PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	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, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 2,163	$ 1,909	$ 1,627	$ 1,409	$ 1,226	$ 1,262	$ 1,305	$ 1,258	$ 1,175	$ (11,392)	$ 361	$ 222	$ 7,108	$ 5,051	$ (9,634)
Adjustments to reconcile net (income) loss to cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense													283	87	78
Excess tax benefit from stock-based arrangements													(3)	0	(26)
Net (increase) decrease in other assets													(870)	170	4,703
Net increase (decrease) in other liabilities													(15)	(1,044)	(1,458)
Net cash provided by operating activities													15,115	13,179	19,847
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from maturities and principal payments of investment securities available for sale													0	988	40,351
Purchases of premises and equipment													(1,518)	(2,077)	(545)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities													(65,348)	(89,528)	30,450
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefit from stock-based arrangements													3	0	26
Proceeds from issuance of common stock													0	31,279	0
Common stock dividends paid													(506)	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities													27,821	41,482	(119,400)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents													(22,412)	(34,867)	(69,103)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR				96,223				131,090				200,193	96,223	131,090	200,193
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR	73,811				96,223				131,090				73,811	96,223	131,090
Shore Bancshares [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)													7,108	5,051	(9,634)
Adjustments to reconcile net (income) loss to cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed net (income) loss of subsidiaries													(6,184)	(5,030)	11,219
Depreciation and amortization													336	379	386
Stock-based compensation expense													283	87	78
Excess tax benefit from stock-based arrangements													(3)	0	(26)
Net (increase) decrease in other assets													(1,108)	(121)	128
Net increase (decrease) in other liabilities													328	271	(53)
Net cash provided by operating activities													760	637	2,098
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from maturities and principal payments of investment securities available for sale													1,418	442	0
Purchases of securities													(4,054)	(10,112)	0
Purchases of premises and equipment													(672)	(632)	(307)
Cash received from merged subsidiary													3,349
Investment in subsidiaries													0	(20,000)	(1,650)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities													41	(30,302)	(1,957)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of long-term debt													(500)	(500)	0
Excess tax benefit from stock-based arrangements													3	0	26
Proceeds from issuance of common stock													0	31,279	0
Common stock dividends paid													(506)	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities													(1,003)	30,779	26
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents													(202)	1,114	167
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR				$ 2,101				$ 987				$ 820	2,101	987	820
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR	$ 1,899				$ 2,101				$ 987				$ 1,899	$ 2,101	$ 987