Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	May 13, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	FIRST SOUTH BANCORP INC /VA/
Document Type	10-Q
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		9,528,964
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001027183
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1