Aggregate undiscounted pay-out amount

No definition available.

Name:	bbsi_AggregateUndiscountedPayOutAmount
Namespace Prefix:	bbsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Annual fee paid.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbsi_AnnualFeePaid
Namespace Prefix:	bbsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Excess workers' compensation insurance coverage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbsi_ExcessWorkersCompensationInsuranceCoverage
Namespace Prefix:	bbsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Excess workers' compensation insurance coverage maximum limit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbsi_ExcessWorkersCompensationInsuranceCoverageMaximumLimit
Namespace Prefix:	bbsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Excess workers' compensation insurance retention.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbsi_ExcessWorkersCompensationInsuranceRetention
Namespace Prefix:	bbsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Letter Of Credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbsi_LetterOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	bbsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Pay-out periods to the beneficiaries.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbsi_PayOutPeriodsToBeneficiaries
Namespace Prefix:	bbsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Receivable from insurer for insured claims liability.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbsi_ReceivableFromInsurerForInsuredClaimsLiability
Namespace Prefix:	bbsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Specified investment balances.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbsi_SpecifiedInvestmentBalances
Namespace Prefix:	bbsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Specified investment balances increase in surety bond requirement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbsi_SpecifiedInvestmentBalancesIncreaseInSuretyBondRequirement
Namespace Prefix:	bbsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Standby letters of credit and a surety bond.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbsi_StandbyLettersOfCreditAndSuretyBond
Namespace Prefix:	bbsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Workers compensation liability portion of work related fatalities in claim.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbsi_WorkersCompensationLiabilityPortionOfWorkRelatedFatalitiesInClaim
Namespace Prefix:	bbsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A savings certificate entitling the Entity (that is, bearer) to receive interest at an established maturity date, based upon a fixed interest rate. A certificate of deposit may be issued in any denomination. Certificates of deposit are generally issued by commercial banks and, therefore, insured by the FDIC (up to the prescribed limit). Certificates of deposit generally restrict holders from withdrawing funds on demand without the incurrence of penalties. Generally, only certificates of deposit with original maturities of three months or less qualify as cash equivalents. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. As a related example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three-years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash Equivalents

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percent discount applied to worker's compensation reserve liability to reduce the reserve to present value.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph b

-Article 7

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482852&loc=d3e14931-158439

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14754-158437

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_WorkersCompensationDiscountPercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations and payables pertaining to claims incurred of a workers compensation nature.

+ References

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(5))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.15(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph a

-Article 7

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph 5

-Article 9

+ Details

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

Workers' Compensation Claims - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 01, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Estimated future liability for unsettled workers' compensation	$ 112,444,000		$ 70,564,000	$ 51,193,000	$ 39,302,000
Receivable from insurer for insured claims liability	768,000		757,000
Long-term workers' compensation claims liabilities	331,000
Aggregate undiscounted payout amount	440,000
Specified investment balances or other financial instruments	72,900,000		26,100,000
Surety bonds and standby letters of credit	70,800,000
Annual fee paid				292,000
Increasing Company's surety deposit requirement		63,900,000
Letter of credit		12,800,000
Certificates of deposit posted as collateral	12,789,000		0
Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Discount rates applied to discounted liabilities	4.25%
Pay-out periods to the beneficiaries	7 years
Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Discount rates applied to discounted liabilities	9.00%
Pay-out periods to the beneficiaries	32 years
ACE [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Excess workers' compensation insurance coverage with Chartis	5,000,000
ACE [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Excess workers' compensation insurance coverage with Chartis	15,000,000
ACE [Member] \| Self-Insured States [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Excess workers' compensation insurance retention	5,000,000
ACE [Member] \| Colorado [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Excess workers' compensation insurance retention	2,000,000
Excess workers compensation insurance coverage with Chartis maximum limit	Statutory limits
ACE [Member] \| Colorado [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Excess workers' compensation insurance coverage with Chartis	2,000,000
ACE [Member] \| Maryland [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Excess workers' compensation insurance retention	1,000,000
ACE [Member] \| Maryland [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Excess workers' compensation insurance coverage with Chartis	1,000,000
ACE [Member] \| Maryland [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Excess workers' compensation insurance coverage with Chartis	25,000,000
Wells Fargo [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Certificates of deposit posted as collateral		$ 12,800,000