2.2.0.25truefalse40801 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Equipment (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_1_31_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2009-01-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2false0gild_NoOfAcresOfLandPurchasedgildfalsenainstantNo Of Acres Of Land Purchasedfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse3030falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerNo Of Acres Of Land PurchasedNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsAcquisitionCostsOrSaleProceedsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse140100000140.1falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe value of all consideration given or received by the Entity in the significant acquisition or disposal.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurepropertyplantandequipmentnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis} : Land [Member]
1/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_1_31_20095http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2009-01-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLand [Member]us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_LandMemberus-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsAcquisitionCostsOrSaleProceedsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse7160000071.6falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe value of all consideration given or received by the Entity in the significant acquisition or disposal.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurepropertyplantandequipmentnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis} : Land Improvements [Member]
1/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_1_31_20094http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2009-01-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLand Improvements [Member]us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_LandImprovementsMemberus-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsAcquisitionCostsOrSaleProceedsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse27000002.7falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe value of all consideration given or received by the Entity in the significant acquisition or disposal.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurepropertyplantandequipmentnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis} : Building [Member]
1/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_1_31_20093http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2009-01-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseBuilding [Member]us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_BuildingMemberus-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsAcquisitionCostsOrSaleProceedsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse6430000064.3falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe value of all consideration given or received by the Entity in the significant acquisition or disposal.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.gilead.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurepropertyplantandequipmentnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis} : Office and Computer Equipment [Member]
1/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_1_31_20092http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095instant2009-01-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseOffice and Computer Equipment [Member]us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigild_OfficeAndComputerEquipmentMemberus-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse11false0us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsAcquisitionCostsOrSaleProceedsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse11000001.1falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe value of all consideration given or received by the Entity in the significant acquisition or disposal.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse110Property, Plant and Equipment (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)HundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
