Document and Entity Information Document	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Apr. 24, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	Service Corporation International
Entity Central Index Key	0000089089
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		217,098,386