Unaudited Quarterly Results (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Parking services revenue:
Lease contracts	$ 127,428	$ 42,969	$ 42,414	$ 37,544	$ 37,611	$ 37,501	$ 37,193	$ 35,205	$ 250,355		$ 147,510		$ 138,664
Management contracts	88,939	49,226	44,372	47,964	42,169	43,259	42,343	45,954	230,501		173,725		171,331
Reimbursed management contract revenue	164,027	100,958	104,160	103,937	100,812	106,365	100,126	101,124	473,082		408,427		411,148
Total revenue	380,394	193,153	190,946	189,445	180,592	187,125	179,662	182,283	953,938		729,662		721,143
Cost of parking services:
Lease contracts	116,767	40,108	38,000	35,387	34,660	34,049	34,286	33,499	230,262		136,494		128,613
Management contracts	57,924	30,409	24,018	28,492	22,963	22,489	23,215	27,492	140,843		96,159		94,481
Reimbursed management contract revenue	164,027	100,958	104,160	103,937	100,812	106,365	100,126	101,124	473,082		408,427		411,148
Total cost of parking services	338,718	171,475	166,178	167,816	158,435	162,903	157,627	162,115	844,187		641,080		634,242
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	10,661	2,861	4,414	2,157	2,951	3,452	2,907	1,706	20,093		11,016		10,051
Management contracts	31,015	18,817	20,354	19,472	19,206	20,770	19,128	18,462	89,658		77,566		76,850
Total gross profit	41,676	21,678	24,768	21,629	22,157	24,222	22,035	20,168	109,751		88,582		86,901
General and administrative expenses	42,904	13,846	14,868	15,045	13,704	11,814	11,597	11,182	86,663	[1]	48,297	[1]	47,878	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	7,983	1,723	1,807	1,728	1,725	1,683	1,677	1,533	13,241		6,618		6,074
Operating income	(9,211)	6,109	8,093	4,856	6,728	10,725	8,761	7,453	9,847		33,667		32,949
Other expense (income):
Interest expense	5,094	1,093	1,132	1,130	1,145	1,197	1,180	1,169	8,449		4,691		5,335
Interest income	(116)	(61)	(135)	(70)	(67)	(297)	(113)	(60)	(382)		(537)		(249)
Total other expenses (income)	4,978	1,032	997	1,060	1,078	900	1,067	1,109	8,067		4,154		5,086
Income before income taxes	(14,189)	5,077	7,096	3,796	5,650	9,825	7,694	6,344	1,780		29,513		27,863
Income tax expense (benefit)	(9,381)	2,623	2,856	1,528	1,930	3,760	3,066	2,479	(2,374)		11,235		10,755
Net income	(4,808)	2,454	4,240	2,268	3,720	6,065	4,628	3,865	4,154		18,278		17,108
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	802	75	85	72	118	89	85	86	1,034		378		268
Net income attributable to Standard Parking Corporation	(5,610)	2,379	4,155	2,196	3,602	5,976	4,543	3,779	3,120		17,900		16,840
Net income per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.26)	$ 0.15	$ 0.27	$ 0.14	$ 0.23	$ 0.38	$ 0.29	$ 0.24	$ 0.18		$ 1.14		$ 1.08
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.26)	$ 0.15	$ 0.26	$ 0.14	$ 0.23	$ 0.37	$ 0.28	$ 0.23	$ 0.18		$ 1.12		$ 1.06
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	21,836,583,000	15,668,129,000	15,665,263,000	15,563,914,000	15,485,793,000	15,704,837,000	15,834,622,000	15,790,875,000	17,179,606		15,703,595		15,579,352
Diluted (in shares)	22,357,602,000	15,928,685,000	15,900,659,000	15,820,118,000	15,845,173,000	16,034,330,000	16,164,114,000	16,146,106,000	17,490,204		16,047,879		15,944,662
Expenses related to the Central Merger	26,783
Benefit from FIN 48 reversal of provision for uncertain tax provisions	$ 8,104

[1] Non-cash stock based compensation expense of $2,103, $2,451 and $2,310 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, is included in general and administrative expenses.