Parent Company Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 41,264				$ 39,203				$ 41,264	$ 39,203	$ 29,413
Other assets	7,192				4,870				7,192	4,870
Total assets	1,029,865				890,831				1,029,865	890,831
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Shareholders' equity	82,992				65,665				82,992	65,665	64,125	62,539
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,029,865				890,831				1,029,865	890,831
Revenues
Interest income	10,560	10,253	9,790	9,344	9,363	9,100	8,912	8,743	39,948	36,118	34,698
Expenses
Interest expense	1,726	1,762	1,720	1,700	1,714	1,737	1,782	1,865	6,908	7,097	8,702
Income tax benefit	928	834	757	594	601	714	657	444	3,113	2,416	1,833
Net income	1,983	1,826	1,566	1,250	1,439	1,419	1,300	961	6,625	5,120	3,862
Operating activities
Net income	1,983	1,826	1,566	1,250	1,439	1,419	1,300	961	6,625	5,120	3,862
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used for operating activities
Compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock grants									629	515	342
Decrease (increase) in other assets, net									(213)	(314)	1,017
Net cash used for operating activities									4,734	8,588	11,875
Investing activities
Net cash provided by investing activities									(130,784)	(88,059)	(30,689)
Financing activities
Cash dividend on preferred stock									(1,010)	(778)	(845)
Redemption of preferred stock									(15,299)	(980)	(1,100)
Issuance of common stock									24,376
Redemption of CPP Warrant											(1,100)
Cash in lieu of fractional shares										(9)	(2)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants									356	198	96
Net cash used for financing activities									128,111	89,261	25,222
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									2,061	9,790	6,408
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year				39,203				29,413	39,203	29,413	23,005
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	41,264				39,203				41,264	39,203	29,413
Southern First Bancshares, Inc. [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	2,459				15				2,459	15	82
Investment in subsidiaries	91,778				78,593				91,778	78,593
Other assets	2,163				1,876				2,163	1,876
Total assets	96,400				80,484				96,400	80,484
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	5				16				5	16
Other borrowings					1,400					1,400
Junior subordinated debentures	13,403				13,403				13,403	13,403
Shareholders' equity	82,992				65,665				82,992	65,665	64,125	62,539
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	96,400				80,484				96,400	80,484
Revenues
Interest income									6
Total revenue
Expenses
Interest expense									420	416	406
Other expenses									630	514	342
Total expenses									1,050	930	748
Income tax benefit									234	316	254
Loss before equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries									(810)	(614)	(494)
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries									7,435	5,734	4,356
Net income									6,625	5,120	3,862
Operating activities
Net income									6,625	5,120	3,862
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used for operating activities
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries									(7,435)	(5,734)	(4,356)
Compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock grants									629	515	341
Decrease (increase) in other assets, net									(287)	(298)	(241)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses									(11)	(1)	11
Net cash used for operating activities									(479)	(398)	(383)
Investing activities
Investment in subsidiaries									(4,100)	1,900	1,804
Net cash provided by investing activities									(4,100)	1,900	1,804
Financing activities
Increase (decrease) in note payable									(1,400)		1,400
Cash dividend on preferred stock									(1,010)	(778)	(845)
Redemption of preferred stock									(15,299)	(980)	(1,100)
Issuance of common stock									24,376
Redemption of CPP Warrant											(904)
Cash in lieu of fractional shares										(9)	(2)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants									356	198	96
Net cash used for financing activities									7,023	(1,569)	(1,355)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									2,444	(67)	66
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year				15				82	15	82	16
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 2,459				$ 15				$ 2,459	$ 15	$ 82