Business Unit Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014 item	Mar. 31, 2013
Business Unit Segment Information
Number of operating segments	4
Revenues:
Lease contracts	$ 116,635	$ 121,085
Management contracts	89,955	90,095
Total parking services revenue	206,590	211,180
Reimbursed management contract revenue	169,178	159,477
Total revenue	375,768	370,657
Gross profit
Lease contracts	4,551	8,967
Management contracts	30,741	31,358
Total gross profit	35,292	40,325
Gross Margin
General and administrative expenses	26,066	27,948
General and administrative expense percentage of gross profit	74.00%	69.00%
Depreciation and amortization	7,163	7,493
Operating income	2,063	4,884
Other expenses (income):
Interest expense	4,809	4,840
Interest income	(98)	(111)
Total other expenses (income)	4,711	4,729
(Loss) income before income taxes	(2,648)	155
Income tax (benefit)	(7,438)	(154)
Net income	4,790	309
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	487	569
Net income (loss) attributable to SP Plus Corporation	4,303	(260)
Region One
Business Unit Segment Information
Number of Canadian provinces included in region one	3
Other expenses (income):
Net gain related to sale of rights associated with certain contracts		2,700
Operating segment \| Region One
Revenues:
Lease contracts	70,014	72,083
Management contracts	24,988	28,447
Total parking services revenue	95,002	100,530
Gross profit
Lease contracts	(130)	2,270
Management contracts	11,672	13,469
Total gross profit	11,542	15,739
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	0.00%	3.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	47.00%	47.00%
Operating segment \| Region Two
Revenues:
Lease contracts	1,197	1,326
Management contracts	12,720	10,215
Total parking services revenue	13,917	11,541
Gross profit
Lease contracts	135	266
Management contracts	3,047	2,277
Total gross profit	3,182	2,543
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	11.00%	0.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	24.00%	22.00%
Operating segment \| Region Three
Revenues:
Lease contracts	11,879	11,413
Management contracts	14,126	15,821
Total parking services revenue	26,005	27,234
Gross profit
Lease contracts	599	778
Management contracts	5,186	5,888
Total gross profit	5,785	6,666
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	5.00%	7.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	37.00%	37.00%
Operating segment \| Region Four
Revenues:
Lease contracts	11,350	11,265
Management contracts	26,528	24,728
Total parking services revenue	37,878	35,993
Gross profit
Lease contracts	645	751
Management contracts	8,178	5,500
Total gross profit	8,823	6,251
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	6.00%	7.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	31.00%	22.00%
Operating segment \| Region Five
Revenues:
Lease contracts	22,387	25,050
Management contracts	10,227	11,311
Total parking services revenue	32,614	36,361
Gross profit
Lease contracts	3,447	4,885
Management contracts	3,901	4,772
Total gross profit	7,349	9,657
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	15.00%	20.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	38.00%	42.00%
Operating segment \| Other
Revenues:
Lease contracts	(192)	(52)
Management contracts	1,366	(427)
Total parking services revenue	1,174	(479)
Gross profit
Lease contracts	(145)	17
Management contracts	(1,243)	(548)
Total gross profit	$ (1,388)	$ (531)
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	76.00%	100.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	(91.00%)	128.00%

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