Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Feb. 11, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Central Index Key	0000784199
Entity Registrant Name	CRYOLIFE INC
Trading Symbol	cry
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		32,254,625
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Public Float			$ 285,707,713
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No