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Commitments - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
South African Peruvian and Ghanaian Operations [member]
Disclosure of Information about Guarantees [Line Items]
Environmental obligation guarantees amount	$ 112.1	$ 100.1

X

- Definition

Disclosure of information about guarantees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_DisclosureOfInformationAboutGuaranteesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Environmental obligation guarantees amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_EnvironmentalObligationGuaranteesAmount
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=gfi_SouthAfricanPeruvianAndGhanaianOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: