Note 24 - Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. (Parent Company Only) - Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Net income	$ 41,027	$ 37,187	$ 34,822
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock compensation expense	2,473	2,134	2,016
Excess tax benefits from share- based compensation arrangements	(1,705)	(673)	(378)
Recover of impairment loss on other assets held for investment	(588)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	11,142	6,902	7,413
Net cash provided by operating activities	63,262	43,171	39,886
Investing activities
Proceeds from sale of other assets held for investment	1,108
Net cash provided by investing activities	(289,572)	(227,124)	(169,958)
Financing activities
Proceeds from stock options	2,337	3,249	2,473
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation arrangements	1,705	673	378
Common stock repurchases	(1,918)	(918)	(616)
Cash dividends paid	(16,093)	(14,224)	(12,924)
Net cash used in financing activities	170,450	213,545	133,543
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(55,860)	29,592	3,471
Cash at beginning of year	35,895
Cash at end of year	39,709	35,895
Parent Company [Member]
Net income	41,027	37,187	34,822
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries	(26,127)	(24,423)	(32,793)
(Increase) decrease in receivable from subsidiaries		(842)	2,514
Stock compensation expense	2,473	2,134	2,016
Excess tax benefits from share- based compensation arrangements	(1,705)	(673)	(378)
Recover of impairment loss on other assets held for investment	(588)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	10	11	45
Decrease (increase) in other assets	(990)	531	(179)
Increase in other liabilities	11	91	115
Net cash provided by operating activities	14,111	14,016	6,162
Investing activities
Proceeds from sale of other assets held for investment	1,108
Net cash provided by investing activities	1,108
Financing activities
Proceeds from stock options	2,337	3,249	2,473
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation arrangements	1,705	673	378
Common stock repurchases	(1,918)	(918)	(616)
Cash dividends paid	(16,093)	(14,224)	(12,924)
Net cash used in financing activities	(13,969)	(11,220)	(10,689)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	1,250	2,796	(4,527)
Cash at beginning of year	5,722	2,926	7,453
Cash at end of year	$ 6,972	$ 5,722	$ 2,926