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Pension Arrangements (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Accumulated Benefit Obligation $ 367,200,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation $ 344,000,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation    
Net unrecognized losses related to defined benefit pension plan (see Note 17) (9,787,000)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax (4,065,000)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax (13,222,000)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax  
Threshold For Recognizing net actuarial gains (losses) 10.00%bid_ThresholdForRecognizingNetActuarialGainsLossesInPeriodicPensionCost      
Expected Remaining Service Lives 11 years 8 months 12 days      
Market value of plan assets changes period 5 years      
Pre tax amount expected to be recognized in following year 4,000,000bid_PreTaxAmountOfUnrecognizedDefinedBenefitPensionPlanLossesExpectedToBeRecognizedInFollowingYear      
Expected amount of net loss (gain) related to pension 3,200,000bid_ExpectedAmountOfNetLossGainRelatedToPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitsThatWillBeRecognizedAsComponentOfNetPensionBenefitDuringFollowingYear      
Percentage of active employees in defined benefit plan 12.00%bid_Percentageofactiveemployeesindefinedbenefitplan      
Percentage Of Defined Benefit Plan Growth Assets 60.00%bid_PercentageOfDefinedBenefitPlanGrowthAssets     60.00%bid_PercentageOfDefinedBenefitPlanGrowthAssets
Target Investment Allocation Percentage in Debt Securities 40.00%bid_TargetInvestmentAllocationPercentageinDebtSecurities     40.00%bid_TargetInvestmentAllocationPercentageinDebtSecurities
Employer contributions 2,740,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer 20,268,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer    
Expected contributions to U.K. pension plan 2,200,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInNextFiscalYear      
Retirement Savings Plan [Member]        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Accrued discretionary contribution 1,300,000bid_DefinedContributionPlanAccruedDiscretionaryContribution
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_RetirementSavingsPlanMember
1,200,000bid_DefinedContributionPlanAccruedDiscretionaryContribution
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_RetirementSavingsPlanMember
1,200,000bid_DefinedContributionPlanAccruedDiscretionaryContribution
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_RetirementSavingsPlanMember
 
Accrued discretionary contribution, percentage 2.00%bid_PercentageOfDefinedContributionPlanAccruedDiscretionaryContribution
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_RetirementSavingsPlanMember
  3.00%bid_PercentageOfDefinedContributionPlanAccruedDiscretionaryContribution
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_RetirementSavingsPlanMember
 
Pension (expense) benefit 2,400,000us-gaap_PensionExpense
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_RetirementSavingsPlanMember
2,300,000us-gaap_PensionExpense
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_RetirementSavingsPlanMember
2,000,000us-gaap_PensionExpense
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_RetirementSavingsPlanMember
 
Deferred Compensation Plan [Member]        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Accrued discretionary contribution 400,000bid_DefinedContributionPlanAccruedDiscretionaryContribution
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
400,000bid_DefinedContributionPlanAccruedDiscretionaryContribution
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
500,000bid_DefinedContributionPlanAccruedDiscretionaryContribution
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
 
Accrued discretionary contribution, percentage 2.00%bid_PercentageOfDefinedContributionPlanAccruedDiscretionaryContribution
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
2.00%bid_PercentageOfDefinedContributionPlanAccruedDiscretionaryContribution
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
3.00%bid_PercentageOfDefinedContributionPlanAccruedDiscretionaryContribution
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
 
DCP Liability 49,600,000us-gaap_DeferredCompensationLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
51,800,000us-gaap_DeferredCompensationLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
   
Gains (losses) in deemed participant investments 1,900,000bid_DefinedContributionPlanNetLossesGainsInDeemedParticipantInvestments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
5,100,000bid_DefinedContributionPlanNetLossesGainsInDeemedParticipantInvestments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
3,200,000bid_DefinedContributionPlanNetLossesGainsInDeemedParticipantInvestments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
 
Net gains (losses) related to COLI and mutual fund investments 300,000bid_DefinedContributionNetLossesGainsRelatedToCompanyOwnedLifeInsuranceAndMutualFundInvestments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
3,700,000bid_DefinedContributionNetLossesGainsRelatedToCompanyOwnedLifeInsuranceAndMutualFundInvestments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
2,400,000bid_DefinedContributionNetLossesGainsRelatedToCompanyOwnedLifeInsuranceAndMutualFundInvestments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
 
Pension (expense) benefit 900,000us-gaap_PensionExpense
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
900,000us-gaap_PensionExpense
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
1,000,000us-gaap_PensionExpense
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_DeferredCompensationPlanMember
 
U.K. Pension Plan [Member]        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Pension (expense) benefit 2,200,000us-gaap_PensionExpense
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_U.K.DefinedContributionPlanMember
1,300,000us-gaap_PensionExpense
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_U.K.DefinedContributionPlanMember
1,000,000us-gaap_PensionExpense
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_U.K.DefinedContributionPlanMember
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, net of taxes not yet recognized $ (44,000,000)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_U.K.DefinedContributionPlanMember
$ (38,600,000)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_U.K.DefinedContributionPlanMember
   
Post May 2009 [Member] | Retirement Savings Plan [Member]        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Employer Matching 3.00%bid_EmployerMatchingContributionPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_RetirementSavingsPlanMember
/ bid_PensionArrangementsByDateAxis
= bid_PostMay2009Member
     
Minimum [Member] | Retirement Savings Plan [Member]        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Pre-tax compensation, percentage 2.00%bid_PercentageOfContributionPreTaxCompensation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_RetirementSavingsPlanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
     
Maximum [Member] | Retirement Savings Plan [Member]        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Pre-tax compensation, percentage 50.00%bid_PercentageOfContributionPreTaxCompensation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_RetirementSavingsPlanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember