Acquisitions (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended								0 Months Ended
	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, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 02, 2012 KCPC	Sep. 30, 2012 KCPC	Dec. 31, 2012 KCPC	Dec. 31, 2011 KCPC	Oct. 02, 2012 KCPC Management contracts	Oct. 02, 2012 KCPC Favorable lease contracts	Oct. 02, 2012 KCPC Trade name / trademarks	Oct. 02, 2012 KCPC Existing technology	Oct. 02, 2012 KCPC Non-competition agreements	Oct. 02, 2012 KCPC Purchase Price Accounting Adjustment	Oct. 02, 2012 KCPC Purchase Price Accounting Adjustment Favorable lease contracts	Oct. 02, 2012 KCPC Purchase Price Accounting Adjustment Trade name / trademarks	Oct. 02, 2012 Preliminary amounts KCPC	Oct. 02, 2012 Preliminary amounts KCPC Management contracts	Oct. 02, 2012 Preliminary amounts KCPC Favorable lease contracts	Oct. 02, 2012 Preliminary amounts KCPC Trade name / trademarks	Oct. 02, 2012 Preliminary amounts KCPC Existing technology	Oct. 02, 2012 Preliminary amounts KCPC Non-competition agreements
Fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Net current liabilities												$ (25,444)									$ (2,597)			$ (28,041)
Leasehold improvements, equipment, land and construction in progress, net												24,781									627			24,154
Identified intangible assets:																81,000	80,235	9,100	34,000	2,600		28,585	(5,800)		81,000	51,650	14,900	34,000	2,600
Other noncurrent assets												17,748												17,748
Long-term debt												(237,223)												(237,223)
Unfavorable lease contracts												(101,676)									(32,360)			(69,316)
Other noncurrent liabilities												(19,523)												(19,523)
Net long term deferred tax liability												(22,528)									1,988			(24,516)
Net (liabilities assumed)												(156,930)									(4,363)			(152,567)
Goodwill	439,503				439,486				439,503	439,486	132,417	306,599									4,363			302,236
Total fair value of consideration transferred at acquisition date												149,669	147,058											149,669
Reclassification from net current liabilities to net long term deferred tax liability																								24,434
Amortization period for unfavorable lease contracts									7 years			8 years 10 months 24 days
Weighted average useful lives of identified intangible assets																16 years	10 years 1 month 6 days	4 years	4 years 6 months	1 year
Information for Central that is included in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income
Total revenue														190,008
Operating loss														(9,263)
Depreciation and amortization	7,489	7,959	8,252	7,493	8,255	1,723	1,807	1,728	31,193	13,513	6,618			5,944
Acquisition and integration costs														10,007
Pro forma consolidated results of operations
Revenue, excluding reimbursed management contract revenue														880,062	866,513
Net loss from continuing operations attributable to SP Plus stockholders														$ (26,889)	$ (7,534)
Earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to SP Plus stockholders
Basic (in dollars per share)														$ (1.23)	$ (0.34)
Diluted (in dollars per share)														$ (1.23)	$ (0.34)
Combined statutory federal and state tax rate assumed														42.00%