Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares and Salary Stock Units (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares and Salary Stock Units [Abstract]
Number of equity incentive plan			2
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares available for issuances (in shares)			764,000
Restricted Stock Units [Abstract]
Compensation costs attributable to the SSUs			$ 4,414,452		$ 5,018,294		$ 3,981,013
Stock Options [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Exercised (in shares)			(245,201)		(163,829)		(316,014)
Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)			1,311,000
Weighted average exercise price [Abstract]
Exercised (in dollars per share)			$ 6.78		$ 6.20		$ 6.45
Aggregate intrisic value [Abstract]
Number of award option vested with no intrinsic value (in shares)			97,155
Share-based compensation [Abstract]
Share based compensation expense			394,466		1,196,059		1,677,293
Deferred income tax benefit			154,749		469,214		639,933
Share based compensation expense after deferred income tax benefit			239,717		726,845		1,037,360
Impact on per share results from stock-based compensation [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)			$ 0.01		$ 0.02		$ 0.03
Diluted (in dollars per share)			$ 0.01		$ 0.02		$ 0.03
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Exercised (in shares)			(28)	[1]	0	[1]	(13)	[1]
Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)			7,300
Weighted average exercise price [Abstract]
Exercised (in dollars per share)			$ 15.60	[1]	$ 15.60	[1]	$ 15.60	[1]
Aggregate intrisic value [Abstract]
Number of shares settled for exercise of stock appreciation rights (in shares)			28		0		13
Common Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period			5 years
Exercisable period			10 years
Number [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, Beginning Balance (in shares)		1,581,038	1,581,038		1,795,785		2,149,774
Granted (in shares)			0		0		0
Forfeited (in shares)			(17,108)		(50,918)		(37,962)
Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)			1,318,701		1,581,038		1,795,785
Outstanding and expected to vest (in shares)			1,318,701
Options exercisable (in shares)			1,286,030
Weighted average exercise price [Abstract]
Outstanding, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)		$ 20.81	$ 20.81		$ 19.49		$ 17.54
Granted (in dollars per share)			$ 0		$ 0		$ 0
Forfeited (in dollars per share)			$ 25.90		$ 23.44		$ 21.89
Outstanding, Ending Balance (in dollars per share)			$ 23.36		$ 20.81		$ 19.49
Outstanding and expected to vest (in dollars per share)			$ 23.36
Options exercisable (in dollars per share)			$ 23.40
Weighted average contractual remaining term [Abstract]
Outstanding			3 years 1 month 21 days
Outstanding and expected to vest			3 years 1 month 21 days
Options exercisable			3 years 1 month 7 days
Aggregate intrisic value [Abstract]
Outstanding			2,203,000	[2]
Outstanding and expected to vest			2,203,000	[2]
Options exercisable			2,203,000	[2]
Quoted closing price of common stock (in dollars per share)			$ 18.84
Number of awards used in aggregate intrinsic value (in shares)			331,571
Average exercise price of option awards with no intrinsic value (in dollars per share)			$ 27.58
Exercises in period total intrinsic value			2,501,000		1,330,000		1,919,000
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options granted			12,470
Weighted average recognition period of unrecognized compensation cost			3 months
Incentive Stock Options [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)			470,000
Share-based compensation [Abstract]
Share based compensation expense			0		0		46,058
Deferred income tax benefit			0		0		0
Share based compensation expense after deferred income tax benefit			0		0		46,058
Impact on per share results from stock-based compensation [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)			$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00
Diluted (in dollars per share)			$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00
Non Qualified Stock Option Awards [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)			840,000
Share-based compensation [Abstract]
Share based compensation expense			394,466		1,196,059		1,631,235
Deferred income tax benefit			154,749		469,214		639,933
Share based compensation expense after deferred income tax benefit			239,717		726,845		991,302
Impact on per share results from stock-based compensation [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)			$ 0.01		$ 0.02		$ 0.03
Diluted (in dollars per share)			$ 0.01		$ 0.02		$ 0.03
Restricted Share [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)	82,429	144,350
Share-based compensation [Abstract]
Share based compensation expense			3,270,028	[3]	3,239,677	[3]	2,303,720	[3]
Deferred income tax benefit			1,282,832		1,270,925		903,749
Share based compensation expense after deferred income tax benefit			1,987,196		1,968,752		1,399,971
Impact on per share results from stock-based compensation [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)			$ 0.06		$ 0.06		$ 0.04
Diluted (in dollars per share)			$ 0.06		$ 0.06		$ 0.04
Number [Roll Forward]
Unvested, Beginning of period (in shares)		849,703	849,703		640,394		480,884
Shares awarded (in shares)			156,645		361,966		315,069
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to associates/directors (in shares)			(211,913)		(90,406)		(80,028)
Shares forfeited (in shares)			(54,526)		(62,251)		(75,431)
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			739,909		849,703		640,394
Grant date weighted average cost [Roll Forward]
Unvested (in dollars per share)		$ 15.61	$ 15.61		$ 17.63		$ 21.03
Shares awarded (in dollars per share)			$ 16.48		$ 13.38		$ 14.35
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to associates/directors (in dollars per share)			$ 16.28		$ 17.62		$ 18.60
Shares forfeited (in dollars per share)			$ 18.23		$ 20.66		$ 22.37
Unvested (in dollars per share)			$ 15.45		$ 15.61		$ 17.63
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Shares awarded (in shares)			156,645		361,966		315,069
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			54,526		62,251		75,431
Shares Unvested (in shares)			739,909		849,703		640,394
Share based compensation reversed					149,000
Restricted Stock Units [Abstract]
Number of restricted shares to be converted from restricted share units (in shares)	68,828	130,875
Percentage of restricted shares lapse per year (in hundredths)			20.00%
Period over which restricted shares lapse			5 years
Restricted Share [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Restricted Stock Units [Abstract]
Percentage of restricted shares issuable (in hundredths)			0.00%
Restricted Share [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Restricted Stock Units [Abstract]
Percentage of restricted shares issuable (in hundredths)			100.00%
Time Based Awards 2010 [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Shares awarded (in shares)			140,849	[4]
Shares forfeited (in shares)			(18,108)	[4]
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			70,583	[4]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Vesting Period in years			5 years	[4]
Shares awarded (in shares)			140,849	[4]
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to participants (in shares)			41,537	[4],[5]
Shares withheld for taxes by participants (in shares)			10,621	[4],[5]
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			18,108	[4]
Shares Unvested (in shares)			70,583	[4]
Time Based Awards 2011 [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Shares awarded (in shares)			144,145	[4]
Shares forfeited (in shares)			(12,297)	[4]
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			104,139	[4]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Vesting Period in years			5 years	[4]
Shares awarded (in shares)			144,145	[4]
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to participants (in shares)			21,463	[4],[5]
Shares withheld for taxes by participants (in shares)			6,246	[4],[5]
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			12,297	[4]
Shares Unvested (in shares)			104,139	[4]
Time Based Awards 2012 [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Shares awarded (in shares)			141,665	[4]
Shares forfeited (in shares)			(7,400)	[4]
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			134,265	[4]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Vesting Period in years			5 years	[4]
Shares awarded (in shares)			141,665	[4]
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to participants (in shares)			0	[4],[5]
Shares withheld for taxes by participants (in shares)			0	[4],[5]
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			7,400	[4]
Shares Unvested (in shares)			134,265	[4]
Performance Based Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period			10 years
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Age of option holder considered for vesting of individual awards			65
Performance Based Awards 2010 One [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Shares awarded (in shares)			59,568	[6],[7]
Shares forfeited (in shares)			0	[6],[7]
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			44,896	[6],[7]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Vesting Period in years			10 years	[6],[7]
Shares awarded (in shares)			59,568	[6],[7]
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to participants (in shares)			11,392	[5],[6],[7]
Shares withheld for taxes by participants (in shares)			3,280	[5],[6],[7]
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			0	[6],[7]
Shares Unvested (in shares)			44,896	[6],[7]
Installment of forfeitures restrictions that lapse on second anniversary (in hundredths)			66.60%
Installment of forfeitures restrictions that lapse on third anniversary (in hundredths)			33.40%
Performance Based Awards 2010 Two [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Shares awarded (in shares)			39,250	[7],[8]
Shares forfeited (in shares)			0	[7],[8]
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			39,250	[7],[8]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Vesting Period in years			3 years	[7],[8]
Shares awarded (in shares)			39,250	[7],[8]
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to participants (in shares)			0	[5],[7],[8]
Shares withheld for taxes by participants (in shares)			0	[5],[7],[8]
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			0	[7],[8]
Shares Unvested (in shares)			39,250	[7],[8]
Performance Based Awards 2010 Three [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Shares awarded (in shares)			58,203	[7],[9]
Shares forfeited (in shares)			0	[7],[9]
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			0	[7],[9]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Vesting Period in years			2 years	[7],[9]
Shares awarded (in shares)			58,203	[7],[9]
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to participants (in shares)			42,110	[5],[7],[9]
Shares withheld for taxes by participants (in shares)			16,093	[5],[7],[9]
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			0	[7],[9]
Shares Unvested (in shares)			0	[7],[9]
Performance Based Awards 2011 One [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Shares awarded (in shares)			152,093	[6],[7]
Shares forfeited (in shares)			0	[6],[7]
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			142,985	[6],[7]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Vesting Period in years			10 years	[6],[7]
Shares awarded (in shares)			152,093	[6],[7]
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to participants (in shares)			7,005	[5],[6],[7]
Shares withheld for taxes by participants (in shares)			2,103	[5],[6],[7]
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			0	[6],[7]
Shares Unvested (in shares)			142,985	[6],[7]
Performance Based Awards 2011 Two [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Shares awarded (in shares)			29,595	[7],[8]
Shares forfeited (in shares)			0	[7],[8]
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			29,595	[7],[8]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Vesting Period in years			3 years	[7],[8]
Shares awarded (in shares)			29,595	[7],[8]
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to participants (in shares)			0	[5],[7],[8]
Shares withheld for taxes by participants (in shares)			0	[5],[7],[8]
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			0	[7],[8]
Shares Unvested (in shares)			29,595	[7],[8]
Performance Based Awards 2011 Three [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Shares awarded (in shares)			21,097	[7],[8]
Shares forfeited (in shares)			0	[7],[8]
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			14,051	[7],[8]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Vesting Period in years			3 years	[7],[8]
Shares awarded (in shares)			21,097	[7],[8]
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to participants (in shares)			5,581	[5],[7],[8]
Shares withheld for taxes by participants (in shares)			1,465	[5],[7],[8]
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			0	[7],[8]
Shares Unvested (in shares)			14,051	[7],[8]
Outside Director Awards [Member]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Number of board members that resigned during period			2
Shares forfeited related to directors who resigned their board seats (in shares)			1,253
Outside Director Awards 2010 [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Shares awarded (in shares)			17,199	[10]
Shares forfeited (in shares)			0	[10]
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			0	[10]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Vesting Period in years			1 year	[10]
Shares awarded (in shares)			17,199	[10]
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to participants (in shares)			14,882	[10],[5]
Shares withheld for taxes by participants (in shares)			2,317	[10],[5]
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			0	[10]
Shares Unvested (in shares)			0	[10]
Outside Director Awards 2011 [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Shares awarded (in shares)			15,036	[10]
Shares forfeited (in shares)			(2,506)	[10]
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			0	[10]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Vesting Period in years			1 year	[10]
Shares awarded (in shares)			15,036	[10]
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to participants (in shares)			10,339	[10],[5]
Shares withheld for taxes by participants (in shares)			2,191	[10],[5]
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			2,506	[10]
Shares Unvested (in shares)			0	[10]
Outside Director Awards 2012 [Member]
Number [Roll Forward]
Shares awarded (in shares)			14,980	[10]
Shares forfeited (in shares)			0	[10]
Unvested, Ending period (in shares)			14,980	[10]
Restricted stock grants grouped by similar vesting criteria [Abstract]
Vesting Period in years			1 year	[10]
Shares awarded (in shares)			14,980	[10]
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to participants (in shares)			0	[10],[5]
Shares withheld for taxes by participants (in shares)			0	[10],[5]
Shares forfeited by participants (in shares)			0	[10]
Shares Unvested (in shares)			14,980	[10]
Salary Stock Unit Awards [Member]
Restricted Stock Units [Abstract]
Maximum period for shares payable following settlement date			2 months 15 days
Salary stock unit awards issued during period (in shares)			57,508		54,526
Compensation costs attributable to the SSUs			$ 1,000,000		$ 777,000
Number of common stock settled for restricted stock units (in shares)			44,133		42,688
Restricted shares withheld for taxes (in shares)			13,375		11,838
The Mid America Plans [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares available for issuances (in shares)			84,000
Common stock exchange ratio (in hundredths)			0.4655
Reduction in exercise price (in dollars per share)			$ 1.50
Common stock to be acquired by participants (in shares)			138,570
The Mid America Plans [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award expiry period			Jun. 30, 2011
Exercise price (in dollars per share)			$ 12.89
The Mid America Plans [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award expiry period			Jul. 31, 2017
Exercise price (in dollars per share)			$ 20.41
The Calvary Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock exchange ratio (in hundredths)			0.95
The Calvary Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award expiry period			Jan. 31, 2011
The Calvary Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award expiry period			Jun. 30, 2012

[1] The 232 stock appreciation rights exercised during 2010 settled in 13 shares of Pinnacle Financial common stock. There were no stock appreciation rights exercised during 2011. The 348 stock appreciation rights exercised during 2012 settled in 28 shares of Pinnacle Financial common stock.

[2] The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the quoted price of Pinnacle Financial common stock of $18.84 per common share at December 31, 2012 for the 331,571 options and stock appreciation rights that were in-the-money at December 31, 2012.

[3] During the years ended December 31, 2011, and 2010, $149,000 in previously expensed compensation associated with certain tranches of performance-based restricted share awards was reversed when Pinnacle Financial determined that the performance targets required to vest the awards, which was previously expected to be met, were unlikely to be achieved.

[4] These shares vest in equal annual installments on the first five anniversary dates of the grant.

[5] Groups include our employees (referred to as associates above), our executive managers (referred to as our Leadership Team above) and our outside directors. Included in the Leadership Team awards noted above are awards to our named executive officers. When the restricted shares are awarded, a participant receives voting rights with respect to the shares, but is not able to transfer the shares other than to Pinnacle Financial in satisfaction of withholding tax obligations until the later of the date that the forfeiture restrictions have lapsed and the date we redeemed the remaining outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock. Once the forfeiture restrictions lapse, the participant is taxed on the value of the award and may elect to sell shares to pay the applicable income taxes associated with the award or have these shares remitted to Pinnacle Financial.

[6] These awards include a provision that the shares do not vest if Pinnacle Financial is not profitable for the fiscal year immediately preceding the vesting date.

[7] The forfeiture restrictions on these restricted share awards lapse in separate equal installments should Pinnacle Financial achieve certain earnings and soundness targets over each year of the subsequent vesting period (or alternatively, the cumulative vesting period), excluding the impact of any merger related expenses. For those grants with a 10 year vesting period, the vesting period for an individual award is equal to ten years or the number of years remaining before an associate reaches the age of 65 whichever is less.

[8] The forfeiture restrictions on these restricted share awards lapse in installments as follows: 66.6% on the second anniversary date should Pinnacle Financial achieve certain earnings and soundness targets, and 33.4% on the third anniversary date should Pinnacle Financial achieve certain earnings and soundness targets in each of these periods (or, alternatively, the cumulative three-year period).

[9] The forfeiture restrictions on these restricted share awards lapse in one lump sum on the second anniversary date of the grant so long as Pinnacle Financial is profitable for the fiscal year immediately preceding the vesting date.

[10] Restricted share awards are issued to the outside members of the board of directors in accordance with their board compensation plan. Restrictions lapsed on the one year anniversary date of the award based on each individual board member meeting his/her attendance goals for the various board and board committee meetings to which each member was scheduled to attend. All board members who had been granted these restricted shares met their attendance goals with the exception of two board members during 2011 which resigned their board seats and forfeited their restricted share awards of 1,253 shares each.