Name:	sci_CareTrustsCorpus
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The total liability as of the balance sheet date from proceeds deposited into trust from the sale of cemetery property interment rights, including undistributed earnings on investments, excluding accrued expenses.

No definition available.

Name:	sci_CareTrustsCorpusExcludingAccruedExpenses
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

[Line Items] for Provides a description and amount of each detailed component of other nonoperating income. May include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) profits on securities (net of losses), and (d) miscellaneous other income items.

No definition available.

Name:	sci_ComponentsofOtherIncomeNonoperatingLineItems
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The total liability as of the balance sheet date of amounts deposited into trust, including retrospective refunds and undistributed earnings and losses on investments.

No definition available.

Name:	sci_DeferredPreneedFuneralAndCemeteryReceiptsHeldInTrust
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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The total liability as of the balance sheet date of amounts deposited into trust, including retrospective refunds and undistributed earnings and losses on investments, excluding accrued expenses.

No definition available.

Name:	sci_DeferredPreneedFuneralAndCemeteryReceiptsHeldInTrustExcludingAccruedExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	sci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Effect on deferred receipts held in trust and care trust corpus' of the aggregate amount of income from investments (for example, dividends) not considered a component of the entity's core operations.

No definition available.

Name:	sci_InvestmentIncomeNonoperatingEffectOnDeferredPreneedReceiptsHeldInTrustAndCareTrustCorpus
Namespace Prefix:	sci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27357-111563

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

This item represents the gross loss realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of operating dividend and interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts, on securities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.2,3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27723805&loc=d3e24721-111560

Name:	us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeSecurities
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of expenses related to the generation of investment income.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.9)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInvestmentExpense
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The aggregate amount of income from investments (for example, dividends) not considered a component of the entity's core operations.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Amount of liabilities classified as other.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Name:	us-gaap_OtherLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of income (expense) related to nonoperating activities, classified as other.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

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.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=SL6284393-111563

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=sci_FuneralMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=sci_CemeteryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=sci_CemeteryPerpetualCareMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: