Convertible Junior Subordinated Debentures Payable to Affiliate and Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities of Carriage Services Capital Trust (Notes)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Convertible Junior Subordinated Debenture Payable to Affiliate and Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities of Carriage Services Capital Trust [Text Block]	CONVERTIBLE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES PAYABLE TO AFFILIATE AND COMPANY OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SECURITIES OF CARRIAGE SERVICES CAPITAL TRUST Carriage’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Carriage Services Capital Trust, issued 1,875,000 units of 7% convertible preferred securities (TIDES) in June 1999, resulting in approximately $90.0 million in net proceeds, and the Company issued a 7% convertible junior subordinated debenture to the Trust in the amount of $93.75 million. The convertible preferred securities have a liquidation amount of $50 per unit and are convertible into Carriage’s common stock at the equivalent conversion price of $20.4375 per share of common stock. The convertible junior subordinated debentures and the TIDES mature in 2029, and the TIDES are guaranteed on a subordinated basis by the Company. Both the convertible junior subordinated debentures and the TIDES contain a provision for the deferral of distributions for up to 20 consecutive quarters. During the period in which distribution payments are deferred, distributions will continue to accumulate at the 7% annual rate. Also, the deferred distributions will themselves accumulate distributions at the annual rate of 7%. During the period in which distributions are deferred, Carriage is prohibited from paying dividends on its common stock or repurchasing its common stock, with limited exceptions. There are no deferred distributions at March 31, 2014. On March 17, 2014, we called for the redemption of all our outstanding convertible junior subordinated debentures due 2029 held by Carriage Services Capital Trust and the corresponding TIDES at a price $50 per $50 principal amount of the convertible junior subordinated debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption dated. Redemption period for the TIDES ended April 16, 2014. In March 2014, we used a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes to redeem the convertible junior subordinated debentures for approximately $61.9 million in principal amount of our existing convertible junior subordinated debentures and approximately $0.9 million associated with the call premium. At December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014, amounts outstanding under the convertible junior subordinated debentures totaled $89.8 million and $27.9 million, respectively.

CONVERTIBLE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES PAYABLE TO AFFILIATE AND COMPANY OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SECURITIES OF CARRIAGE SERVICES CAPITAL TRUST

Carriage’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Carriage Services Capital Trust, issued 1,875,000 units of 7% convertible preferred securities (TIDES) in June 1999, resulting in approximately $90.0 million in net proceeds, and the Company issued a 7% convertible junior subordinated debenture to the Trust in the amount of $93.75 million. The convertible preferred securities have a liquidation amount of $50 per unit and are convertible into Carriage’s common stock at the equivalent conversion price of $20.4375 per share of common stock. The convertible junior subordinated debentures and the TIDES mature in 2029, and the TIDES are guaranteed on a subordinated basis by the Company. Both the convertible junior subordinated debentures and the TIDES contain a provision for the deferral of distributions for up to 20 consecutive quarters. During the period in which distribution payments are deferred, distributions will continue to accumulate at the 7% annual rate. Also, the deferred distributions will themselves accumulate distributions at the annual rate of 7%. During the period in which distributions are deferred, Carriage is prohibited from paying dividends on its common stock or repurchasing its common stock, with limited exceptions. There are no deferred distributions at March 31, 2014.

On March 17, 2014, we called for the redemption of all our outstanding convertible junior subordinated debentures due 2029 held by Carriage Services Capital Trust and the corresponding TIDES at a price $50 per $50 principal amount of the convertible junior subordinated debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption dated. Redemption period for the TIDES ended April 16, 2014. In March 2014, we used a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes to redeem the convertible junior subordinated debentures for approximately $61.9 million in principal amount of our existing convertible junior subordinated debentures and approximately $0.9 million associated with the call premium. At December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014, amounts outstanding under the convertible junior subordinated debentures totaled $89.8 million and $27.9 million, respectively.