Assumption used to Value Shares (Detail) - ZAR / shares	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average historical volatility (based on a statistical analysis of the share price on a weighted moving average basis for the expected term of the option)	45.20%	44.40%
Expected term (months)	3 years	3 years
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan \| Bonus Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average historical volatility (based on a statistical analysis of the share price on a weighted moving average basis for the expected term of the option)		43.50%
Dividend yield		0.60%
Weighted average fair value (South African rand)		ZAR 40.28
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan \| Bonus Shares \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term (months)		9 months
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan \| Bonus Shares \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term (months)		18 months
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan \| Bonus Shares \| SA Interest Rates \| 3 Year [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average risk free interest rate		5.50%

The weighted average fair value of the share-based compensation awards/options.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)(2)(iii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

The risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)(2)(iv)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Weighted average expected volatility rate of share-based compensation awards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)(2)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Expected term of share-based compensation awards, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.D.2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)(2)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 14
-Section D
-Subsection 2

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