CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 882,774	$ 890,144	$ 2,692,906	$ 2,655,946
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation shown below)	491,062	489,923	1,505,169	1,462,624
Depreciation - cost of revenues	23,673	24,265	69,284	73,145
Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A" - exclusive of depreciation and intangible amortization shown below)	237,815	210,348	994,806	631,784
Depreciation – SG&A	6,716	7,963	19,374	20,934
Intangible amortization – SG&A	29,905	33,128	88,475	102,311
Total Costs and Expenses	789,171	765,627	2,677,108	2,290,798
Income from Operations	93,603	124,517	15,798	365,148
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	149	21	251	51
Interest expense	(24,631)	(24,711)	(71,777)	(73,140)
Other (expense) income, net	(2,272)	2,932	(5,423)	(437)
Total Other Expense	(26,754)	(21,758)	(76,949)	(73,526)
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	66,849	102,759	(61,151)	291,622
Income tax expense (benefit)	27,780	37,586	(14,585)	102,624
Net Income (Loss)	39,069	65,173	(46,566)	188,998
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	31	378	249	1,383
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	39,038	64,795	(46,815)	187,615
Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividend	8,957	9,726	27,506	29,853
Gain on repurchase of preferred stock	(5,368)	(6,467)	(14,390)	(7,747)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders	$ 35,449	$ 61,536	$ (59,931)	$ 165,509
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders:
Basic	$ 0.42	$ 0.72	$ (0.70)	$ 1.95
Diluted	$ 0.41	$ 0.72	$ (0.70)	$ 1.93
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	85,342,955	85,044,303	85,278,783	84,881,452
Diluted	85,621,184	85,570,529	85,278,783	85,689,525