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Estimated Capital Allowances (Detail) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]    
Tax losses $ 162,800,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards $ 159,800,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
Calculated tax losses 551,900,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards 551,700,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
Gold Fields Operations    
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]    
Tax losses 84,900,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember		 [1] 90,400,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember		 [1]
Calculated tax losses 283,000,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember		 [1] 301,100,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember		 [1]
Tax rate 30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember		 [1]  
GFI Joint Venture Holdings    
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]    
Tax losses 6,300,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember		 [1]  
Calculated tax losses 20,900,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember		 [1]  
Tax rate 30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember		 [1],[2]  
Gold Fields Group Services (Pty) Limited [Member]    
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]    
Tax losses 200,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsGroupServicesPtyLimitedMember		 [1] 2,300,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsGroupServicesPtyLimitedMember		 [1]
Calculated tax losses 800,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsGroupServicesPtyLimitedMember		 [1] 8,200,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsGroupServicesPtyLimitedMember		 [1]
Tax rate 28.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsGroupServicesPtyLimitedMember		 [1]  
Abosso Goldfields Limited    
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]    
Tax losses 16,300,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember		 [3] 2,600,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember		 [3]
Calculated tax losses 46,500,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember		 [3] 7,200,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember		 [3]
Tax rate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember		 [3]  
Orogen Investments SA (Luxembourg)    
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]    
Tax losses 36,800,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_OrogenInvestmentSaLuxembourgMember		 [4] 41,200,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_OrogenInvestmentSaLuxembourgMember		 [4]
Calculated tax losses 126,000,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_OrogenInvestmentSaLuxembourgMember		 [4] 140,400,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_OrogenInvestmentSaLuxembourgMember		 [4]
Tax rate 29.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_OrogenInvestmentSaLuxembourgMember		 [4]  
Gold Fields Arctic Platinum Oy    
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]    
Tax losses 18,300,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsArcticPlatinumOyMember		 [5] 23,300,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsArcticPlatinumOyMember		 [5]
Calculated tax losses $ 74,700,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsArcticPlatinumOyMember		 [5] $ 94,800,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsArcticPlatinumOyMember		 [5]
Tax rate 24.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsArcticPlatinumOyMember		 [5]  
[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] Tax losses may be carried forward for five years. These losses expire on a first-in-first-out basis.
[4] The tax losses can only be used to offset future interest income generated by Orogen and can be carried forward indefinitely.
[5] Tax losses may be carried forward for ten years. These losses expire on a first-in first-out basis.