JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES 2013 (Details) - USD ($)			12 Months Ended
	Mar. 01, 2007	Dec. 01, 2005	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2004	Dec. 31, 2002
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption date				Aug. 12, 2013
Credit Agreement borrowing capacity			$ 825,000,000
Unsecured Revolving Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate				2.12%
Maturity date			Aug. 08, 2015
Credit Agreement borrowing capacity			$ 25,000,000
Multi-Draw Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date			Aug. 08, 2018
Credit Agreement borrowing capacity			$ 60,000,000
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities of BancorpSouth Capital Trust I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities						$ 128,900,000
Interest rate						8.15%
Number of shares of trust preferred securities						5,000,000
Trust preferred securities, value per share						$ 25
Write-off of unamortized issuance costs			$ 2,900,000
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities of Business Holding Company Trust I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities					$ 6,200,000
Number of shares of trust preferred securities					6,000
Maturity date					Apr. 07, 2034
Interest rate spread over LIBOR					2.85%
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities of American State Capital Trust I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities		$ 6,700,000
Number of shares of trust preferred securities		6,500
Maturity date		Apr. 07, 2034
Interest rate spread over LIBOR		2.80%
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities of Signature Bancshares Preferred Trust I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities	$ 8,200,000
Number of shares of trust preferred securities	8,000
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities of City Bancorp Preferred Trust I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities	$ 10,300,000
Number of shares of trust preferred securities	10,000
Maturity date	Mar. 15, 2035
Interest rate spread over LIBOR	2.20%