Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Revenue from contracts with customers		$ 2,352,237	$ 2,187,145
Principal transactions		404,751	351,378	$ 396,826
Interest		724,882	646,449	454,381
Other income		52,378	25,553	37,524
Total revenues		3,514,961	3,194,957	2,996,462
Interest expense		177,931	170,076	70,030
Net revenues	[1]	3,337,030	3,024,881	2,926,432
Non-interest expenses:
Compensation and benefits		1,978,116	1,770,762	1,958,929
Occupancy and equipment rental		242,893	222,384	222,708
Communications and office supplies		147,428	140,254	133,493
Commissions and floor brokerage		44,011	41,967	44,132
Other operating expenses		325,444	315,152	297,634
Total non-interest expenses		2,737,892	2,490,519	2,656,896
Income before income tax expense		599,138	534,362	269,536
Provision for income taxes		149,152	140,394	86,665
Net income		449,986	393,968	182,871
Net income applicable to non-controlling interests		1,590
Net income applicable to Stifel Financial Corp.		448,396	393,968	182,871
Preferred dividends		17,319	9,375	9,375
Net income available to common shareholders		$ 431,077	$ 384,593	$ 173,496
Earnings per common share:
Basic		$ 5.99	$ 5.36	$ 2.53
Diluted		5.49	4.73	2.14
Cash dividends declared per common share		$ 0.60	$ 0.48	$ 0.20
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		71,998	71,786	68,562
Diluted		78,585	81,321	81,035
Commissions [Member]
Revenues:
Revenue from contracts with customers		$ 667,494	$ 657,732	$ 678,904
Investment Banking [Member]
Revenues:
Revenue from contracts with customers		817,421	707,670	726,763
Asset Management and Service Fees [Member]
Revenues:
Revenue from contracts with customers		$ 848,035	$ 806,175	$ 702,064

[1] No individual client accounted for more than 10 percent of total net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017.