Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 27, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Entity Registrant Name	SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORP
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Trading Symbol	snfca
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000318673
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Public Float			$ 22,000,000
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Class C Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,901,624
Class A Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,820,079