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Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Tranche
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2012
$ / shares
shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Cost of providing retirement benefits for defined contribution plans $ 32,800,000 $ 35,400,000 $ 32,300,000  
Share-based compensation allocation expense 10,900,000 26,000,000 40,500,000  
Incremental share-based compensation resulting from this modification 0      
Continuing operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense 10,900,000 26,000,000 40,500,000  
Discontinued operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense $ 0 $ 0 $ 4,600,000  
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Stock awards, expiry date Dec. 20, 2016      
The Gold Fields Limited 2005 Share Plan        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Options outstanding, average exercise price | $ / shares $ 6.03 $ 7.89 $ 8.89 $ 12.53
The Gold Fields Limited 2005 Share Plan | Continuing operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense   $ 1,700,000 $ 9,800,000  
The Gold Fields Limited 2005 Share Plan | Discontinued operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense     $ 2,700,000  
Performance Shares | The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense $ 0      
Share settlement period 3 years      
Internal target performance percentage 85.00%      
Performance shares settlement increased percentage 200.00%      
Outstanding options, vested | shares 0      
Number of Performance shares outstanding | shares 2,446,922 4,316,657 6,029,716 4,262,170
Performance Shares | The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Continuing operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense $ 8,200,000 $ 12,000,000 $ 18,800,000  
Performance Shares | The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Discontinued operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense     $ 1,100,000  
Bonus Shares | The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Number of equal tranches | Tranche 2      
Number of Performance shares outstanding | shares   2,161,922 882,072 792,376
Valuation method A future trading model is used to estimate the loss in value to the holders of Bonus Shares due to trading restrictions.      
Bonus Shares | The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Continuing operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense $ 2,700,000 $ 12,300,000 $ 11,900,000  
Bonus Shares | The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Discontinued operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense     800,000  
Bonus Shares | The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Minimum        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share settlement period 9 months      
Bonus Shares | The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Maximum        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share settlement period 18 months      
Stock Appreciation Rights | The Gold Fields Limited 2005 Share Plan        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Incremental share-based compensation resulting from this modification     $ 0  
Stock awards, expiry date Dec. 01, 2017      
Number of Performance shares outstanding | shares 1,025,178 1,818,261 3,151,728 4,318,909
Options exercisable | shares 0      
Options outstanding, average exercise price | $ / shares $ 6.03 $ 7.89    
Stock Appreciation Rights | The Gold Fields Limited 2005 Share Plan | Maximum        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Expiration period from grant date 6 years      
Restricted Stock | The Gold Fields Limited 2005 Share Plan        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share settlement period 3 years      
Number of Performance shares outstanding | shares     1,230,971 4,986,216