Name:	bid_BeneficialOwnershipPercentageof13GInvestorunderStockholdersRightsPlan
Namespace Prefix:	bid_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the aggregate remaining commitment for salaries and other cash compensation related to employment arrangements with certain senior employees as of the date of the balance sheet, exclusive of incentive and equity compensation.

No definition available.

Name:	bid_CommitmentForSalariesAndOtherCashCompensationUnderEmploymentArrangement
Namespace Prefix:	bid_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	bid_CommitmentsAndContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	bid_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the last expiration date of the Company's material employment arrangements.

No definition available.

Name:	bid_EmploymentArrangementExpirationDateRangeEnd
Namespace Prefix:	bid_
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the first expiration date of the Company's material employment arrangements.

No definition available.

Name:	bid_EmploymentArrangementExpirationDateRangeStart
Namespace Prefix:	bid_
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents a guarantee to the consignor that, under certain conditions, Sotheby's will pay the consignor for property which has sold but has not been paid for, within a certain amount of time, by the purchaser. It is not a guarantee that the property will be sold at a certain minimum price.

No definition available.

Name:	bid_GuaranteeOfCollection
Namespace Prefix:	bid_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the period during which stockholders may object to the resolution of an action against the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	bid_PeriodStockholderObjection
Namespace Prefix:	bid_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the sale price of property sold under a Guarantee of Collection.

No definition available.

Name:	bid_SalePriceofPropertySoldUnderGuaranteeofCollection
Namespace Prefix:	bid_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Number of days after the date of an auction or such other date agreed to by the consignor during which the purchaser remits the funds to complete the purchase.

No definition available.

Name:	bid_Settlementdate
Namespace Prefix:	bid_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=bid_Customer1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=bid_Customer2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: