Note 24 - Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. (Parent Company Only) - Condensed Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income before income taxes	$ 16,923	$ 17,431	$ 16,738	$ 16,456	$ 10,488	$ 15,800	$ 14,961	$ 13,933	$ 14,625	$ 14,350	$ 13,785	$ 13,511	$ 67,548	$ 55,182	$ 56,271
Income tax expense	2,265	3,555	3,159	3,052	5,542	4,096	4,359	3,142	4,009	3,883	3,676	3,676	12,031	17,139	15,244
Net income	$ 14,658	$ 13,876	$ 13,579	$ 13,404	$ 4,946	$ 11,704	$ 10,602	$ 10,791	$ 10,616	$ 10,467	$ 10,109	$ 9,835	55,517	38,043	41,027
Comprehensive Income													52,811	37,612	38,896
Parent Company [Member]
Income - dividends and interest from subsidiaries													21,403	18,160	16,147
Other income													12	82	1
Less expenses													4,818	3,255	2,235
Income before income taxes													16,597	14,987	13,913
Income tax expense													(1,713)	(1,985)	(987)
Income before equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary													18,310	16,972	14,900
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary													37,207	21,071	26,127
Net income													55,517	38,043	41,027
Comprehensive Income													$ 52,811	$ 37,612	$ 38,896