Reduction in daily time charter rates agreed for the period from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2015.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Term, in years, an agreed temporary reduction in daily time charter rates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sfl_AgreedTemporaryReductionInDailyTimeCharterRatesPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The compensation payment received in terms of amended lease agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The increased percentage of profit share from earnings on leased vessels receivable from the related party applicable from January 1, 2012, onwards.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sfl_IncreaseProfitSharingPercentageOfEarningsFromFrontlineForUseOfFleetInHundredths
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The maximum daily amount applicable to the additional earnings-related 100% payment receivable from the related party from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2015.

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No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of non-refundable advance relating to the 25% profit sharing agreement, which was included in the total compensation payment received.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sfl_NonRefundableAdvanceRelatingToProfitSharingAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Profit sharing percent of earnings from Frontline from July 1 2015 onwards

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No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sfl_ProfitsharingpercentofearningsfromFrontlinefromJuly12015onwards
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of profit share from earnings on leased vessels received from the related party during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sfl_RelatedPartyTransactionsProfitShareOfEarningsOnLeaseVesselsReceivedFromRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

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

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Related Party) (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Related Party) (Details) - USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Profit sharing percent of earnings from Frontline from July 1 2015 onwards		50.00%
Frontline Charterers [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Profit sharing percentage of earnings from Frontline for use of fleet					20.00%
Increase profit sharing percentage of earnings from Frontline for use of fleet (in hundredths)					25.00%
Compensation payment received				$ 150,200,000	$ 106,000,000
Non-refundable advance relating to the profit sharing agreement					$ 50,000,000
Period of temporary reduction in daily time charter rates	4 years
Agreed Temporary Reduction in Daily Time Charter Rates			$ 6,500
Maximum daily amount to which temporary earnings-related 100% payment applies			$ 6,500