Consolidated Quarterly Results of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per 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
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 503,638		$ 480,484		$ 468,950		$ 460,077		$ 446,557		$ 420,924		$ 410,441		$ 398,126		$ 1,913,149		$ 1,676,048		$ 1,439,388
Gross profit	226,956		215,554		209,488		205,307		201,518		190,055		186,741		182,430		857,305		760,744
Restructuring costs and plant closure expense	(1,933)		(2,250)		(1,064)		(86)		(3,989)		(633)		(195)		(258)		(5,333)		(5,075)
Litigation settlement	(6,050)		0		0		0		(725)		(460)		0		0		(6,050)		(1,185)
(Loss)/ gain on sale of business	0		(4,867)		0		0		304		(323)		0		0		(4,867)		(19)
Acquisition expenses	(1,707)		(2,467)		(2,207)		(1,539)		(2,310)		(3,195)		(5,261)		(5,938)		(7,920)		(16,704)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	(161)		11		602		(1,204)		5,081		0		0		2,140		(752)		7,221		0
Integration expenses	(1,356)		(1,217)		(1,044)		(1,279)		(480)		(1,813)		(1,287)		(766)		(4,896)		(4,346)
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
Basic earnings per common share	$ 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
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 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.