Regulatory Capital Requirements (Schedule Of Total Risk-Based, Tier 1 Risk-Based, And Tier 1 Leverage Ratios) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012
Stifel Financial Corp. [Member]
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	$ 939,967
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	297,914
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	372,392
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	934,186
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	148,957
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	223,435
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, Actual Amount	934,186
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	167,334
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	209,167
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	25.20%
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	8.00%
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	10.00%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	25.10%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	4.00%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	6.00%
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, Actual Ratio	22.30%
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	4.00%
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	5.00%
Stifel Bank [Member]
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	189,782
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	140,448
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	175,560
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	184,001
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	70,224
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	105,336
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, Actual Amount	184,001
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	98,806
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	$ 123,507
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	10.80%
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	8.00%
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	10.00%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	10.50%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	4.00%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	6.00%
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, Actual Ratio	7.50%
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	4.00%
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average total assets, To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	5.00%