Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Document Documentand Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	SUSQ
Entity Registrant Name	SUSQUEHANNA BANCSHARES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000700863
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	187,239,664