Note 24 - Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. (Parent Company Only) - Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating activities
Net income	$ 38,043	$ 41,027	$ 37,187
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock compensation expense	2,892	2,473	2,134
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements	(1,463)	(1,705)	(673)
Recover of impairment loss on other assets held for investment		(588)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	13,640	11,142	6,902
Proceeds from liquidation of private investment fund	(92)
Net cash provided by operating activities	53,676	63,262	43,171
Investing activities
Proceeds from sale of other assets held for investment		1,108
Proceeds from liquidation of private investment fund	92
Net cash provided by investing activities	(114,705)	(289,572)	(227,124)
Financing activities
Common stock repurchases	(2,389)	(1,918)	(918)
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation arrangements		1,705	673
Proceeds (used for) and received from settlement of stock awards	(216)	2,337	3,249
Cash dividends paid	(18,077)	(16,093)	(14,224)
Net cash used in financing activities	152,304	170,450	213,545
Net increase (decrease) in cash	91,275	(55,860)	29,592
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	47,973	103,833	74,241
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	139,248	47,973	103,833
Parent Company [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	38,043	41,027	37,187
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries	(21,071)	(26,127)	(24,423)
(Increase) decrease in receivable from subsidiaries			(842)
Stock compensation expense	2,892	2,473	2,134
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements	(1,463)	(1,705)	(673)
Recover of impairment loss on other assets held for investment		(588)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	4	10	11
Proceeds from liquidation of private investment fund	(81)
Decrease (increase) in other assets	5,943	(990)	531
Increase in other liabilities	10	11	91
Net cash provided by operating activities	24,277	14,111	14,016
Investing activities
Proceeds from sale of other assets held for investment		1,108
Proceeds from liquidation of private investment fund	81
Net cash provided by investing activities	81	1,108
Financing activities
Common stock repurchases	(2,389)	2,337	3,249
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation arrangements		1,705	673
Proceeds (used for) and received from settlement of stock awards	(216)	(1,918)	(918)
Cash dividends paid	(18,077)	(16,093)	(14,224)
Net cash used in financing activities	(20,682)	(13,969)	(11,220)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	3,676	1,250	2,796
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	6,972	5,722	2,926
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 10,648	$ 6,972	$ 5,722