Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Numerator:
Numerator for basic earnings per share net income attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	$ 70,069		$ 65,477		$ 67,593		$ 64,857		$ 64,288		$ 59,247		$ 55,542		$ 55,674		$ 267,996		$ 234,751		$ 207,879
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share-weighted average shares																	85,401,365		85,467,421		85,057,775
Effect of diluted securities:
Employee stock options																	1,617,108		1,900,291		1,904,876
Denominator for diluted earnings per share-adjusted weighted average shares and after assumed exercises																	87,018,473		87,367,712		86,962,651
Earnings per share-Basic	$ 0.82	[1]	$ 0.76	[1]	$ 0.79	[1]	$ 0.76	[1]	$ 0.76	[1]	$ 0.69	[1]	$ 0.65	[1]	$ 0.65	[1]	$ 3.14	[1]	$ 2.75	[1]	$ 2.44
Earnings per share-Diluted	$ 0.80	[1]	$ 0.75	[1]	$ 0.78	[1]	$ 0.75	[1]	$ 0.74	[1]	$ 0.68	[1]	$ 0.63	[1]	$ 0.64	[1]	$ 3.08	[1]	$ 2.69	[1]	$ 2.39

[1] EPS calculated on a quarterly basis, and, as such, the amounts may not total the calculated full-year EPS.