UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	Non-Controlling Interest
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		54,626
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 818,227	$ 58	$ 338,177	$ 551,055	$ (71,213)	$ 150
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020					2,791
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock to employees and directors resulting from the exercise of stock options (in shares)		246
Issuance of common stock to employees and directors resulting from the exercise of stock options	3,880		3,880
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)		81
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	3,725		3,725
Shares of common stock used to satisfy tax withholding obligations	(9)				$ (9)
Dividends declared	(2,886)			(2,886)
Employee stock award compensation	4,054		4,054
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	631					631
Distribution to noncontrolling interest holder and other changes	(1,248)					(1,248)
Net income attributable to the Ensign Group, Inc.	49,206			49,206
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021		54,953
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2021	875,580	$ 58	349,836	597,375	$ (71,222)	(467)
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021					2,791
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		54,626
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2020	818,227	$ 58	338,177	551,055	$ (71,213)	150
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020					2,791
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,852
Net income attributable to the Ensign Group, Inc.	145,912
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021		55,247
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2021	979,294	$ 58	363,779	688,287	$ (72,924)	94
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021					2,812
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021		54,953
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2021	875,580	$ 58	349,836	597,375	$ (71,222)	(467)
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021					2,791
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock to employees and directors resulting from the exercise of stock options (in shares)		148
Issuance of common stock to employees and directors resulting from the exercise of stock options	2,982		2,982
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)		49
Shares of common stock used to satisfy tax withholding obligations (in shares)		(20)			(20)
Shares of common stock used to satisfy tax withholding obligations	(1,600)				$ (1,600)
Dividends declared	(2,894)			(2,894)
Employee stock award compensation	4,633		4,633
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,158					1,158
Distribution to noncontrolling interest holder and other changes	(641)					(641)
Net income attributable to the Ensign Group, Inc.	49,425			49,425
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021		55,130
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2021	928,643	$ 58	357,451	643,906	$ (72,822)	50
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021					2,811
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock to employees and directors resulting from the exercise of stock options (in shares)		69
Issuance of common stock to employees and directors resulting from the exercise of stock options	1,246		1,246
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)		49
Shares of common stock used to satisfy tax withholding obligations (in shares)		(1)			(1)
Shares of common stock used to satisfy tax withholding obligations	(102)				$ (102)
Dividends declared	(2,900)			(2,900)
Employee stock award compensation	5,082		5,082
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,063					1,063
Distribution to noncontrolling interest holder and other changes	(1,019)					(1,019)
Net income attributable to the Ensign Group, Inc.	47,281			47,281
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021		55,247
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2021	$ 979,294	$ 58	363,779	688,287	$ (72,924)	94
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021					2,812
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021	55,190	55,190
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 1,021,714	$ 58	369,760	733,992	$ (83,042)	946
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021	2,944				2,944
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock to employees and directors resulting from the exercise of stock options (in shares)		147
Issuance of common stock to employees and directors resulting from the exercise of stock options	$ 2,768		2,768
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)		104
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	5,241		5,241
Shares of common stock used to satisfy tax withholding obligations	(15)				$ (15)
Dividends declared	(3,042)			(3,042)
Employee stock award compensation	5,167		5,167
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(133)			(133)
Repurchase of common stock	(9,882)				$ (9,882)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest shares	(26)		245			(271)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(252)					(252)
Net income attributable to the Ensign Group, Inc.	50,340			50,340
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022		55,308
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 1,072,013	$ 58	383,181	781,290	$ (92,939)	423
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022					3,077
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021	55,190	55,190
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 1,021,714	$ 58	369,760	733,992	$ (83,042)	946
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021	2,944				2,944
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ (77)
Net income attributable to the Ensign Group, Inc.	$ 164,210
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022	55,465	55,465
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 1,181,748	$ 58	405,555	889,069	$ (114,626)	1,692
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022	3,368				3,368
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022		55,308
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 1,072,013	$ 58	383,181	781,290	$ (92,939)	423
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022					3,077
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock to employees and directors resulting from the exercise of stock options (in shares)		223
Issuance of common stock to employees and directors resulting from the exercise of stock options	3,303		3,303
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)		38
Shares of common stock used to satisfy tax withholding obligations (in shares)		(20)			(20)
Shares of common stock used to satisfy tax withholding obligations	(1,687)				$ (1,687)
Dividends declared	(3,040)			(3,040)
Employee stock award compensation	5,616		5,616
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(271)			(271)
Repurchase of common stock	(20,000)				$ (20,000)
Issuance of noncontrolling interests through subsidiary equity plan	6,693		6,693
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	112					112
Distribution to noncontrolling interest holder and other changes	(8)					(8)
Net income attributable to the Ensign Group, Inc.	57,691			57,691
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022		55,278
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2022	1,120,693	$ 58	398,793	835,941	$ (114,626)	527
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022					3,368
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock to employees and directors resulting from the exercise of stock options (in shares)		151
Issuance of common stock to employees and directors resulting from the exercise of stock options	2,635		2,635
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)		36
Dividends declared	(3,051)			(3,051)
Employee stock award compensation	5,898		5,898
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest shares	(669)		(1,774)			1,105
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	63					63
Distribution to noncontrolling interest holder and other changes	0		3			(3)
Net income attributable to the Ensign Group, Inc.	$ 56,179			56,179
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022	55,465	55,465
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 1,181,748	$ 58	$ 405,555	$ 889,069	$ (114,626)	$ 1,692
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022	3,368				3,368