EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010
Income for basic earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to RJF	$ 46,786,000		$ 60,687,000		$ 209,426,000		$ 159,218,000
Less allocation of earnings and dividends to participating securities	(1,392,000)	[1]	(2,554,000)	[1]	(6,811,000)	[1]	(6,726,000)	[1]
Net income attributable to RJF common shareholders	45,394,000		58,133,000		202,615,000		152,492,000
Income for diluted earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to RJF	46,786,000		60,687,000		209,426,000		159,218,000
Less allocation of earnings and dividends to participating securities	(1,387,000)	[1]	(2,548,000)	[1]	(6,791,000)	[1]	(6,715,000)	[1]
Net income attributable to RJF common shareholders	45,399,000		58,139,000		202,635,000		152,503,000
Common shares:
Average common shares in basic computation (in shares)	123,238,000		119,622,000		122,200,000		119,180,000
Dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and certain restricted stock units (in shares)	720,000		397,000		489,000		276,000
Average common shares used in diluted computation (in shares)	123,958,000		120,019,000		122,689,000		119,456,000
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37		$ 0.49		$ 1.66		$ 1.28
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37		$ 0.48		$ 1.65		$ 1.28
Stock options and certain restricted stock units excluded from weighted-average diluted common shares because their effect would be antidilutive (in shares)	534,000		3,395,000		1,035,000		3,485,000
Weighted average shares of unvested restricted stock and certain restricted stock units (in shares)	3,800,000		5,300,000		4,100,000		5,300,000
Dividends paid to participating securities	$ 486,000		$ 559,000		$ 1,500,000		$ 1,700,000
Dividends per common share declared and paid: [Abstract]
Dividends per common share	$ 0.13		$ 0.11		$ 0.37		$ 0.33

[1] Represents dividends paid during the period to participating securities plus an allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities. Participating securities represent unvested restricted stock and certain restricted stock units and amounted to weighted-average shares of 3.8 million and 5.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Participating securities represent unvested restricted stock and certain restricted stock units and amounted to weighted-average shares of 4.1 million and 5.3 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Dividends paid to participating securities amounted to $486,000 and $559,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Dividends paid to participating securities amounted to $1.5 million and $1.7 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Undistributed earnings are allocated to participating securities based upon their right to share in earnings if all earnings for the period had been distributed.