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Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Goodwill, beginning balance | $ 1,825,721 us-gaap_GoodwillGross | $ 1,291,394 us-gaap_GoodwillGross |
Goodwill, net, beginning balance | 1,825,721 us-gaap_Goodwill |  |
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions | 3,530 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod | 576,861 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod |
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures | (8,919)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit | (33,871)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit |
Effect of foreign currency and other | (9,479)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments | (8,663)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments |
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease) | (14,868)us-gaap_GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease | 534,327 us-gaap_GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease |
Goodwill, ending balance |  | 1,825,721 us-gaap_GoodwillGross | 1,291,394 us-gaap_GoodwillGross
Goodwill, net, ending balance | 1,810,853 us-gaap_Goodwill | 1,825,721 us-gaap_Goodwill |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | 382,948 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross | 398,962 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 220,682 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization | 227,119 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net | 162,266 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet | 171,843 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet |
Indefinite-Lived Trade Names | 220,875 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedTradeNames | 215,135 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedTradeNames |
Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets | 10,640 us-gaap_OtherIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets | 11,640 us-gaap_OtherIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets |
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) | 231,515 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill | 226,775 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill |
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) | 393,781 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill | 398,618 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill |
Amortization of intangible assets | 36,640 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets | 21,859 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets | 23,853 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Future Amortization Expense, Year One | 9,946 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths |  |
Future Amortization Expense, Year Two | 9,206 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo |  |
Future Amortization Expense, Year Three | 7,484 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree |  |
Future Amortization Expense, Year Four | 6,627 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour |  |
Future Amortization Expense, Year Five | 4,144 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive |  |
Noncompete Agreements [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | 209,920 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember | 217,758 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember |
Customer Relationships [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | 148,351 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember | 151,427 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember |
Trade Names [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | 12,750 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember | 12,750 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |
Other Intangible Assets [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | 11,927 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember | 17,027 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |
Funeral [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Goodwill, beginning balance | 1,526,011 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember | 1,248,316 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember |
Goodwill, net, beginning balance | 1,526,011 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember |  |
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions | 292 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember | 318,202 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember |
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures | (5,959)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember | (31,844)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember |
Effect of foreign currency and other | (9,465)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember | (8,663)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember |
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease) | (15,132)us-gaap_GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember | 277,695 us-gaap_GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember |
Goodwill, ending balance |  | 1,526,011 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember | 1,248,316 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember
Goodwill, net, ending balance | 1,510,879 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember | 1,526,011 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember |
Amortization of intangible assets | 24,841 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember | 17,245 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember | 18,803 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_FuneralMember
Cemetery [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Goodwill, beginning balance | 299,710 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember | 43,078 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember |
Goodwill, net, beginning balance | 299,710 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember |  |
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions | 3,238 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember | 258,659 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember |
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures | (2,960)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember | (2,027)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember |
Effect of foreign currency and other | (14)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember |
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease) | 264 us-gaap_GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember | 256,632 us-gaap_GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember |
Goodwill, ending balance |  | 299,710 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember | 43,078 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember
Goodwill, net, ending balance | 299,974 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember | 299,710 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember |
Amortization of intangible assets | $ 11,700 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember | $ 4,590 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember | $ 5,021 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sci_CemeteryMember
Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 2 years |  |
Minimum [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 2 years |  |
Minimum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 10 years |  |
Minimum [Member] | Trade Names [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 5 years |  |
Minimum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 5 years |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 40 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 20 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 20 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Trade Names [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 5 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 40 years |  |

X
- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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