EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS - 401(k) and Deferred Compensation Plans (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) insurance_policy	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Defined Contribution 401(k) Plan
Requisite service period for full-time employees to participate in contribution plan	3 months
Period of service after which the non-full time employees are eligible to participate in defined contribution plan	1 year
Requisite service hours for non full-time employees to participate in contribution plan	1000 hours
Employer's matching contribution on each dollar for the first 6 percent of participant's contribution	0.50
Participant's contribution to the plan, eligible for employer's matching contribution of fifty cents	1
Maximum percentage of participant contributions eligible for employer contribution match towards defined contribution plan	6.00%
Company contributions to defined contribution plan	$ 12,100,000	$ 11,000,000	$ 10,200,000
Percentage of Rollins, Inc. Common Stock to plan assets	38.80%	36.40%	33.50%
Administrative fees paid (less than)	$ 100,000	$ 100,000	$ 100,000
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
Maximum percentage of base salary to be deferred	50.00%
Maximum percentage of annual bonus to be deferred	85.00%
Minimum deferral amount per plan year	$ 2,000
Maximum discretionary contributions by employer	$ 245,000
Number of life insurance policies | insurance_policy	70
Life insurance policies, net face value	$ 43,400,000
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	18,300,000	15,700,000
Estimated future life insurance payments
2018	590,000
2019	614,000
2020	638,000
2021	664,000
2022	690,000
Total	3,196,000
Total expense/(income) related to deferred compensation	241,000	230,000	$ 231,000
Deferred compensation assets	18,400,000	15,900,000
Deferred compensation liability	$ 18,400,000	$ 15,700,000