PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 1,226	$ 1,262	$ 1,305	$ 1,258	$ 1,175	$ (11,392)	$ 361	$ 222	$ (5,074)	$ (1,821)	$ 293	$ (3,036)	$ 5,051		$ (9,634)	$ (9,638)
Adjustments to reconcile net (income) loss to cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense													87	[1]	78	209
Excess tax benefit from stock-based arrangements													0		(26)	(106)
Net (increase) decrease in other assets													170		4,703	1,351
Net increase (decrease) in other liabilities													(1,044)		(1,458)	224
Net cash provided by operating activities													13,179		19,847	21,386
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of securities													988		40,351	6,275
Purchases of premises and equipment													(2,077)		(545)	(2,202)
Net cash used in investing activities													(89,528)		30,450	16,201
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of long-term debt													0		0	(455)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based arrangements													0		26	106
Proceeds from issuance of common stock													31,279		0	0
Common stock dividends paid													0		0	(85)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities													41,482		(119,400)	34,864
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents													(34,867)		(69,103)	72,451
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR				131,090				200,193				127,742	131,090		200,193	127,742
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR	96,223				131,090				200,193				96,223		131,090	200,193
Shore Bancshares [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)													5,051		(9,634)	(9,638)
Adjustments to reconcile net (income) loss to cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed net (income) loss of subsidiaries													(5,030)		11,219	12,435
Depreciation and amortization													379		386	367
Stock-based compensation expense													87		78	209
Excess tax benefit from stock-based arrangements													0		(26)	(106)
Net (increase) decrease in other assets													(121)		128	(246)
Net increase (decrease) in other liabilities													271		(53)	(423)
Net cash provided by operating activities													637		2,098	2,598
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of securities													442		0	0
Purchases of securities													(10,112)		0	0
Purchases of premises and equipment													(632)		(307)	(108)
Investment in subsidiaries													(20,000)		(1,650)	(2,000)
Net cash used in investing activities													(30,302)		(1,957)	(2,108)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of long-term debt													(500)		0	(1,007)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based arrangements													0		26	106
Proceeds from issuance of common stock													31,279		0	0
Common stock dividends paid													0		0	(85)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities													30,779		26	(986)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents													1,114		167	(496)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR				987				820				1,316	987		820	1,316
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR	$ 2,101				$ 987				$ 820				$ 2,101		$ 987	$ 820

[1] On January 7, 2015 restricted stock and options were granted to executive officers in the amount of $62 thousand in restricted stock awards and $117 thousand in option awards. The restricted stock and options immediately vested 50% on the grant date of January 7, 2015, in which the amount of $90 thousand was accrued at December 31, 2014 and recorded as an other liability. On January 7, 2015 the liability for the restricted shares and the options was reclassified to additional paid-in-capital. The January 7, 2015 awarded grants are excluded from the tables above because including them would not properly reflect the outstanding shares at December 31, 2014.