Regulatory Capital Requirements (Schedule of Total Risk-Based, Tier 1 Risk-Based, and Tier 1 Leverage Ratios) (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2011
Stifel Financial Corp. [Member]
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	$ 850,642
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	258,560
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	323,200
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	847,391
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	129,280
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	193,920
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, Actual Amount	847,391
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	152,553
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	190,691
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	26.30%
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	8.00%
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	10.00%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	26.20%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	4.00%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	6.00%
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, Actual Ratio	22.20%
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	4.00%
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	5.00%
Stifel Bank [Member]
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	131,224
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	85,020
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	106,276
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	127,973
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	42,510
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	63,765
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, Actual Amount	127,973
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	71,082
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	$ 88,853
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	12.30%
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	8.00%
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	10.00%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	12.00%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	4.00%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	6.00%
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, Actual Ratio	7.20%
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	4.00%
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	5.00%