Name:	sfl_EstimatedResidualValuesOfLeasedPropertyUnGuaranteed
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The number of variable interest entities included in the Company's consolidated financial statements as of the reporting date where related and third parties have fixed price options to purchase the respective vessels at future dates. Purchase options are not deemed to be at bargain prices.

No definition available.

Name:	sfl_NumberOfVariableInterestEntities
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number Of Variable Interest Entities with attached Debt

No definition available.

Name:	sfl_NumberOfVariableInterestEntitieswithattachedDebt
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The remaining (unamortized) difference between the gross investment in a direct financing or sales-type lease and the cost or carrying amount, if different, of the leased property as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	sfl_UnearnedLeaseIncome
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Variable Interest Entity, Outstanding Lease Obligations

No definition available.

Name:	sfl_VariableInterestEntityOutstandingLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Variable Interest Entity, Outstanding Lease Obligations, Short Term

No definition available.

Name:	sfl_VariableInterestEntityOutstandingLeaseObligationsShortTerm
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Outstanding loan balance in variable interest entity as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	sfl_VariableInterestEntityOutstandingLoanBalance
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The current or short-term portion of outstanding loan balance in variable interest entity as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	sfl_VariableInterestEntityOutstandingLoanBalanceCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (bb)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108788376&loc=d3e5710-111685

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

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=sfl_VariableInterestEntitiesAccountedForAsDirectFinancingLeasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=sfl_VariableInterestEntitieswhichcontainFinanceLeaseObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=sfl_VariableInterestEntitiesAccountedForAsOperatingLeaseAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: