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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 Quality Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading GMO QUALITY FUND
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Total return.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay for each class of shares if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
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 40% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 40.00%
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, regardless of whether or not you redeem your shares at the end of such periods. 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:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock The Manager seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment objective by investing primarily in a portfolio of equity securities that the Manager believes to be of high quality.

The Manager determines which securities to buy or sell according to the Manager’s evaluation of companies’ published financial information, securities’ prices, equity and bond markets, and the overall economy.

In assessing a company’s quality, the Manager may consider several factors, including in particular, high return on equity, low debt to equity and the Manager’s assessment of the company relative to its competitors.

In selecting securities for the Fund, the Manager may use a combination of investment methods to identify securities that the Manager believes have positive return potential relative to other securities in the Fund’s investment universe. Some of these methods evaluate individual securities or groups of securities based on the ratio of their price relative to historical financial information and forecasted financial information, such as book value, cash flow and earnings, and a comparison of these ratios to industry or market averages or to their own history. Other methods focus on patterns of price movement or volatility of a security or groups of securities relative to the Fund’s investment universe. The Manager also may adjust the Fund’s portfolio for factors such as position size, market capitalization, and exposure to groups such as industry, sector, country, or currency. The factors considered and investment methods used by the Manager can change over time.

As a substitute for direct investments in equity securities, the Manager may use exchange-traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). The Manager also may use derivatives and ETFs: (i) in an attempt to reduce investment exposures (which may result in a reduction below zero); (ii) in an attempt to adjust elements of the Fund’s investment exposure; and (iii) as a substitute for securities lending. Derivatives used may include futures, options, forward currency contracts, and swap contracts. In addition, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities.

The Fund may hold shares in fewer than 100 companies. The Fund may make tactical allocations of up to 20% of its net assets to investments in cash and high quality debt instruments.

The Fund is permitted to invest directly and indirectly (e.g., through underlying funds or derivatives) in equity securities of companies tied economically to any country in the world, including emerging countries. The term “equity securities” 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.

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 Fund is a non-diversified investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and therefore a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. For a more complete discussion of these risks, see “Description of Principal Risks.”
  • 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. The Fund also may purchase equity investments that typically trade at higher multiples of current earnings than other securities, and the market prices of these investments often are more sensitive to changes in future earnings expectations than those other securities. Declines in stock market prices generally are likely to reduce the net asset value of the Fund’s shares.
  • 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 a limited number of countries, sectors, companies, or industries with high positive correlations to one another creates more risk than if the Fund’s investments were less correlated. The Fund invests its assets in the securities of a limited number of issuers, and a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund invested in the securities of a larger number of issuers.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus The Fund is a non-diversified investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and therefore a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.
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. 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 shares only; after-tax returns for other classes will vary. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future performance. Performance information (before and after taxes) for certain periods reflects performance achieved prior to the change in the Fund’s principal investment strategies, effective June 1, 2009.
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 Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Highest Quarter: 11.53% (3Q2010)
Lowest Quarter: –13.13% (4Q2008)
Year-to-Date (as of 3/31/12): 9.57%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns
Periods Ending December 31, 2011
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 shares only; after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
GMO Trust | GMO Quality Fund | Class III
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.33% [1]
Shareholder service fee rr_DistributionOrSimilarNon12b1FeesOverAssets 0.15% [1]
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Total annual operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.50%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.02%) [1]
Total annual operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.48%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 49 [2]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 158
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 278
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 626
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 (0.90%)
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 12.74%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 6.01%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (24.12%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 19.85%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 5.47%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 11.75%
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 9.57%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Highest Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2010
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 11.53%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Lowest Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (13.13%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.75%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.59%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.46%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 06, 2004
GMO Trust | GMO Quality Fund | Class IV
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.33% [1]
Shareholder service fee rr_DistributionOrSimilarNon12b1FeesOverAssets 0.105% [1]
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Total annual operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.46%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.02%) [1]
Total annual operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.44%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 45 [2]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 143
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 251
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 566
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.85%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.64%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.51%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 06, 2004
GMO Trust | GMO Quality Fund | Class V
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.33% [1]
Shareholder service fee rr_DistributionOrSimilarNon12b1FeesOverAssets 0.085% [1]
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Total annual operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.44%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.02%) [1]
Total annual operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.42%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 43 [2]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 137
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 240
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 541
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.84%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.65%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.85%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Dec. 08, 2006
GMO Trust | GMO Quality Fund | Class VI
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.33% [1]
Shareholder service fee rr_DistributionOrSimilarNon12b1FeesOverAssets 0.055% [1]
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Total annual operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.41%
Expense reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.02%) [1]
Total annual operating expenses after expense reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.39%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 40 [2]
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 127
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 223
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 504
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.91%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.69%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.89%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Dec. 08, 2006
GMO Trust | Return After Taxes on Distributions | GMO Quality Fund | Class III
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.43%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.29%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.16%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 06, 2004
GMO Trust | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | GMO Quality Fund | Class III
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.04%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.24%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.98%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 06, 2004
GMO Trust | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | GMO Quality Fund | Class III
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.11%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.25%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.30%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 06, 2004
GMO Trust | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | GMO Quality Fund | Class IV
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.11%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.25%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.30%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 06, 2004
GMO Trust | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | GMO Quality Fund | Class V
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.11%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.25%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (0.11%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Dec. 08, 2006
GMO Trust | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | GMO Quality Fund | Class VI
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.11%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.25%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Incept. rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (0.11%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Dec. 08, 2006
[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