Name:	bhlb_FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMaturitiesSummaryAverageInterestRateOfAmountsDueAfterFourYearsOfBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix:	bhlb_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Amount of advances from Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) maturing after the fourth rolling twelve months following the latest balance sheet. For interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	bhlb_FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMaturitiesSummaryDueAfterRollingYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	bhlb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of borrowings as of the balance sheet date from the Federal Home Loan Bank, which are primarily used to cover shortages in the required reserve balance and liquidity shortages.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 470

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479118&loc=d3e64650-112822

Name:	us-gaap_AdvancesFromFederalHomeLoanBanks
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

States the weighted average interest rate applicable to the advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank outstanding as of the Balance Sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13(3)(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Industry Guide

-Number 3

-Section VII

-Subsection 1

Name:	us-gaap_FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesGeneralDebtObligationsDisclosuresWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

The weighted average interest rate applicable to the Federal Home Loan Bank advances which are due within one year of the Balance Sheet date.

Name:	us-gaap_FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMaturitiesSummaryAverageInterestRateOfAmountsDueWithinOneYearOfBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The weighted average interest rate applicable to the Federal Home Loan Bank advances which are due from one to two years of the Balance Sheet date.

Name:	us-gaap_FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMaturitiesSummaryAverageInterestRateOneToTwoYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The weighted average interest rate applicable to the Federal Home Loan Bank advances which are due from three to four years of the Balance Sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.14)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Industry Guide

-Number 3

-Section VII

-Paragraph 3

Name:	us-gaap_FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMaturitiesSummaryAverageInterestRateThreeToFourYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The weighted average interest rate applicable to the Federal Home Loan Bank advances which are due from two to three years of the Balance Sheet date.

Name:	us-gaap_FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMaturitiesSummaryAverageInterestRateTwoToThreeYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Amount of advances from Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) maturing in the next rolling twelve months following the latest balance sheet. For interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMaturitiesSummaryDueInNextRollingTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of advances from Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) maturing in the third rolling twelve months following the latest balance sheet. For interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMaturitiesSummaryDueInRollingYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of advances from Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) maturing in the second rolling twelve months following the latest balance sheet. For interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

No definition available.