Business Unit Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012 segment		Sep. 30, 2011
Business Unit Segment Information
Number of operating segments					4
Revenues:
Lease contracts	$ 42,969		$ 37,501		$ 122,927		$ 109,899
Management contracts	49,226		43,259		141,562		131,556
Total parking services revenue	92,195		80,760		264,489		241,455
Reimbursed revenue	100,958		106,365		309,055		307,615
Total revenue	193,153		187,125		573,544		549,070
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	2,861		3,452		9,432		8,065
Management contracts	18,817		20,770		58,643		58,360
Total gross profit	21,678		24,222		68,075		66,425
Gross Margin
General and administrative expenses	13,846	[1]	11,814	[1]	43,759	[1]	34,593	[1]
General and administrative expenses percentage of gross profit	64.00%		49.00%		64.00%		52.00%
Depreciation and amortization	1,723		1,683		5,258		4,893
Operating income	6,109		10,725		19,058		26,939
Other expenses (income):
Interest expense	1,093		1,197		3,355		3,546
Interest income	(61)		(297)		(266)		(470)
Total other expenses (income)	1,032		900		3,089		3,076
Income before income taxes	5,077		9,825		15,969		23,863
Income tax expense	2,623		3,760		7,007		9,305
Net income	2,454		6,065		8,962		14,558
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	75		89		232		260
Net income attributable to Standard Parking Corporation	2,379		5,976		8,730		14,298
Region One
Revenues:
Lease contracts	22,028		21,118		62,603		60,709
Management contracts	13,631		13,989		40,605		40,702
Total parking services revenue	35,659		35,107		103,208		101,411
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	1,601		1,898		3,830		4,193
Management contracts	7,375		7,945		22,033		22,214
Total gross profit	8,976		9,843		25,863		26,407
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	7.00%		9.00%		6.00%		7.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	54.00%		57.00%		54.00%		55.00%
Region Two
Revenues:
Lease contracts	1,100		883		3,404		2,224
Management contracts	9,752		3,841		23,596		16,543
Total parking services revenue	10,852		4,724		27,000		18,767
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	28		53		136		205
Management contracts	2,067		1,228		5,474		4,229
Total gross profit	2,095		1,281		5,610		4,434
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	3.00%		6.00%		4.00%		9.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	21.00%		32.00%		23.00%		26.00%
Region Three
Revenues:
Lease contracts	9,349		5,885		24,889		17,383
Management contracts	13,697		13,254		40,603		38,482
Total parking services revenue	23,046		19,139		65,492		55,865
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	575		571		2,105		1,730
Management contracts	5,868		5,770		17,251		17,995
Total gross profit	6,443		6,341		19,356		19,725
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	6.00%		10.00%		8.00%		10.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	43.00%		44.00%		42.00%		47.00%
Region Four
Revenues:
Lease contracts	10,491		9,584		32,030		29,547
Management contracts	11,965		11,960		36,147		35,617
Total parking services revenue	22,456		21,544		68,177		65,164
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	719		707		2,287		1,937
Management contracts	3,769		4,092		12,054		12,148
Total gross profit	4,488		4,799		14,341		14,085
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	7.00%		7.00%		7.00%		7.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	32.00%		34.00%		33.00%		34.00%
Other
Revenues:
Lease contracts	1		31		1		36
Management contracts	181		215		611		212
Total parking services revenue	182		246		612		248
Gross profit:
Lease contracts	(62)		223		1,074
Management contracts	(262)		1,735		1,831		1,774
Total gross profit	$ (324)		$ 1,958		$ 2,905		$ 1,774
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	6200.00%		719.00%		107400.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	145.00%		807.00%		300.00%		837.00%

[1] Non-cash stock based compensation expense of $251 and $1,114 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, and $411 and $1,724 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, is included in general and administrative expenses.