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, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	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, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income before income taxes and equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary	$ 19,590	$ 21,017	$ 17,573	$ 17,480	$ 16,923	$ 17,431	$ 16,738	$ 16,456	$ 10,488	$ 15,800	$ 14,961	$ 13,933	$ 75,660	$ 67,548	$ 55,182
Income tax benefit	2,941	3,783	1,030	1,839	2,265	3,555	3,159	3,052	5,542	4,096	4,359	3,142	9,593	12,031	17,139
Net income	$ 16,649	$ 17,234	$ 16,543	$ 15,641	$ 14,658	$ 13,876	$ 13,579	$ 13,404	$ 4,946	$ 11,704	$ 10,602	$ 10,791	66,067	55,517	38,043
Comprehensive Income													71,886	52,811	37,612
Parent Company [Member]
Income - dividends and interest from subsidiaries													72,119	21,403	18,160
Other income													2	12	82
Less expenses													4,935	4,818	3,255
Income before income taxes and equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary													67,186	16,597	14,987
Income tax benefit													(4,683)	(1,713)	(1,985)
Income before equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary													71,869	18,310	16,972
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary													(5,802)	37,207	21,071
Net income													66,067	55,517	38,043
Comprehensive Income													$ 71,886	$ 52,811	$ 37,612