Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity Statement (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Redeemable noncontrolling interest [Member]	Stockholders' Equity, Total [Member]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2011		$ 22	$ 77,257	$ 204,073	$ (2,559)	$ (1,308)			$ 277,485
Shares, Outstanding		21,719			301
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues		(488)			(102)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues			4,067		634				4,701
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross		52
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Gross			1,360						1,360
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares					7
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value					(174)				(174)
Dividends				(5,320)					(5,320)
Share-based compensation expense	4,739		3,379						3,379
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit Realized from Exercise of Stock Options			1,868						1,868
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination							1,778	11,600	13,378
Business Combination, Acquisition of Less than 100 Percent, Noncontrolling Interest, Fair Value			(3,018)				(340)	(11,522)	(8,164)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	783						(705)	(78)	(783)
Net income (loss) attributable to The Ensign Group, Inc.	40,591			40,591					40,591
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax						(437)			(437)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2012		22	90,949	239,344	(2,099)	(1,745)	1,413	0	327,884
Shares, Outstanding		22,113			237
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues		(343)			(64)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues			3,163		419				3,582
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross		51
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Gross			385						385
Dividends				(5,882)					(5,882)
Share-based compensation expense	4,399		4,013						4,013
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit Realized from Exercise of Stock Options			2,854						2,854
Noncontrolling interest portion of adjustment to net working capital for prior year acquisition	(329)						(66)		(66)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	186						(186)		(186)
Net income (loss) attributable to The Ensign Group, Inc.	24,040			24,040					24,040
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax						(633)			(633)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2013	357,257	22	101,364	257,502	(1,680)	(1,112)	1,161	0	357,257
Shares, Outstanding		22,591			150
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues		(415)			(87)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues			3,475		370				3,845
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross		63
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Gross									0
Dividends		0		(6,441)					(6,441)
Share-based compensation expense	5,190	0	5,190						5,190
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit Realized from Exercise of Stock Options		0	4,264						4,264
Distribution of net assets in spin-off transaction		0		(141,165)					(141,165)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,209	0					(2,209)		(2,209)
Net income (loss) attributable to The Ensign Group, Inc.	35,950	0		35,950					35,950
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax		0				(1,112)			(1,112)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 257,803	$ 22	$ 114,293	$ 145,846	$ (1,310)	$ 0	$ (1,048)	$ 0	$ 257,803