<?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>2.4.1.9</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>106</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>182</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>30</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>7</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00090 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00100 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00105 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00200 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00300 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity and Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedStatementOfChangesInEquityAndIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity and Income</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00400 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00405 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.selectmedicalcorp.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlowsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10101 - 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>10201 - 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>10301 - 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>10401 - 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>10501 - 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>10601 - 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>10701 - 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>10801 - 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>10901 - 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/DisclosureFinancialInformationForSubsidiaryGuarantorsAndNonGuarantorSubsidiariesUnderSelectS6375SeniorNotes</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>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>20202 - 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>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30303 - 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>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30403 - 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>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30603 - 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>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30703 - 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>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30903 - 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/DisclosureFinancialInformationForSubsidiaryGuarantorsAndNonGuarantorSubsidiariesUnderSelectS6375SeniorNotesTables</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>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40301 - 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>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40302 - 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>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40401 - 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>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40501 - 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>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40601 - 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>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40602 - 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>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40701 - 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>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40801 - 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>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40901 - 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/DisclosureFinancialInformationForSubsidiaryGuarantorsAndNonGuarantorSubsidiariesUnderSelectS6375SeniorNotesDetails</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>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40902 - 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/DisclosureFinancialInformationForSubsidiaryGuarantorsAndNonGuarantorSubsidiariesUnderSelectS6375SeniorNotesDetails2</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>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40903 - 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/DisclosureFinancialInformationForSubsidiaryGuarantorsAndNonGuarantorSubsidiariesUnderSelectS6375SeniorNotesDetails3</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>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40904 - 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/DisclosureFinancialInformationForSubsidiaryGuarantorsAndNonGuarantorSubsidiariesUnderSelectS6375SeniorNotesDetails4</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 '40401 - Disclosure - Indebtedness (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '40501 - Disclosure - Fair Value (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00100 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Mar. 31, 2014'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2013'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00105 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00200 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00400 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00405 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical)</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>sem-20150331.xml</File>
    <File>sem-20150331.xsd</File>
    <File>sem-20150331_cal.xml</File>
    <File>sem-20150331_def.xml</File>
    <File>sem-20150331_lab.xml</File>
    <File>sem-20150331_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
