Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Fair Value Of Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	[1]	$ 318,848	$ 248,588
Financial instruments owned		1,058,089	925,045
Available-for-sale securities		3,377,981	3,181,313
Held-to-maturity securities	[2]	3,199,113	3,040,554
Investments, at fair value		133,761	133,563
Derivative contracts		11,300	10,390
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	[3]	219,727	268,546
Bank deposits		11,700,961	11,527,483
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		754,458	699,032
Derivative contracts		1,191	1,823
Borrowings		199,000	377,000
Carrying Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		658,387	912,932
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		214	73,235
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		318,848	248,588
Financial instruments owned		1,058,089	925,045
Available-for-sale securities		3,377,981	3,181,313
Held-to-maturity securities		3,189,767	3,038,405
Loans held for sale		206,724	228,588
Bank loans		5,864,548	5,591,190
Investments, at fair value		133,761	133,563
Derivative contracts	[4]	11,300	10,390
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		219,727	268,546
Bank deposits		11,700,961	11,527,483
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		754,458	699,032
Derivative contracts	[5]	1,191	1,823
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		790,000	500,000
Borrowings		199,000	377,000
Senior notes		795,192	795,891
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		67,500	67,500
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		658,387	912,932
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		214	73,235
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		318,848	248,588
Financial instruments owned		1,058,089	925,045
Available-for-sale securities		3,377,981	3,181,313
Held-to-maturity securities		3,199,113	3,040,554
Loans held for sale		206,724	228,588
Bank loans		5,916,155	5,633,804
Investments, at fair value		133,761	133,563
Derivative contracts	[4]	11,300	10,390
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		219,727	268,546
Bank deposits		12,701,075	11,092,185
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		754,458	699,032
Derivative contracts	[5]	1,191	1,823
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		790,000	500,000
Borrowings		199,000	377,000
Senior notes		810,193	799,632
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		$ 51,469	$ 52,525

[1] Collateral received includes securities received by our company from the counterparty. These securities are not included on the consolidated statements of financial condition unless there is an event of default.

[2] Held-to-maturity securities are carried in the consolidated statements of financial condition at amortized cost, and the changes in the value of these securities, other than impairment charges, are not reported on the consolidated financial statements.

[3] Collateral pledged includes the fair value of securities pledged by our company to the counter party. These securities are included on the consolidated statements of financial condition unless we default.

[4] Included in other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

[5] Included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the consolidated statements of financial condition.