2.2.0.25falsefalse41201 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2009_To_12_31_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2008_To_12_31_2008http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000882095duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://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$2true0us-gaap_GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlementAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_DescriptionOfLesseeLeasingArrangementsOperatingLeasesus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1falsefalsefalse00<p style="margin-top: 6px; text-indent: 4%; margin-bottom: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">We have entered into various long-term non-cancelable operating leases for equipment and facilities. We lease facilities in Foster City, Palo Alto and San Dimas, California; Durham, North Carolina; Boulder, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; the Dublin and Cork areas of Ireland and the London area of the United Kingdom. We also have operating leases for sales, marketing and administrative facilities in Europe, Canada and Asia Pacific. Our leases expire on various dates between 2011 and 2029, with many of our leases containing options to renew. Certain facility leases also contain rent escalation clauses. Our most significant lease, related to a facility in Seattle, Washington, expires in 2020 and has a 10-year term. The lease provides us with three consecutive rights to extend the term of the lease through 2035 and contains an annual three percent rent escalation clause. The lease also requires us to pay additional amounts for operating expenses and maintenance. We also have leases for three corporate aircraft, with varying terms, with renewal options upon expiration of the lease terms. </font></p>We have entered into various long-term non-cancelable operating leases for equipment and facilities. We lease facilities in Foster City, Palo Alto and Sanfalsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringA general description of the nature of the existing leasing arrangements of a lessor' for all operating leases including, but not limited to: (1) rental escalation clauses; (2) renewal or purchase options; (3) guarantees or indemnities, if any, (4) restrictions imposed by lease arrangements; (5) unusual provisions or conditions; (6) contingent rentals, if any; and (7) lease expiration dates.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpenseus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse4170000041.7falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3730000037.3falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2930000029.3falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRental expense incurred for leased assets including furniture and equipment which has not been recognized in costs and expenses applicable to sales and revenues; for example, cost of goods sold or other operating costs and expenses.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
-Paragraph 15
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph c
falsefalse5false0us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinOneYearus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse640300000640.3falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate amount of payments due in the first year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse6false0us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInSecondYearus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse149300000149.3falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate amount of payments due in the second year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse7false0us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInThirdYearus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse5750000057.5falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate amount of payments due in the third year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse8false0us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInFourthYearus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2020000020.2falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate amount of payments due in the fourth year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse9false0us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInFifthYearus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse31000003.1falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate amount of payments due in the fifth year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse10false0gild_ActualPaymentsForPurchasesRelatedToActivePharmaceuticalIngredientsgildfalsedebitdurationActual payments for purchases related to active pharmaceutical ingredients.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1truefalsefalse835700000835.7falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse10300000001030.0falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse10400000001040.0falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryActual payments for purchases related to active pharmaceutical ingredients.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse39Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)HundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue