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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName GMO TRUST
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jun. 30, 2012
GMO Trust | GMO Foreign Small Companies Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading GMO FOREIGN SMALL COMPANIES FUND
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Total return in excess of that of its benchmark, the S&P Developed ex-U.S. Small Cap Index.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock The tables below describe the fees and expenses that you may pay for each class of shares if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund operating expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination June 30, 2013
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities. A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its fiscal year ended February 29, 2012, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term investments) was 46% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 46.00%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same as those shown in the table. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption If you sell your shares
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption If you do not sell your shares
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock The Fund typically makes equity investments directly and indirectly (e.g., through underlying funds or derivatives) in companies tied economically to countries other than the U.S. (including both developed and emerging countries) whose outstanding publicly traded equities are in the lowest 25% of publicly traded market capitalization (float) in a particular country (“small companies”). The term “equity investments” refers to direct and indirect investments in common stocks and other stock-related securities, such as preferred stocks, convertible securities, depositary receipts, and exchange-traded equity REITs and income trusts. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests directly and indirectly at least 80% of its assets in securities of small companies that are tied economically to countries other than the U.S. (see “Name Policies”). The market capitalization range of companies whose equity investments are held by the Fund is generally within the market capitalization range of companies in the Fund’s benchmark, which represents the lowest 15% of publicly traded market capitalization (float) of the S&P Broad Market Index in each country. Depending on the country, as of May 31, 2012, the market capitalization of the outstanding common stock and other stock-related securities of the largest company (in a particular country) included in the S&P Developed ex-U.S. Small Cap Index ranged from approximately $269 million (Greece) to $8.6 billion (Germany) (based on exchange rates as of May 31, 2012). As of May 31, 2012, the publicly traded market capitalization of the largest small company (as defined by the Fund) ranged from approximately $297 million (Greece) to $21.4 billion (Switzerland) (based on exchange rates as of May 31, 2012).
  • Country selection – The Fund’s country selections relative to its benchmark are determined by the Manager’s proprietary quantitative value score for each country together with the Manager’s evaluation of the country’s fundamentals. The Fund typically overweights or underweights (sometimes to a significant extent) its investment exposure in particular countries relative to the Fund’s benchmark.
  • Stock selection – The Manager selects stocks using value based fundamental analysis that is informed by a disciplined quantitative screening process. The Manager analyzes companies for financial, operational, and managerial strength and compares them to their global, regional, and local industry peers. As part of the investment process, the Manager frequently meets with management and/or visits companies.

In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund may (but is not obligated to) use a wide variety of exchange-traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives, including, without limitation, futures and options, as well as exchange-traded funds. The Fund’s non-U.S. currency exposure may differ from the currency exposure of its equity investments. In addition, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities.

For cash management purposes, the Fund may invest in U.S. Treasury Fund and unaffiliated money market funds.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal risks of investing in the Fund
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock The value of the Fund’s shares changes with the value of the Fund’s investments. Many factors can affect this value, and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. For a more complete discussion of these risks, see “Description of Principal Risks.”
  • Smaller Company Risk – Smaller companies may have limited product lines, markets, or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, or may lack managers with experience or depend on a few key employees. The securities of small companies often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.
  • Market Risk – Equity Securities – The market price of equity investments may decline due to factors affecting the issuing companies, their industries, or the economy and equity markets generally. If the Fund purchases equity investments at a discount from their value as determined by the Manager, the Fund runs the risk that the market prices of these investments will not appreciate to or decline from that value for a variety of reasons, one of which may be the Manager’s overestimation of the value of those investments. Declines in stock market prices generally are likely to reduce the net asset value of the Fund’s shares.
  • Non-U.S. Investment Risk – The market prices of many non-U.S. securities fluctuate more than those of U.S. securities. Many non-U.S. markets are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. markets, and the cost of trading in those markets often is higher than in U.S. markets. Non-U.S. portfolio transactions generally involve higher commission rates, transfer taxes, and custodial costs than similar transactions in the U.S. In addition, the Fund may be subject to non-U.S. taxes, including potentially on a retroactive basis, on (i) capital gains it realizes or dividends or interest it receives on non-U.S. securities, (ii) transactions in those securities and (iii) the repatriation of proceeds generated from the sale of those securities. Also, many non-U.S. markets require a license for the Fund to invest directly in those markets, and the Fund is subject to the risk that it could not invest if its license were terminated or suspended. In some non-U.S. markets, prevailing custody and trade settlement practices (e.g., the requirement to pay for securities prior to receipt) expose the Fund to credit and other risks with respect to participating brokers, custodians, clearing banks or other clearing agents, escrow agents and issuers. Further, adverse changes in investment regulations, capital requirements or exchange controls could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. These and other risks (e.g., nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation of assets of non-U.S. issuers) tend to be greater for investments in companies tied economically to emerging countries, the economies of which tend to be more volatile than the economies of developed countries.
  • Currency Risk – Fluctuations in exchange rates can adversely affect the market value of the Fund’s non-U.S. currency holdings and investments denominated in non-U.S. currencies.
  • Liquidity Risk – Shares of small- and mid-cap companies often have lower trading volumes than those of larger companies and a limited number or no market makers. Thus, the Fund may be unable to sell a large position in shares of small- and mid-cap companies or unwind derivative positions on them at desirable prices.
  • Management and Operational Risk – The Fund runs the risk that GMO’s investment techniques will fail to produce desired results. The Fund’s portfolio managers may use quantitative analyses and models, and any imperfections or limitations in those analyses and models could affect the ability of the portfolio managers to implement the strategies they wish to pursue. By necessity, these analyses and models make simplifying assumptions that limit their efficacy. Models that appear to explain prior market data can fail to predict future market events. Further, the data used in models may be inaccurate and may not include the most recent information about a company or a security. The Fund also runs the risk that GMO’s fundamental assessment of an investment may be wrong or that deficiencies in GMO’s or another service provider’s internal systems or controls will cause losses for the Fund or impair Fund operations.
  • Focused Investment Risk – Focusing investments in countries, regions, sectors, companies, or industries with high positive correlations to one another creates more risk than if the Fund’s investments were less correlated.
  • Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk – Geopolitical and other events may disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Those events, as well as other changes in non-U.S. and U.S. economic and political conditions, could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments.
  • Counterparty Risk – The Fund runs the risk that the counterparty to an OTC derivatives contract or a borrower of the Fund’s securities will be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations.
  • Leveraging Risk – The use of derivatives and securities lending creates leverage. Leverage increases the magnitude of the Fund’s losses when the value of its investments (including derivatives) declines.
  • Derivatives Risk – The use of derivatives involves the risk that their value may not move as expected relative to the value of the relevant underlying assets, rates, or indices. Derivatives also present other risks, including market risk, liquidity risk, currency risk and counterparty risk.
  • Large Shareholder Risk – To the extent that a large number of shares of the Fund is held by a single shareholder (e.g., an institutional investor or another GMO Fund) or a group of shareholders with a common investment strategy (e.g., GMO asset allocation accounts), the Fund is subject to the risk that a redemption by those shareholders of all or a large portion of their Fund shares will disrupt the Fund’s operations.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney Many factors can affect this value, and you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s annual total returns from year to year for the periods indicated and by comparing the Fund’s average annual total returns for different calendar periods with those of a broad-based index. Purchase premiums and redemption fees are not reflected in the bar chart, but are reflected in the table; as a result, the returns in the table are lower than the returns in the bar chart. Returns in the table reflect current purchase premiums and redemption fees. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant if you are tax-exempt or if you hold your Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements (such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account). After-tax returns are shown for Class III, tax returns for other classes will vary. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future performance.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s annual total returns from year to year for the periods indicated and by comparing the Fund’s average annual total returns for different calendar periods with those of a broad-based index.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future performance.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Total Returns/Class III Shares
Years Ending December 31
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads Purchase premiums and redemption fees are not reflected in the bar chart, but are reflected in the table; as a result, the returns in the table are lower than the returns in the bar chart.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Highest Quarter: 31.25% (2Q2009)
Lowest Quarter: –24.05% (3Q2008)
Year-to-Date (as of 3/31/12): 14.22%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns
Periods Ending December 31, 2011
Performance Table Does Reflect Sales Loads rr_PerformanceTableDoesReflectSalesLoads Returns in the table reflect current purchase premiums and redemption fees.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant if you are tax-exempt or if you hold your Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements (such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account).
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns are shown for Class III, tax returns for other classes will vary.
GMO Trust | GMO Foreign Small Companies Fund | Class III
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Purchase premium (as a percentage of amount invested) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 0.50%
Redemption fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption 0.50%
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.70% [1]
Shareholder service fee rr_DistributionOrSimilarNon12b1FeesOverAssets 0.15% [1]
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%
Total annual operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.95%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.10%) [1]
Total annual operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.85%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 188 [2]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 397
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 624
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,276
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 136 [2]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 341
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 563
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,201
2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 2.63%
2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 50.73%
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 29.24%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 19.17%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 35.83%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 7.85%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (44.68%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 44.58%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 24.83%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (15.25%)
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year-to-Date
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Mar. 31, 2012
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 14.22%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Highest Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 31.25%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Lowest Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (24.05%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (16.09%) [3],[4]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (2.01%) [3],[4]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 11.33% [3],[4]
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 10.26% [3],[4]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jan. 04, 1995 [3],[4]
GMO Trust | GMO Foreign Small Companies Fund | Class IV
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Purchase premium (as a percentage of amount invested) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 0.50%
Redemption fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption 0.50%
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.70% [1]
Shareholder service fee rr_DistributionOrSimilarNon12b1FeesOverAssets 0.10% [1]
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%
Total annual operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.90%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.10%) [1]
Total annual operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.80%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 183 [2]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 382
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 597
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,218
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 131 [2]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 326
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 536
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,143
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (16.12%) [4],[5]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (2.00%) [4],[5]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10    [4],[5]
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 10.45% [4],[5]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jun. 14, 2002 [4],[5]
GMO Trust | Return After Taxes on Distributions | GMO Foreign Small Companies Fund | Class III
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (16.24%) [3],[4]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (3.06%) [3],[4]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 9.76% [3],[4]
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception    [3],[4]
GMO Trust | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | GMO Foreign Small Companies Fund | Class III
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (10.32%) [3],[4]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (1.72%) [3],[4]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 9.91% [3],[4]
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception    [3],[4]
GMO Trust | S&P Developed ex-U.S. Small Cap Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | GMO Foreign Small Companies Fund | Class III
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (14.49%) [4]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (3.21%) [4]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 9.43% [4]
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.96% [4]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jan. 04, 1995 [4]
GMO Trust | S&P Developed ex-U.S. Small Cap Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | GMO Foreign Small Companies Fund | Class IV
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (14.49%) [4]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (3.21%) [4]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10    [4]
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.12% [4]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jun. 14, 2002 [4]
[1] Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC (the "Manager" or "GMO") has contractually agreed to reimburse the Fund for the following expenses to the extent that they are borne by the Fund: audit expenses, fund accounting expenses, pricing service expenses, non-investment related tax expenses, transfer agency expenses, non-investment related legal expenses provided to the Fund by or at the direction of the Manager, federal securities law filing expenses, printing expenses, state and federal registration fees and custody expenses. The Manager also has agreed to waive and/or reduce the Fund's management fees and shareholder service fees to the extent necessary to offset the management fees and shareholder service fees directly or indirectly paid to the Manager as a result of the Fund's direct or indirect investments in other GMO Funds. Management fees and shareholder service fees will not be waived below zero. These waivers and reimbursements will continue through at least June 30, 2013, and may not be terminated prior to this date without the action or consent of the Fund's Board of Trustees.
[2] After reimbursement
[3] Performance of Class III shares prior to June 30, 2000 is that of the private investment pool, restated to reflect the Fund's higher annual operating expenses. The pool was not registered as an investment company and therefore was not subject to certain restrictions imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Had the pool been subject to these restrictions, its performance may have been adversely affected.
[4] Information on the Fund's return after taxes is unavailable prior to June 30, 2000, the date the Fund commenced operations as a registered investment company. Prior to that date, the Fund operated as a private investment pool with investment objectives, policies, and guidelines that were substantially the same as those of the Fund.
[5] For the period from March 16, 2009 to August 12, 2009, no Class IV shares were outstanding. The returns shown in the table for that period are those of Class III shares, which have higher expenses.