Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Operation1 [Policy Text Block]	Nature of Operations Palmetto Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company’) is a South Carolina bank holding company organized in 1982 and headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. The Company serves as the bank holding company for The Palmetto Bank (the “Bank”), which began operations in 1906. The Bank, also headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, is the third largest banking institution headquartered in South Carolina. The Bank serves the Upstate of South Carolina through 25 branch locations in nine counties along the economically attractive I-85 corridor, as well as 24/7/365 service through online and mobile banking and automatic teller machines. Through its Retail, Commercial and Wealth Management lines of business, the Bank specializes in providing financial solutions to consumers and small to mid-size businesses with deposit and cash management products, loans (including consumer, mortgage, credit card, automobile, Small Business Administration (“SBA”), commercial and corporate), lines of credit, trust, brokerage, private banking, financial planning and insurance.
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Principles of Consolidation / Basis of Presentation The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company, the Bank and subsidiaries of the Bank (collectively referred to herein as the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”). In management’s opinion, all significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation, and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial condition and results of operations for the periods presented have been included. Any such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. Assets held by the Company in a fiduciary or agency capacity for clients are not included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements because those items do not represent assets of the Company. The accounting and financial reporting policies of the Company conform, in all material respects, to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and to general practices within the financial services industry. The Consolidated Financial Statements at and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have not been audited by our independent registered public accounting firm. The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, the Consolidated Financial Statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2013 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2014 (the “2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K”).
Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Business Segments Operating segments are components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by the Company’s chief operating decision makers in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. Public enterprises are required to report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain specific revenue and expense items for each segment, segment assets and information about the way that the operating segments were determined, among other items. The Company considers business segments by analyzing distinguishable components that are engaged in providing individual products, services or groups of related products or services and that are subject to risks and returns that are different from those of other business segments. When determining whether products and services are related, the Company considers the nature of the products or services, the nature of the production processes, the type or class of client for which the products or services are designed and the methods used to distribute the products or provide the services. For the past several years, we have been realigning our organizational structure and more specifically delineating our businesses for improved accountability and go-to-market strategies. The Company has limited financial information for these businesses, and we do not yet have financial information that meets the criteria to be considered reportable segments. Accordingly, at June 30, 2014, the Company had one reportable business segment, banking.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Use of Estimates In preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company’s management makes estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates and for the periods indicated in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions. Therefore, the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected in future periods.
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Reclassifications Certain amounts previously presented in our Consolidated Financial Statements for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to current classifications. All such reclassifications had no impact on the prior periods’ net income, comprehensive income or shareholders’ equity as previously reported.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recently Adopted Authoritative Pronouncements In May 2013, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (“COSO”) of the Treadway Commission issued its updated Internal Control–Integrated Framework and related illustrative documents (the "2013 Framework"). The updated framework was written to reflect the changes in business in the two decades since the first version was released in 1992. The Company transitioned from the 1992 framework to the 2013 framework during the first quarter 2014. In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-11 Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (“ASU 2013-11”) to provide guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists thereby reducing diversity in practice. The amendments in ASU 2013-11 became effective for the Company on January 1, 2014 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]	Recently Issued Authoritative Pronouncements In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-01, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects (“ASU 2014-01”) to modify the criteria an entity must meet to account for a low-income housing tax credit investment by using the measurement and presentation alternative in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 323-740. This method permits an investment’s performance to be presented net of the related tax benefits as part of income tax expense. ASU 2014-01 is likely to increase the number of low-income housing tax credit investments that would qualify for this method. The new guidance also simplifies the amortization method an entity uses when it qualifies for and elects to apply the accounting permitted under ASC 323-740 by establishing a proportional-amortization method that replaces the effective-yield method previously required. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented and are effective for public entities for annual periods, and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-01 to have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Topic 310): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans Upon Foreclosure (“ASU 2014-04”) to clarify that an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. Additionally, the amendments require interim and annual disclosure of both the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. An entity can elect to adopt the amendments in this Update using either a modified retrospective transition method or a prospective transition method. The amendments are effective for public business entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-04 to have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). The scope of the guidance applies to revenue arising from contracts with customers, except for the following: lease contracts, insurance contracts, contractual rights and obligations within the scope of other guidance and nonmonetary exchanges between entities in the same line of business to facilitate sales to customers. The core principle of the new guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to reflect the transfer of goods and services to customers in an amount equal to the consideration that the entity receives or expects to receive. ASU 2014-09 is not expected to impact the timing or approach to revenue recognition for financial institutions. The likely impact for financial institutions will relate only to disclosures. The amendments are effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period (“ASU 2014-12”) which requires that a performance target that impacts vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition thereby impacting, among other things, the grant-date fair value of the award and the timing of recognition of the related compensation cost. Entities may apply the amendments either prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. If retrospective transition is adopted, the cumulative effect as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements should be recognized as an adjustment to the opening retained earnings balance at that date. The amendments are effective for all entities for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2014-12 may have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Other accounting standards that have been recently issued by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Nature of Operation1 [Policy Text Block]

Nature of Operations

Palmetto Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company’) is a South Carolina bank holding company organized in 1982 and headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. The Company serves as the bank holding company for The Palmetto Bank (the “Bank”), which began operations in 1906. The Bank, also headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, is the third largest banking institution headquartered in South Carolina. The Bank serves the Upstate of South Carolina through 25 branch locations in nine counties along the economically attractive I-85 corridor, as well as 24/7/365 service through online and mobile banking and automatic teller machines. Through its Retail, Commercial and Wealth Management lines of business, the Bank specializes in providing financial solutions to consumers and small to mid-size businesses with deposit and cash management products, loans (including consumer, mortgage, credit card, automobile, Small Business Administration (“SBA”), commercial and corporate), lines of credit, trust, brokerage, private banking, financial planning and insurance.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation / Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company, the Bank and subsidiaries of the Bank (collectively referred to herein as the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”). In management’s opinion, all significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation, and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial condition and results of operations for the periods presented have been included. Any such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. Assets held by the Company in a fiduciary or agency capacity for clients are not included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements because those items do not represent assets of the Company. The accounting and financial reporting policies of the Company conform, in all material respects, to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and to general practices within the financial services industry.

The Consolidated Financial Statements at and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have not been audited by our independent registered public accounting firm. The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, the Consolidated Financial Statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2013 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2014 (the “2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K”).

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Business Segments

Operating segments are components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by the Company’s chief operating decision makers in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. Public enterprises are required to report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain specific revenue and expense items for each segment, segment assets and information about the way that the operating segments were determined, among other items.

The Company considers business segments by analyzing distinguishable components that are engaged in providing individual products, services or groups of related products or services and that are subject to risks and returns that are different from those of other business segments. When determining whether products and services are related, the Company considers the nature of the products or services, the nature of the production processes, the type or class of client for which the products or services are designed and the methods used to distribute the products or provide the services.

For the past several years, we have been realigning our organizational structure and more specifically delineating our businesses for improved accountability and go-to-market strategies. The Company has limited financial information for these businesses, and we do not yet have financial information that meets the criteria to be considered reportable segments. Accordingly, at June 30, 2014, the Company had one reportable business segment, banking.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

In preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company’s management makes estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates and for the periods indicated in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions. Therefore, the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected in future periods.

Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications

Certain amounts previously presented in our Consolidated Financial Statements for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to current classifications. All such reclassifications had no impact on the prior periods’ net income, comprehensive income or shareholders’ equity as previously reported.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recently Adopted Authoritative Pronouncements

In May 2013, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (“COSO”) of the Treadway Commission issued its updated Internal Control–Integrated Framework and related illustrative documents (the "2013 Framework"). The updated framework was written to reflect the changes in business in the two decades since the first version was released in 1992. The Company transitioned from the 1992 framework to the 2013 framework during the first quarter 2014.

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-11 Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (“ASU 2013-11”) to provide guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists thereby reducing diversity in practice. The amendments in ASU 2013-11 became effective for the Company on January 1, 2014 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]

Recently Issued Authoritative Pronouncements

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-01, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects (“ASU 2014-01”) to modify the criteria an entity must meet to account for a low-income housing tax credit investment by using the measurement and presentation alternative in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 323-740. This method permits an investment’s performance to be presented net of the related tax benefits as part of income tax expense. ASU 2014-01 is likely to increase the number of low-income housing tax credit investments that would qualify for this method. The new guidance also simplifies the amortization method an entity uses when it qualifies for and elects to apply the accounting permitted under ASC 323-740 by establishing a proportional-amortization method that replaces the effective-yield method previously required. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented and are effective for public entities for annual periods, and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-01 to have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Topic 310): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans Upon Foreclosure (“ASU 2014-04”) to clarify that an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. Additionally, the amendments require interim and annual disclosure of both the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. An entity can elect to adopt the amendments in this Update using either a modified retrospective transition method or a prospective transition method. The amendments are effective for public business entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-04 to have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). The scope of the guidance applies to revenue arising from contracts with customers, except for the following: lease contracts, insurance contracts, contractual rights and obligations within the scope of other guidance and nonmonetary exchanges between entities in the same line of business to facilitate sales to customers. The core principle of the new guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to reflect the transfer of goods and services to customers in an amount equal to the consideration that the entity receives or expects to receive. ASU 2014-09 is not expected to impact the timing or approach to revenue recognition for financial institutions. The likely impact for financial institutions will relate only to disclosures. The amendments are effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period (“ASU 2014-12”) which requires that a performance target that impacts vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition thereby impacting, among other things, the grant-date fair value of the award and the timing of recognition of the related compensation cost. Entities may apply the amendments either prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. If retrospective transition is adopted, the cumulative effect as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements should be recognized as an adjustment to the opening retained earnings balance at that date. The amendments are effective for all entities for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2014-12 may have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Other accounting standards that have been recently issued by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate financial statements, including the principles followed in determining the inclusion or exclusion of subsidiaries or other entities in the consolidated or combined financial statements and (2) its treatment of interests (for example, common stock, a partnership interest or other means of exerting influence) in other entities, for example consolidation or use of the equity or cost methods of accounting. The accounting policy may also address the accounting treatment for intercompany accounts and transactions, noncontrolling interest, and the income statement treatment in consolidation for issuances of stock by a subsidiary.

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