Line items represent disclosure of dividends.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

The amount of dividends recognised as distributions to owners.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 107
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_107&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DividendsPaid
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of dividends relating to the current year, recognised as distributions to owners of the parent. [Refer: Parent [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 106
-Subparagraph d
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_106_d&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of dividends relating to prior years, recognised as distributions to owners of the parent. [Refer: Parent [member]]

+ References

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DividendsRecognisedAsDistributionsToOwnersOfParentRelatingToPriorYears
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount, per share, of dividends recognised as distributions to owners.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DividendsRecognisedAsDistributionsToOwnersPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ComponentsOfEquityAxis=gfi_FinalDividendsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ComponentsOfEquityAxis=gfi_InterimDividendsMember
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Dividends - Summary of Dividends (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018 R / shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017 R / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 R / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 R / shares
Disclosure of Dividends [line items]
Total dividends	$ 45.5		$ 62.8		$ 39.2
Dividends per share - cents \| $ / shares	$ 0.06		$ 0.08		$ 0.05
Final Dividend [Member]
Disclosure of Dividends [line items]
Dividends recognised as distribution to owners	$ 34.7		$ 37.5		$ 10.6
Dividends per share - cents \| R / shares				R 0.50		R 0.60	R 0.21
Interim Dividend [Member]
Disclosure of Dividends [line items]
Dividends recognised as distribution to owners	$ 10.8		$ 25.3		$ 28.6
Dividends per share - cents \| R / shares		R 0.20		R 0.40		R 0.50