Name:	sfl_DirectFinanceLeaseServiceRevenues
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Finance lease interest generated by direct financing leases with related parties.

No definition available.

Name:	sfl_DirectFinancingLeaseInterestIncomeFromRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Operating Lease, Lease Income, Related Parties

No definition available.

Name:	sfl_OperatingLeaseLeaseIncomeRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Revenue from related parties derived from profit sharing contracts or arrangements based on underlying fleet usage.

No definition available.

Name:	sfl_ProfitSharingRevenuesFromRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of direct financing lease repayments received from related parties during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	sfl_RelatedPartyTransactionsDirectFinancingLeaseRepayments
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481990/310-10-45-13

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07(2)(c)(2)(i))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479134/946-220-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07(2)(c)(2)(ii))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479134/946-220-S99-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07(2)(g)(3))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479134/946-220-S99-1

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

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=us-gaap_RelatedPartyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=sfl_GoldenOceanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=sfl_FrontlineShippingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=sfl_SeadrillMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: