 7,324 gfi_CommodityAveragePrice / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis = exch_XLME |  |  | 7,951 gfi_CommodityAveragePrice / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis = exch_XLME |  |
Commodity Contract | Brent Crude |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative contracts, price per barrel |  |  | 78.50 gfi_CommodityFixedPrice / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / us-gaap_EnergyAxis = gfi_BrentCrudeMember |  |  |  |
Commodity Contract | Gold Fields Australia (Pty) Limited |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity cash settle and swap transaction, volume |  |  |  | 136,500 gfi_VolumeOfCommoditySold / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsAustraliaPtyLimitedMember |  |  |
Derivative contracts, price per barrel |  |  |  | 115.00 gfi_CommodityFixedPrice / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsAustraliaPtyLimitedMember |  |  |
Commodity Contract | St Ives Gold Mining Company (Pty) Ltd |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative contracts, price per barrel |  |  |  |  |  | 115.0 gfi_CommodityFixedPrice / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_StIvesGoldMiningCompanyPtyLimitedMember |
Commodity Contract | Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity cash settle and swap transaction, volume |  |  |  |  |  |  | 63,000 gfi_VolumeOfCommoditySold / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Derivative contracts, price per barrel |  |  |  |  |  |  | 94.00 gfi_CommodityFixedPrice / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized workforce participation | 73.10%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1 / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = us-gaap_WorkforceSubjectToCollectiveBargainingArrangementsMember / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = us-gaap_UnionizedEmployeesConcentrationRiskMember |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements [Member] | Peru |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized workforce participation | 12.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1 / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = us-gaap_WorkforceSubjectToCollectiveBargainingArrangementsMember / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = us-gaap_UnionizedEmployeesConcentrationRiskMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_PE |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements [Member] | Australia |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized workforce participation | 0.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1 / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = us-gaap_WorkforceSubjectToCollectiveBargainingArrangementsMember / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = us-gaap_UnionizedEmployeesConcentrationRiskMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_AU |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements [Member] | South Africa |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized workforce participation | 93.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1 / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = us-gaap_WorkforceSubjectToCollectiveBargainingArrangementsMember / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = us-gaap_UnionizedEmployeesConcentrationRiskMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_ZA |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements [Member] | Ghana |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized workforce participation | 96.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1 / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = us-gaap_WorkforceSubjectToCollectiveBargainingArrangementsMember / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = us-gaap_UnionizedEmployeesConcentrationRiskMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_GH |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Average recorded price net of refining charges. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Commodity average price + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Commodity fixed price + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Commodity spot price. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Derivative contracts percent of usage. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Fair Value Transfers Between Levels Amount + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | credit
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- Definition Volume Of Commodity Outstanding + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Volume of Commodity Sold + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Volume of commodity sold description. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13537-108611 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6404-108592 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13531-108611 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 18 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6351-108592 + Details
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- Definition The average forward price on the group of price risk forward or futures contracts, such as gas futures contracts. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4B -Subparagraph (a),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624163-113959 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226000-175313 + Details
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- Definition Fair value of the assets less the liabilities of a derivative or group of derivatives. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13433-108611 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13495-108611 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in the fair value of derivatives recognized in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5618551-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (a),(c),(d),(e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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- Details
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