Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Build-to-suit Lease During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company executed a lease for a new 300,000 square foot east coast production and customer service facility in Fort Mill, South Carolina. This facility will replace the Company's current east coast production facility in Charlotte, North Carolina and is expected to open during 2013. In order for the facility to meet the Company's operating specifications, both the landlord and the Company are making structural changes as part of the uplift of the building, and as a result, the Company has concluded that it is the “deemed owner” of the building (for accounting purposes only) during the construction period. Accordingly, at lease inception, the Company recorded an asset of $4.9 million, representing its estimate of the fair market value of the building, and a corresponding construction financing obligation, recorded as a component of other non-current liabilities. The Company increased the asset and financing obligations by $1.5 million and $2.7 million for building uplift costs incurred by the landlord, during 2012 and the three months ended March 31, 2013, respectively. The Company will increase the asset and financing obligation as additional building uplift costs are incurred by the landlord during the construction period. Upon completion of construction, the Company will evaluate the de-recognition of the asset and liability under the provisions for sale-leaseback transactions. However, if the Company does not comply with the provisions needed for sale-leaseback accounting, the lease will be accounted for as a financing obligation and lease payments will be attributed to (1) a reduction of the principal financing obligation; (2) imputed interest expense; and (3) land lease expense (which is considered an operating lease and a component of cost of goods sold) representing an imputed cost to lease the underlying land of the facility. In addition, the underlying building asset will be depreciated over the building's estimated useful life of 30 years. And at the conclusion of the lease term, the Company would de-recognize both the net book values of the asset and financing obligation. Indemnifications In the normal course of business, the Company enters into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties and provide for general indemnifications. The Company’s exposure under these agreements is unknown because it involves future claims that may be made against the Company, but have not yet been made. To date, the Company has not paid any claims or been required to defend any action related to its indemnification obligations. However, the Company may record charges in the future as a result of these indemnification obligations. Contingencies From time to time, the Company may have certain contingent liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. The Company accrues contingent liabilities when it is probable that future expenditures will be made and such expenditures can be reasonably estimated. Legal Matters On April 24, 2013, Tejas Research, LLC filed a complaint for alleged patent infringement against the Company in Tejas Research, LLC v. Shutterfly, Inc., CA No. 2:13-cv-330 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The complaint asserts infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,006,231, which claims among other things a file format for an image including multiple versions of an image, and related systems and method. The complaint asserts that the Company directly or indirectly infringes the patent without providing any details concerning the alleged infringement, and it seeks unspecified damages. The Company believes the suit is without merit. On March 22, 2013, Shutterfly, Inc. filed a complaint for damages and injunctive relief against Kodak Imaging Network, Inc. and Eastman Kodak Company (together, “Kodak”) in Shutterfly, Inc. v. Kodak Imaging Network, Inc. and Eastman Kodak Company, Case No. 12-10202 (ALG) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, S.D.N.Y. The complaint asserts that by continuing to compete with Shutterfly through its “My Kodak Moments” service Kodak violated the non-competition provisions of the transfer agreement it entered into with the Company when the Company purchased the "Kodak Gallery" business. In the complaint, Shutterfly seeks an award of damages and its costs, expenses and attorneys fees as well as an injunction enjoining Kodak from further violations of the non-competition provisions of the transfer agreement. On March 7, 2013, CreateAds LLC filed a complaint for alleged patent infringement against the Company in CreateAds LLC v. Shutterfly, Inc., C.A. No. 13-00384 (GMS) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint asserts infringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,535,320, which claim among others things a method of generating a representation of a visual design and applying it to various advertising materials. The complaint asserts that the Company directly or indirectly infringes the patent without providing any details concerning the alleged infringement, and it seeks unspecified damages. The Company believes the suit is without merit. On January 4, 2013, Express Card Systems, LLC filed a complaint for alleged patent infringement against the Company in Express Card Systems, LLC. v. Shutterfly, Inc. et. al., Civ. No. 6:13-cv-18, in the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division. The complaint asserts infringement of U.S. Patents Nos., 5,748,484 and 5,552,994, which claim among other things a system for printing social expression cards in response to electronically transmitted orders. The complaint asserts that the Company directly or indirectly infringes the patents without providing any details concerning the alleged infringement, and it seeks unspecified damages. The Company believes the suit is without merit. In all cases, at each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether or not a potential loss amount or a potential range of loss is probable and reasonably estimable under the provisions of the authoritative guidance that addresses accounting for contingencies. In such cases, the Company accrues for the amount, or if a range, the Company accrues the low end of the range as a component of legal expense. The Company monitors developments in these legal matters that could affect the estimate the Company had previously accrued. There are no amounts accrued which the Company believes would be material to its financial position and results of operations.

Commitments and Contingencies

Build-to-suit Lease

During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company executed a lease for a new 300,000 square foot east coast production and customer service facility in Fort Mill, South Carolina. This facility will replace the Company's current east coast production facility in Charlotte, North Carolina and is expected to open during 2013. In order for the facility to meet the Company's operating specifications, both the landlord and the Company are making structural changes as part of the uplift of the building, and as a result, the Company has concluded that it is the “deemed owner” of the building (for accounting purposes only) during the construction period. Accordingly, at lease inception, the Company recorded an asset of $4.9 million, representing its estimate of the fair market value of the building, and a corresponding construction financing obligation, recorded as a component of other non-current liabilities. The Company increased the asset and financing obligations by $1.5 million and $2.7 million for building uplift costs incurred by the landlord, during 2012 and the three months ended March 31, 2013, respectively. The Company will increase the asset and financing obligation as additional building uplift costs are incurred by the landlord during the construction period.

Upon completion of construction, the Company will evaluate the de-recognition of the asset and liability under the provisions for sale-leaseback transactions. However, if the Company does not comply with the provisions needed for sale-leaseback accounting, the lease will be accounted for as a financing obligation and lease payments will be attributed to (1) a reduction of the principal financing obligation; (2) imputed interest expense; and (3) land lease expense (which is considered an operating lease and a component of cost of goods sold) representing an imputed cost to lease the underlying land of the facility. In addition, the underlying building asset will be depreciated over the building's estimated useful life of 30 years. And at the conclusion of the lease term, the Company would de-recognize both the net book values of the asset and financing obligation.

Indemnifications

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties and provide for general indemnifications. The Company’s exposure under these agreements is unknown because it involves future claims that may be made against the Company, but have not yet been made. To date, the Company has not paid any claims or been required to defend any action related to its indemnification obligations. However, the Company may record charges in the future as a result of these indemnification obligations.

Contingencies

From time to time, the Company may have certain contingent liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. The Company accrues contingent liabilities when it is probable that future expenditures will be made and such expenditures can be reasonably estimated.

Legal Matters

On April 24, 2013, Tejas Research, LLC filed a complaint for alleged patent infringement against the Company in Tejas Research, LLC v. Shutterfly, Inc., CA No. 2:13-cv-330 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The complaint asserts infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,006,231, which claims among other things a file format for an image including multiple versions of an image, and related systems and method. The complaint asserts that the Company directly or indirectly infringes the patent without providing any details concerning the alleged infringement, and it seeks unspecified damages. The Company believes the suit is without merit.

On March 22, 2013, Shutterfly, Inc. filed a complaint for damages and injunctive relief against Kodak Imaging Network, Inc. and Eastman Kodak Company (together, “Kodak”) in Shutterfly, Inc. v. Kodak Imaging Network, Inc. and Eastman Kodak Company, Case No. 12-10202 (ALG) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, S.D.N.Y. The complaint asserts that by continuing to compete with Shutterfly through its “My Kodak Moments” service Kodak violated the non-competition provisions of the transfer agreement it entered into with the Company when the Company purchased the "Kodak Gallery" business. In the complaint, Shutterfly seeks an award of damages and its costs, expenses and attorneys fees as well as an injunction enjoining Kodak from further violations of the non-competition provisions of the transfer agreement.

On March 7, 2013, CreateAds LLC filed a complaint for alleged patent infringement against the Company in CreateAds LLC v. Shutterfly, Inc., C.A. No. 13-00384 (GMS) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint asserts infringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,535,320, which claim among others things a method of generating a representation of a visual design and applying it to various advertising materials. The complaint asserts that the Company directly or indirectly infringes the patent without providing any details concerning the alleged infringement, and it seeks unspecified damages. The Company believes the suit is without merit.

On January 4, 2013, Express Card Systems, LLC filed a complaint for alleged patent infringement against the Company in Express Card Systems, LLC. v. Shutterfly, Inc. et. al., Civ. No. 6:13-cv-18, in the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division. The complaint asserts infringement of U.S. Patents Nos., 5,748,484 and 5,552,994, which claim among other things a system for printing social expression cards in response to electronically transmitted orders. The complaint asserts that the Company directly or indirectly infringes the patents without providing any details concerning the alleged infringement, and it seeks unspecified damages. The Company believes the suit is without merit.

In all cases, at each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether or not a potential loss amount or a potential range of loss is probable and reasonably estimable under the provisions of the authoritative guidance that addresses accounting for contingencies. In such cases, the Company accrues for the amount, or if a range, the Company accrues the low end of the range as a component of legal expense. The Company monitors developments in these legal matters that could affect the estimate the Company had previously accrued. There are no amounts accrued which the Company believes would be material to its financial position and results of operations.