Regulatory Capital Requirements (Schedule Of Total Risk-Based, Tier 1 Risk-Based, And Tier 1 Leverage Ratios) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013
Stifel Financial Corp. [Member]
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	$ 1,090,864
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	375,003
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	468,754
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	1,081,298
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	187,502
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	281,252
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, Actual Amount	1,081,298
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	265,874
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	332,343
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	23.30%
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	23.10%
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	16.30%
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]
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	283,130
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	174,888
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	218,610
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	273,724
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	87,444
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	131,166
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, Actual Amount	273,724
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	153,408
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	$ 191,761
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	13.00%
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	12.50%
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	7.10%
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%