FINANCE LEASE LIABILITY AND OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES (Schedule of Other Long-Term Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Unamortized sellers' credit	$ 0	$ 3,282
Other items	4	4
Other long-term liabilities	$ 4	$ 3,286

Carrying amount of unamortized seller's credits as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	sfl_UnamortizedSellersCredits
Namespace Prefix:	sfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of expenses incurred but not yet paid classified as other, due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.24)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of liabilities classified as other, due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

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