This item represents the percentage of the total available-for-sale securities portfolio that was in an unrealized loss position.

No definition available.

Name:	gild_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsPercentageOfTotal
Namespace Prefix:	gild_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration