<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <Version>2.4.0.8</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>161</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>192</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>41</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>5</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0010 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/BalanceSheet</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0015 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/BalanceSheetParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0020 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/StatementOfIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Operations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0030 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/StatementOfStockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and Income</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0040 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/CashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0045 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/CashFlowsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1010 - Disclosure - Basis of Presentation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureBasisOfPresentation</Role>
      <ShortName>Basis of Presentation</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1020 - Disclosure - Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounting Policies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1030 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssets</Role>
      <ShortName>Intangible Assets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1040 - Disclosure - Indebtedness</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureIndebtedness</Role>
      <ShortName>Indebtedness</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1050 - Disclosure - Fair Value</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureFairValue</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1060 - Disclosure - Segment Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureSegmentInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1070 - Disclosure - Income per Common Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureIncomePerCommonShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Income per Common Share</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1080 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1090 - Disclosure - Subsequent Event</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureSubsequentEvent</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Event</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1100 - Disclosure - Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under Select's 6.375% Senior Notes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureFinancialInformationForSubsidiaryGuarantorsAndNonGuarantorSubsidiariesUnderSelects6.375SeniorNotes</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under Select's 6.375% Senior Notes</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2020 - Disclosure - Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>3030 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Intangible Assets (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>3040 - Disclosure - Indebtedness (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureIndebtednessTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Indebtedness (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>3060 - Disclosure - Segment Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureSegmentInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>3070 - Disclosure - Income per Common Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureIncomePerCommonShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Income per Common Share (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>3100 - Disclosure - Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under Select's 6.375% Senior Notes (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureFinancialInformationForSubsidiaryGuarantorsAndNonGuarantorSubsidiariesUnderSelects6.375SeniorNotesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under Select's 6.375% Senior Notes (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4030 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Intangible Assets (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4031 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Intangible Assets (Details 2)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4040 - Disclosure - Indebtedness (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureIndebtednessDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Indebtedness (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4050 - Disclosure - Fair Value (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureFairValueDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4060 - Disclosure - Segment Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureSegmentInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4061 - Disclosure - Segment Information (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureSegmentInformationDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information (Details 2)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4070 - Disclosure - Income per Common Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureIncomePerCommonShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income per Common Share (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4080 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4090 - Disclosure - Subsequent Event (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureSubsequentEventDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Event (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4100 - Disclosure - Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under Select's 6.375% Senior Notes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureFinancialInformationForSubsidiaryGuarantorsAndNonGuarantorSubsidiariesUnderSelects6.375SeniorNotesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under Select's 6.375% Senior Notes (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4101 - Disclosure - Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under Select's 6.375% Senior Notes (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureFinancialInformationForSubsidiaryGuarantorsAndNonGuarantorSubsidiariesUnderSelects6.375SeniorNotesDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under Select's 6.375% Senior Notes (Details 2)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4102 - Disclosure - Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under Select's 6.375% Senior Notes (Details 3)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureFinancialInformationForSubsidiaryGuarantorsAndNonGuarantorSubsidiariesUnderSelects6.375SeniorNotesDetails3</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under Select's 6.375% Senior Notes (Details 3)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>4103 - Disclosure - Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under Select's 6.375% Senior Notes (Details 4)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DisclosureFinancialInformationForSubsidiaryGuarantorsAndNonGuarantorSubsidiariesUnderSelects6.375SeniorNotesDetails4</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under Select's 6.375% Senior Notes (Details 4)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '4040 - Disclosure - Indebtedness (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '4050 - Disclosure - Fair Value (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 0010 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 0015 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 0020 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 0040 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 0045 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical)</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>sem-20130930.xml</File>
    <File>sem-20130930.xsd</File>
    <File>sem-20130930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>sem-20130930_def.xml</File>
    <File>sem-20130930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>sem-20130930_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
