2.2.0.25truefalse40701 - Disclosure - Inventories (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Thousandsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$As_Of_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$As_Of_12_31_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_InventoryNetus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse12038090001203809falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse10517710001051771falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount (lower of cost or market) as of the balance sheet date of inventories less all valuation and other allowances. Excludes noncurrent inventory balances (expected to remain on hand past one year or one operating cycle, if longer).No authoritative reference available.falsefalse3false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureinventoriesnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Joint Venture, Gilead and BMS [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_2010636http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseJoint Venture, Gilead and BMS [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Joint Venture, Gilead and BMS [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_2009523http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseJoint Venture, Gilead and BMS [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_InventoryNetus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse811900000811900falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse667800000667800falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount (lower of cost or market) as of the balance sheet date of inventories less all valuation and other allowances. Excludes noncurrent inventory balances (expected to remain on hand past one year or one operating cycle, if longer).No authoritative reference available.falsefalse23Inventories (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
