Earnings Per Common Share - Table 2 (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 64.1	$ 73.2	$ 178.9	$ 66.3	$ 57.4	$ 60.4	$ 56.4	$ 57.2	$ 382.5	$ 231.4	$ 205.8
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations									(57.8)	(50.9)	(47.0)
Less: Income allocated to participating securities									(3.4)	(2.2)	(3.2)
Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends									(21.0)	(23.9)	(26.0)
Less: Repurchase of convertible perpetual preferred stock									(71.6)	(0.8)	0
Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders									228.7	153.6	129.6
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders									(1.1)	4.5	49.9
Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities									0	(0.1)	(1.2)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders									$ 227.6	$ 158.0	$ 178.3
Denominator:
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding									88.1	94.6	93.3
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding									102.1	108.1	109.2
Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders
Continuing Operations									$ 2.59	$ 1.62	$ 1.39
Discontinued Operations									$ (0.01)	$ 0.05	$ 0.52
Net income									$ 2.58	$ 1.67	$ 1.91