Business Unit Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012 segment		Jun. 30, 2011
Business Unit Segment Information
Number of operating segments					4
Revenues:
Lease contracts	$ 42,414		$ 37,193		$ 79,958		$ 72,398
Management contracts	44,372		42,343		92,336		88,297
Total parking services revenue	86,786		79,536		172,294		160,695
Reimbursed revenue	104,160		100,126		208,097		201,250
Total revenue	190,946		179,662		380,391		361,945
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	4,414		2,907		6,571		4,613
Management contracts	20,354		19,128		39,826		37,590
Total gross profit	24,768		22,035		46,397		42,203
Gross Margin
General and administrative expenses	14,868	[1]	11,597	[1]	29,913	[1]	22,779	[1]
General and administrative expenses percentage of gross profit	60.00%		53.00%		64.00%		54.00%
Depreciation and amortization	1,807		1,677		3,535		3,210
Operating income	8,093		8,761		12,949		16,214
Other expenses (income):
Interest expense	1,132		1,180		2,262		2,349
Interest income	(135)		(113)		(205)		(173)
Total other expenses (income)	997		1,067		2,057		2,176
Income before income taxes	7,096		7,694		10,892		14,038
Income tax expense	2,856		3,066		4,384		5,545
Net income	4,240		4,628		6,508		8,493
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	85		85		157		171
Net income attributable to Standard Parking Corporation	4,155		4,543		6,351		8,322
Region One
Revenues:
Lease contracts	20,957		20,649		40,576		39,591
Management contracts	13,843		13,340		26,916		26,595
Total parking services revenue	34,800		33,989		67,492		66,186
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	1,439		1,741		2,220		2,295
Management contracts	7,679		7,420		14,536		14,130
Total gross profit	9,118		9,161		16,756		16,425
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	7.00%		8.00%		5.00%		6.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	55.00%		56.00%		54.00%		53.00%
Region Two
Revenues:
Lease contracts	1,142		682		2,304		1,340
Management contracts	3,744		3,911		14,147		12,658
Total parking services revenue	4,886		4,593		16,451		13,998
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	82		49		108		152
Management contracts	1,093		1,211		3,676		2,957
Total gross profit	1,175		1,260		3,784		3,109
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	7.00%		7.00%		5.00%		11.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	29.00%		31.00%		25.00%		23.00%
Region Three
Revenues:
Lease contracts	9,613		5,809		15,539		11,498
Management contracts	14,452		12,847		26,804		24,953
Total parking services revenue	24,065		18,656		42,343		36,451
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	923		599		1,529		1,160
Management contracts	5,959		6,145		11,262		11,930
Total gross profit	6,882		6,744		12,791		13,090
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	10.00%		10.00%		10.00%		10.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	41.00%		48.00%		42.00%		48.00%
Region Four
Revenues:
Lease contracts	10,702		10,048		21,539		19,963
Management contracts	12,213		12,025		24,224		23,772
Total parking services revenue	22,915		22,073		45,763		43,735
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	809		656		1,568		1,230
Management contracts	4,324		4,009		8,285		8,156
Total gross profit	5,133		4,665		9,853		9,386
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	8.00%		7.00%		7.00%		6.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	35.00%		33.00%		34.00%		34.00%
Other
Revenues:
Lease contracts			5				6
Management contracts	120		220		245		319
Total parking services revenue	120		225		245		325
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	1,161		(138)		1,146		(224)
Management contracts	1,299		343		2,067		417
Total gross profit	$ 2,460		$ 205		$ 3,213		$ 193
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)			(2760.00%)				(3733.00%)
Management contracts (as a percent)	1083.00%		156.00%		844.00%		131.00%

[1] Non-cash stock based compensation expense of $502 and $863 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and $817 and $1,313 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, is included in general and administrative expenses.