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Unredeemed Capital Expenditure (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount $ 867.6us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards $ 883.8us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards
Unredeemed capital expenditure 2,883.3us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount 2,942.4us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
Gold Fields Operations    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount 197.0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember		 207.7us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember
Unredeemed capital expenditure 656.9us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember		 692.3us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember
Unredeemed capital expenditure, tax rate 30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember		 [1]  
GFI Joint Venture Holdings    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount 546.8us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember		 [2] 534.0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember		 [2]
Unredeemed capital expenditure 1,822.6us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember		 [2] 1,779.9us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember		 [2]
Unredeemed capital expenditure, tax rate 30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember		 [1],[2]  
Disallowance amount of SARS 1,108.8gfi_IncomeTaxExaminationAmountDisallowed
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember		  
Capital allowance 1,822.6gfi_AllowableCapitalAllowances
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember		  
Gold Fields La Cima    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount 105.8us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLaCimaMember		 [3] 135.3us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLaCimaMember		 [3]
Unredeemed capital expenditure 352.5us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLaCimaMember		 [3] 450.9us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLaCimaMember		 [3]
Unredeemed capital expenditure, tax rate 30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLaCimaMember		 [3]  
Abosso Goldfields Limited    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount 18.0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember		 6.8us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember
Unredeemed capital expenditure $ 51.3us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember		 $ 19.3us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember
Unredeemed capital expenditure, tax rate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember		 [4]  
[1] These future deductions may be utilized against income generated by the individual tax entity concerned and do not expire unless the tax entity ceases to commercially operate for a period longer than one year. Under South African mining tax ring-fencing legislation, each tax entity is treated separately and as such these deductions can only be utilized by the tax entities in which the deductions have been generated.
[2] During 2014, the South African Revenue Services ("SARS") issued a Finalisation of Audit Letter ("the Audit Letter") stating that SARS had disallowed US$1,108.8 million of GFIJVH's recognised capital allowance of US$1,822.6 million. The company has not received an assessment from SARS disallowing the US$1,108.8 million and the company believes it is more likely than not it has a defendable position over this matter.
[3] The estimated capital allowances do not have an expiration date. Gold Fields La Cima, or La Cima, currently has no tax losses available for utilization against future profits.
[4] Tax losses may be carried forward for five years. These losses expire on a first-in-first-out basis.