Preneed Activities Preneed Activities Receivables Net and Trust Invesments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
SEC Schedule, 12-15, Insurance Companies, Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value		$ 5,258,319	$ 4,585,720
Investments		5,523,479	4,851,507
Accounts Receivable, before Allowance for Credit Loss, Noncurrent		1,053,142	991,044
Beginning balance — Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments	$ 4,305,165	4,271,392	4,778,842	$ 4,305,165
Cash receipts from customers, net of refunds		(1,280,468)	(1,185,717)	(1,109,380)
Deposits to trust	$ 371,234	421,460	393,523
Acquisitions (dispositions) of businesses, net		11,751	134,729	8,153
Net undistributed investments (losses) earnings		489,577	(191,611)	384,512
Maturities and distributed earnings		(442,507)	(433,036)	(411,452)
Change in cancellation allowance		(2,006)	62,131	(528)
Effect of foreign currency and other		6,697	(20,127)	16,843
Ending balance — Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments		4,789,562	4,271,392	$ 4,778,842
Deferred Discounts, Finance Charges and Interest Included in Receivables		(50,570)	(44,981)
Funeral [Member]
Accounts Receivable, before Allowance for Credit Loss, Noncurrent		130,971	107,612
Cemetery [Member]
Accounts Receivable, before Allowance for Credit Loss, Noncurrent		$ 922,171	$ 883,432

Impact of acquisitions (dispositions) of businesses, net on trust investments

No definition available.

Name:	sci_AcquisitionsDispositionsOfBusinessesNet
Namespace Prefix:	sci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash Receipts from Customers, Net of Refunds

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sci_CashReceiptsFromCustomersNetOfRefunds
Namespace Prefix:	sci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amounts deposited to trust during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sci_DepositsToTrust
Namespace Prefix:	sci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Effect of Foreign Currency and Other on Preneed Receivables, net and Trust Investments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sci_EffectOfForeignCurrencyAndOtherOnPreneedReceivablesNetAndTrustInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	sci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maturities and Distributed Earnings

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sci_MaturitiesAndDistributedEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	sci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Preneed Receivables, Net and Trust Investments Change in Cancellation Allowance

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sci_PreneedReceivablesNetAndTrustInvestmentsChangeInCancellationAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	sci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the contract. The aggregate fair value as of the balance sheet date of financial instruments and other positions may include: (1) mortgages, mortgage-backed and asset backed securities; (2) US government and agency obligations; (3) state and municipal government obligations; (4) other sovereign government debt; (5) corporate obligations; (6) corporate equities; (7) principal investments; (8) derivative contracts; and (9) physical commodities. Includes both pledged and unpledged holdings.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sci_Preneedreceivablesnetandtrustinvestments
Namespace Prefix:	sci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents undistributed investment income derived from investments in debt and equity securities consisting of interest income earned from investments in debt securities and on cash and cash equivalents, dividend income from investments in equity securities, and income or expense derived from the amortization of investment related discounts or premiums, respectively, net of related investment expenses. This item also includes realized or unrealized gains or losses on the sale or holding of investments in debt and equity securities required to be included in earnings for the period. It does not include investment income from real or personal property, such as rental income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sci_UndistributedInvestmentEarningsNet
Namespace Prefix:	sci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before allowance for credit loss, of right to consideration from customer for product sold and service rendered in normal course of business, classified as noncurrent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118952595&loc=d3e4428-111522

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Unearned discounts (other than cash or quantity discounts and the like), finance charges, and interest included in the face amount of receivables, that are shown as a deduction from the related receivables. For example, 1) finance charges booked as a receivable when a loan is made and recognized as income at a later date; and 2) interest charges deducted from the face loan amount, resulting in a discounted amount actually advanced to the borrower (wherein the receivable includes the amount actually advanced to the borrower and the as yet unearned interest income).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118952595&loc=d3e4519-111522

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredDiscountsFinanceChargesAndInterestIncludedInReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all investments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(h))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Investments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of investment held by insurance company, excluding investment in related party.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-15(Column C))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611379-123010

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=sci_FuneralMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=sci_CemeteryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: