Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Assets in partnership	$ 246.7
Loss exposure	1.6
Convertible promissory note to FSI	18.0
Potential ownership interest upon conversion of notes issued to FSI	49.90%
Convertible promissory note minimum coupon rate	8.00%
Maximum rate of interest related to certain defined cash flows	18.00%
Stifel Financial Corp. [Member]
Loss exposure	18.0
Weisel Capital Management LLC [Member]
Assets in partnership	$ 273.5

Convertible Promissory Note Minimum Coupon Rate Maximum

No definition available.

Name:	sf_ConvertiblePromissoryNoteMinimumCouponRateMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	sf_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Convertible Promissory Note Minimum Coupon Rate Minimum

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sf_ConvertiblePromissoryNoteMinimumCouponRateMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	sf_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Potential Ownership Interest Upon Conversion Of Notes Issued

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sf_PotentialOwnershipInterestUponConversionOfNotesIssued
Namespace Prefix:	sf_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The principal amount of the receivable or note before consideration of the discount or premium.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReceivableWithImputedInterestFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph b

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=d3e5728-111685

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=d3e5747-111685

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of the assets in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), where the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant