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Income Taxes Level 4 (Details) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Proceeds and Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation                 $ 2,700,000us-gaap_ProceedsAndExcessTaxBenefitFromSharebasedCompensation $ 36,300,000us-gaap_ProceedsAndExcessTaxBenefitFromSharebasedCompensation  
Impact of of certain tax items 2,700,000sci_Impactofofcertaintaxitems               2,700,000sci_Impactofofcertaintaxitems    
United States                 360,800,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic 199,374,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic 210,830,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic
Foreign                 41,800,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign 45,832,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign 34,453,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign
Income from continuing operations before income taxes 177,591,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest [1] 91,735,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest [1] 69,316,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest [1] 63,958,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest [1] 49,801,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest [1] 45,633,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest [1] 56,092,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest [1] 93,680,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest [1] 402,600,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest 245,206,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest 245,283,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
United States                 67,511,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit 2,207,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit 3,752,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit
Foreign                 10,859,000us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit 12,445,000us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit 8,638,000us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit
State                 17,939,000us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit 6,664,000us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit 6,036,000us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit
Total current income taxes                 96,309,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 21,316,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 18,426,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
United States                 108,514,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 64,355,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 60,699,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Foreign                 (653,000)us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 58,000us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 118,000us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
State                 21,810,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 7,295,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 10,868,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Total deferred income taxes                 129,671,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 71,708,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 71,685,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Total income taxes (90,982,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (74,934,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (37,357,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (22,707,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (17,729,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit [2] (18,407,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit [2] (21,598,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit [2] (35,290,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit [2] 225,980,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 93,024,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 90,111,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Income Taxes Paid                 106,300,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid 26,000,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid 23,100,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid
Proceeds from Income Tax Refunds                 600,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIncomeTaxRefunds 500,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIncomeTaxRefunds 1,500,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIncomeTaxRefunds
Computed tax provision at the applicable federal statutory income tax rate                 140,910,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 86,002,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 85,988,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
State and local taxes, net of federal income tax benefits                 25,736,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 8,221,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 11,007,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes
Dividends received deduction and tax exempt interest                 (1,612,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxExemptIncome (592,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxExemptIncome (525,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxExemptIncome
Foreign jurisdiction differences                 (4,424,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (3,685,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (3,409,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential
Permanent differences associated with dispositions                 61,892,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness 268,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness 602,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness
Changes in uncertain tax positions                 4,624,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxContingencies 3,710,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxContingencies (479,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxContingencies
Other                 (1,146,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments (900,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments (3,073,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Effective Income Tax Rate, Continuing Operations                 56.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 37.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 36.70%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Enacted Tax Rate, Percent                 18.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate    
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes                     3,100,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxes
Inventories and cemetery property, principally due to purchase accounting adjustments (338,446,000)sci_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInventoriesAndCemeteryProperty       (368,650,000)sci_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInventoriesAndCemeteryProperty       (338,446,000)sci_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInventoriesAndCemeteryProperty (368,650,000)sci_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInventoriesAndCemeteryProperty  
Property and equipment, principally due to differences in depreciation methods and purchase accounting adjustments (183,332,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment       (159,734,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment       (183,332,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment (159,734,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment  
Intangibles (309,271,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets       (323,311,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets       (309,271,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets (323,311,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets  
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Payables (6,870,000)sci_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPayables       (35,103,000)sci_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPayables       (6,870,000)sci_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPayables (35,103,000)sci_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPayables  
Deferred tax liabilities (837,919,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities       (886,798,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities       (837,919,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities (886,798,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities  
Deferred Tax Assets, Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards 181,092,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsLossAndTaxCreditCarryforwards       252,272,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsLossAndTaxCreditCarryforwards       181,092,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsLossAndTaxCreditCarryforwards 252,272,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsLossAndTaxCreditCarryforwards  
Deferred revenue on preneed funeral and cemetery contracts, principally due to earnings from trust funds 262,202,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredRevenueOnPreneedFuneralAndCemeteryContracts       305,504,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredRevenueOnPreneedFuneralAndCemeteryContracts       262,202,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredRevenueOnPreneedFuneralAndCemeteryContracts 305,504,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredRevenueOnPreneedFuneralAndCemeteryContracts  
Accrued liabilities 99,908,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities       109,103,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities       99,908,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities 109,103,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities  
Deferred tax assets 543,202,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross       666,879,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross       543,202,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross 666,879,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross  
Less: Valuation allowance (134,201,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance       (114,719,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance       (134,201,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (114,719,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance  
Net deferred income tax liability                 14,700,000sci_Deferredtaxassetnetchangeforbusinesscombination    
Deferred tax assets 1,128,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent       30,282,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent       1,128,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent 30,282,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent  
Non-current deferred tax assets 18,778,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent       22,249,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent       18,778,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent 22,249,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent  
Non-current deferred tax liabilities (448,824,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent       (387,169,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent       (448,824,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent (387,169,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent  
Undistributed Earnings from Foreign Subsidiaries                 259,400,000sci_UndistributedEarningsFromForeignSubsidiaries 241,500,000sci_UndistributedEarningsFromForeignSubsidiaries  
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]                      
Beginning Balance       177,830,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits       184,899,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 177,830,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 184,899,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 197,223,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Additions to tax positions related to the current year                 8,721,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions 3,019,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions  
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increase Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions                 10,085,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions    
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increase Resulting from Acquisition                   1,556,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromAcquisition  
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decrease Resulting from Current Period Tax Positions                 (1,075,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions   (2,100,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Additions to tax positions related to prior years                 (7,800,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsPeriodIncreaseDecrease    
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decrease Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions                 (2,325,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions (8,800,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions (10,224,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Ending Balance 191,680,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits       177,830,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits       191,680,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 177,830,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 184,899,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate 77,300,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate       37,100,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate       77,300,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate 37,100,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate 34,900,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued 47,600,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued       44,500,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued       47,600,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued 44,500,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued 41,600,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increases, Net                 13,800,000sci_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesNet    
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense                 3,100,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense 3,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense 200,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense
Operating Loss Carryforwards 3,326,541,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards               3,326,541,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year One                 80,429,000sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearOne    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year Two                 158,616,000sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearTwo    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year Three                 243,893,000sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearThree    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year Four                 105,303,000sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearFour    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Five Years and Thereafter                 2,738,300,000sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInFiveYearsAndThereafter    
Loss Carry Forwards, Unexpiring                 59,100,000sci_LossCarryForwardsUnexpiring    
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount                 2,100,000us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount    
Net deferred income tax liability (428,918,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet       (334,638,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet       (428,918,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet (334,638,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet  
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Reduction Resulting from Lapse of Applicable Statute of Limitations                   (2,844,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations  
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]                      
Deferred Tax Assets, Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards 3,587,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsLossAndTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		               3,587,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsLossAndTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		    
Less: Valuation allowance 0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		               0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		    
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]                      
Operating Loss Carryforwards 9,736,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		               9,736,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year One                 0sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearOne
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year Two                 0sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearTwo
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year Three                 0sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearThree
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year Four                 0sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearFour
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Five Years and Thereafter                 9,736,000sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInFiveYearsAndThereafter
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember		    
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]                      
Deferred Tax Assets, Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards 155,956,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsLossAndTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		 [3]               155,956,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsLossAndTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		 [3]    
Less: Valuation allowance (116,923,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		 [3]               (116,923,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		 [3]    
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]                      
Additions to tax positions related to the current year                 7,700,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		    
Operating Loss Carryforwards 3,316,335,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		               3,316,335,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year One                 80,429,000sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearOne
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year Two                 158,616,000sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearTwo
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year Three                 243,893,000sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearThree
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year Four                 105,303,000sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearFour
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Five Years and Thereafter                 2,728,094,000sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInFiveYearsAndThereafter
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		    
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount                 21,500,000us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember		    
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]                      
Deferred Tax Assets, Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards 21,549,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsLossAndTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		               21,549,000sci_DeferredTaxAssetsLossAndTaxCreditCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		    
Less: Valuation allowance (17,278,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		               (17,278,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		    
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]                      
Operating Loss Carryforwards 470,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		               470,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year One                 0sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearOne
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year Two                 0sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearTwo
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year Three                 0sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearThree
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Year Four                 0sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInYearFour
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		    
Loss Carry Forwards, Expirations in Five Years and Thereafter                 470,000sci_LossCarryForwardsExpirationsInFiveYearsAndThereafter
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember		    
Stewart [Domain]                      
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]                      
Statute expirations                 $ 1,556,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromAcquisition
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= sci_StewartDomain		    
[1] Includes (Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net, as described in Note 20.
[2] See Note 2 for details related to the revision which was recorded for the quarter ended December 31, 2013. The revision reduced the provision for income taxes and increased net income attributable to common stockholders by $3.5 million and increased basic and diluted EPS by $0.02.
[3] Presented net of Federal benefit