Note 24 - Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. (Parent Company Only) - Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (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
Operating activities
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
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on the disposal of premises and equipment													56		202
Stock compensation expense													4,027	2,892	2,473
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements													(549)	(1,463)	(1,705)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net													5,782	13,640	11,142
Proceeds from liquidation of private investment fund													(113)	(92)	(588)
Net cash provided by operating activities													65,889	53,676	63,262
Investing activities
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets													230		66
Net cash provided by investing activities													(11,570)	(114,705)	(289,572)
Financing activities
Common stock repurchases													(2,004)	(2,389)	(1,918)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation arrangements															1,705
Proceeds (Used for) and Received from Settlement of Stock Awards													(154)	(216)
Cash dividends paid													(21,766)	(18,077)	(16,093)
Net cash used in financing activities													5,372	152,304	170,450
Net increase (decrease) in cash													59,691	91,275	(55,860)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				139,248				47,973				103,833	139,248	47,973	103,833
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	198,939				139,248				47,973				198,939	139,248	47,973
Parent Company [Member]
Operating activities
Net income													55,517	38,043	41,027
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries													(37,207)	(21,071)	(26,127)
Loss on the disposal of premises and equipment													(10)
Stock compensation expense													4,027	2,892	2,473
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements													(549)	(1,463)	(1,705)
Recover of impairment loss on other assets held for investment															(588)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net														4	10
Proceeds from liquidation of private investment fund														(81)
Decrease (increase) in other assets													(1,080)	5,943	(990)
Increase in other liabilities													220	10	11
Net cash provided by operating activities													20,918	24,277	14,111
Investing activities
Proceeds from sale of other assets held for investment															1,108
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets													13
Proceeds from liquidation of private investment fund														81
Net cash provided by investing activities													13	81	1,108
Financing activities
Common stock repurchases													(2,004)	(2,389)	2,337
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation arrangements															1,705
Proceeds (Used for) and Received from Settlement of Stock Awards													(154)	(216)	(1,918)
Cash dividends paid													(21,766)	(18,077)	(16,093)
Net cash used in financing activities													(23,924)	(20,682)	(13,969)
Net increase (decrease) in cash													(2,993)	3,676	1,250
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				$ 10,648				$ 6,972				$ 5,722	10,648	6,972	5,722
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 7,655				$ 10,648				$ 6,972				$ 7,655	$ 10,648	$ 6,972