Preneed Funeral Activities Preneed Funeral Activities, Textuals (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net	$ 650,000	$ 4,421,000
Funeral [Member]
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, risk discount, low end of the range	0.00%
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, risk discount, high end of the range	60.00%
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, liquidity discount, low end of the range	0.00%
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, liquidity discount, high end of the range	25.00%
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share, Unfunded Commitments	14,500,000
Investment Earnings, Net	9,900,000	9,600,000
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net	$ 344,000	$ 3,146,000

Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, liquidity discount, high end of the range

No definition available.

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- Definition

Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, liquidity discount, low end of the range

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, risk discount, high end of the range

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sci_
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- Definition

Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, risk discount, low end of the range

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sci_
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- Definition

This item represents investment income derived from investments in debt and equity securities consisting of interest income earned from investments in debt securities and on cash and cash equivalents, dividend income from investments in equity securities, and income or expense derived from the amortization of investment related discounts or premiums, respectively, net of related investment expenses. This item also includes realized or unrealized gains or losses on the sale or holding of investments in debt and equity securities required to be included in earnings for the period. It does not include investment income from real or personal property, such as rental income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of unfunded commitments for which the entity is obligated, to those certain investments for which net asset value per share is calculated (including by unit, membership interest, or other equity (ownership interest) unit measure) (alternative investments).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6A

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=SL6742756-110258

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses on equity securities, OTTI related to credit losses on debt securities, and OTTI losses on debt securities when the entity intends to sell the securities or it is more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the securities before recovery of its amortized cost basis. Additionally, this item includes OTTI losses recognized during the period on investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 16B

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 7

-Footnote 2

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 15C

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 15D

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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