<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="ehc-20201113.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000785161</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-11-13</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-11-13</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF80L2ZyYWc6YjIwOWZiMjhmNGYyNGI5YThmNjk4YTdiOTU5NDU5NjcvdGFibGU6MTAwMjQ3OWI2NTViNDJhOThhNjA1MDdiMTMxM2MwZTEvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxMDAyNDc5YjY1NWI0MmE5OGE2MDUwN2IxMzEzYzBlMV8wLTEtMS0xLTA_9ae071a2-98bf-48c1-ac75-2cbe9379f64b">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF80L2ZyYWc6YjIwOWZiMjhmNGYyNGI5YThmNjk4YTdiOTU5NDU5NjcvdGFibGU6MTAwMjQ3OWI2NTViNDJhOThhNjA1MDdiMTMxM2MwZTEvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxMDAyNDc5YjY1NWI0MmE5OGE2MDUwN2IxMzEzYzBlMV8xLTEtMS0xLTA_b115238b-c03f-4e75-ae15-471828b79b20">0000785161</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZjZjYWNlNTUzY2E0MGJmOWVlY2JmYjE3N2I5NzFkZl8xMjY2_8dd405f5-f5d8-4122-b634-106b0e144634">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZjZjYWNlNTUzY2E0MGJmOWVlY2JmYjE3N2I5NzFkZl8yMjY_f673e85d-6eac-458a-ad8e-f9677827e522">2020-11-13</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZjZjYWNlNTUzY2E0MGJmOWVlY2JmYjE3N2I5NzFkZl8xMjY4_ab572d7a-0d6f-4db1-820f-719ae56d9336">Encompass Health Corporation</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZjZjYWNlNTUzY2E0MGJmOWVlY2JmYjE3N2I5NzFkZl8xMjY5_9145fef7-9ddd-40be-abb9-7d6a5daa7500">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGFibGU6OWFlOGUyNGZhNTM4NDJhYmI5ODMyNjliNjAwNWRjZjcvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5YWU4ZTI0ZmE1Mzg0MmFiYjk4MzI2OWI2MDA1ZGNmN18wLTAtMS0xLTA_75fe775c-3b3c-4ac0-9bf8-d2b47a6d730f">001-10315</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGFibGU6OWFlOGUyNGZhNTM4NDJhYmI5ODMyNjliNjAwNWRjZjcvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5YWU4ZTI0ZmE1Mzg0MmFiYjk4MzI2OWI2MDA1ZGNmN18wLTEtMS0xLTA_9b2dac13-19b3-47f0-af21-98fcea131355">63-0860407</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZjZjYWNlNTUzY2E0MGJmOWVlY2JmYjE3N2I5NzFkZl8xMjcw_42f74c2d-44c8-4d9a-9c60-140fca4a79b7">9001 Liberty Parkway</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZjZjYWNlNTUzY2E0MGJmOWVlY2JmYjE3N2I5NzFkZl8xMjY0_27ef86f4-f63a-43a5-8208-65c60305e7ff">Birmingham</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZjZjYWNlNTUzY2E0MGJmOWVlY2JmYjE3N2I5NzFkZl8xMjY1_103eaee3-6a0c-4566-a80c-482d157b4141">AL</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZjZjYWNlNTUzY2E0MGJmOWVlY2JmYjE3N2I5NzFkZl8xMjcx_45b2585f-25cf-41d8-a3eb-7485d4da3145">35242</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZjZjYWNlNTUzY2E0MGJmOWVlY2JmYjE3N2I5NzFkZl8xMjcy_82e42b21-d378-41cb-bc26-6c5d34708d6c">205</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZjZjYWNlNTUzY2E0MGJmOWVlY2JmYjE3N2I5NzFkZl8xMjcz_198e5963-3978-4017-8bb9-c50f3128818b">967-7116</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGFibGU6ZDdhNDllMzBjOWFhNDI4Y2ExNWFiNzI1NmFjYTk4MjYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkN2E0OWUzMGM5YWE0MjhjYTE1YWI3MjU2YWNhOTgyNl8wLTAtMS0xLTA_ec7996f4-ce60-4ee1-ac30-a2f51dc7064f">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGFibGU6ZDdhNDllMzBjOWFhNDI4Y2ExNWFiNzI1NmFjYTk4MjYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkN2E0OWUzMGM5YWE0MjhjYTE1YWI3MjU2YWNhOTgyNl8yLTAtMS0xLTA_b3f89312-cda0-4058-9bd7-4308d55220fa">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGFibGU6ZDdhNDllMzBjOWFhNDI4Y2ExNWFiNzI1NmFjYTk4MjYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkN2E0OWUzMGM5YWE0MjhjYTE1YWI3MjU2YWNhOTgyNl80LTAtMS0xLTA_4be90a2a-fa31-4cf5-ba91-ffd91d68ee1b">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGFibGU6ZDdhNDllMzBjOWFhNDI4Y2ExNWFiNzI1NmFjYTk4MjYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkN2E0OWUzMGM5YWE0MjhjYTE1YWI3MjU2YWNhOTgyNl82LTAtMS0xLTA_88ecf784-79e7-469d-88b2-d4d4e4f200ec">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZjZjYWNlNTUzY2E0MGJmOWVlY2JmYjE3N2I5NzFkZl8xMjc0_2c9faf8b-4bf7-4adf-baef-d66b74df661d">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGFibGU6NjJlMDFjZTJjOGE5NDJiYWI2Mzk1OTNkZDRhMjczM2YvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo2MmUwMWNlMmM4YTk0MmJhYjYzOTU5M2RkNGEyNzMzZl8xLTAtMS0xLTA_7dd09f7d-b550-4329-9d23-cbe8a6bb025b">Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGFibGU6NjJlMDFjZTJjOGE5NDJiYWI2Mzk1OTNkZDRhMjczM2YvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo2MmUwMWNlMmM4YTk0MmJhYjYzOTU5M2RkNGEyNzMzZl8xLTEtMS0xLTA_71cb2ed5-8551-4d7c-bd66-efc90d43d45f">EHC</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i7ea417ec8b4b4e7e89685870c24b53e3_D20201113-20201113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmM5OThlM2NiMGUzMTRlYmRiNGNkNmI4MjExNzk0YTMwL3NlYzpjOTk4ZTNjYjBlMzE0ZWJkYjRjZDZiODIxMTc5NGEzMF8xL2ZyYWc6N2Y2Y2FjZTU1M2NhNDBiZjllZWNiZmIxNzdiOTcxZGYvdGFibGU6NjJlMDFjZTJjOGE5NDJiYWI2Mzk1OTNkZDRhMjczM2YvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo2MmUwMWNlMmM4YTk0MmJhYjYzOTU5M2RkNGEyNzMzZl8xLTItMS0xLTA_1ac52e01-77e1-4b56-8480-3a5fdbfa03dc">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
</xbrl>
