| Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance [Table Text Block] | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on: Year Summary Compensation Table (SCT) Total Compensation for CEO (1) Compensation Actually Paid to CEO (1),(2),(4) Average SCT Total Compensation for Other NEOs (1) Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs (1),(3),(4) Cumulative Peer Group Cumulative TSR (5) Post-Tax Net Income (In thousands) Normalized Earnings Per Share (6) 2022 $ 12,736,183 $ 14,191,951 $ 3,528,998 $ 4,193,758 $ 157.70 $ 116.00 $ 565,338 $ 3.85 2021 11,708,035 29,259,594 3,229,308 6,124,408 159.40 155.30 802,939 4.53 2020 11,529,920 13,218,050 2,920,816 3,233,364 108.60 109.00 515,907 2.86 (1) Thomas L. Ryan was our CEO for each year presented, and Eric D. Tanzberger, Sumner J. Waring, III, Steven A. Tidwell and Gregory T. Sangalis were the individuals comprising the Other NEOs for each year presented. (2) To calculate the amounts in the "Compensation Actually Paid to CEO" column in the table above, the following amounts were deducted from and added to (as applicable) our CEO's "Total" compensation as reported in the SCT: Compensation Actually Paid to CEO 2022 2021 2020 Total Compensation as Reported in SCT $ 12,736,183 $ 11,708,035 $ 11,529,920 Pension and Equity Values Reported in SCT (6,879,013) (6,021,236) (7,318,678) Fair Value of Equity Compensation Granted in Current Year - Value at Year End 9,821,155 12,367,931 6,744,257 Dividends Paid on Unvested Restricted Share Awards 77,588 73,011 69,654 Change in the Fair Value of Awards Made in Prior Fiscal Years That Were Unvested at End of Current Fiscal Year 2,187,970 10,527,347 1,233,016 Change in the Fair Value of Awards Made in Prior Fiscal Years That Vested During Current Fiscal Year (3,751,932) 604,506 959,881 Compensation Actually Paid to CEO $ 14,191,951 $ 29,259,594 $ 13,218,050 (3) To calculate the amounts in the "Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs" column in the table above, the following amounts were deducted from and added to (as applicable) our Other NEOs "Total" compensation as reported in the SCT for that year: Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs 2022 2021 2020 Total Compensation as Reported in SCT $ 3,528,998 $ 3,229,308 $ 2,920,816 Pension and Equity Values Reported in SCT (1,317,879) (1,154,731) (1,373,938) Fair Value of Equity Compensation Granted in Current Year - Value at Year End 1,900,629 2,013,352 1,267,017 Dividends Paid on Unvested Restricted Share Awards 14,891 13,840 12,994 Change in the Fair Value of Awards Made in Prior Fiscal Years That Were Unvested at End of Current Fiscal Year 772,621 1,972,241 228,765 Change in the Fair Value of Awards Made in Prior Fiscal Years That Vested During Current Fiscal Year (705,502) 50,398 177,710 Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs $ 4,193,758 $ 6,124,408 $ 3,233,364 (4) The weighted average key assumptions utilized to determine the equity awards adjustments in the Compensation Actually Paid tables above were as follows: Weighted Average Assumptions 2022 2021 2020 Dividend Yield 1.6 % 1.7 % 1.7 % Expected Volatility 26.2 % 24.2 % 21.8 % Risk-Free Interest Rate 2.9 % 0.4 % 0.8 % Expected Holding Period (Years) 2.1 2.1 2.1 Market Price of Stock $ 63.95 $ 60.74 $ 48.93 Exercise Price $ 50.53 $ 45.67 $ 40.06 (5) The Peer Group Cumulative TSR set forth in this table utilizes a custom group of peer companies (the “Peer Group”), which we also utilize in the stock performance graph required by Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K included in our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Peer Group comprises Carriage Services, Inc., Hillenbrand Inc., Matthews International Corp., and Park Lawn Corporation. TSR is determined based on the value of an initial fixed investment of $100. Total return data assumes reinvestment of dividends. (6) We believe normalized earnings per share drives the performance of the Company and enhances shareholder value. Normalized Earnings per Share is calculated by applying a targeted 24.2% effective tax rate to the Company’s calculation of its reported diluted earnings per share and further adjusting to exclude certain non-routine items as described in the Performance Measures section of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) on page 48 . The following is the list of the metrics used by the Company to link the compensation of our NEOs to Company performance. | | |
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote [Text Block] | Thomas L. Ryan was our CEO for each year presented, and Eric D. Tanzberger, Sumner J. Waring, III, Steven A. Tidwell and Gregory T. Sangalis were the individuals comprising the Other NEOs for each year presented. | | |
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote [Text Block] | The Peer Group Cumulative TSR set forth in this table utilizes a custom group of peer companies (the “Peer Group”), which we also utilize in the stock performance graph required by Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K included in our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Peer Group comprises Carriage Services, Inc., Hillenbrand Inc., Matthews International Corp., and Park Lawn Corporation. TSR is determined based on the value of an initial fixed investment of $100. Total return data assumes reinvestment of dividends. | | |
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 12,736,183 | $ 11,708,035 | $ 11,529,920 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 14,191,951 | 29,259,594 | 13,218,050 |
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote [Text Block] | To calculate the amounts in the "Compensation Actually Paid to CEO" column in the table above, the following amounts were deducted from and added to (as applicable) our CEO's "Total" compensation as reported in the SCT: Compensation Actually Paid to CEO 2022 2021 2020 Total Compensation as Reported in SCT $ 12,736,183 $ 11,708,035 $ 11,529,920 Pension and Equity Values Reported in SCT (6,879,013) (6,021,236) (7,318,678) Fair Value of Equity Compensation Granted in Current Year - Value at Year End 9,821,155 12,367,931 6,744,257 Dividends Paid on Unvested Restricted Share Awards 77,588 73,011 69,654 Change in the Fair Value of Awards Made in Prior Fiscal Years That Were Unvested at End of Current Fiscal Year 2,187,970 10,527,347 1,233,016 Change in the Fair Value of Awards Made in Prior Fiscal Years That Vested During Current Fiscal Year (3,751,932) 604,506 959,881 Compensation Actually Paid to CEO $ 14,191,951 $ 29,259,594 $ 13,218,050 | | |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 3,528,998 | 3,229,308 | 2,920,816 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 4,193,758 | 6,124,408 | 3,233,364 |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote [Text Block] | To calculate the amounts in the "Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs" column in the table above, the following amounts were deducted from and added to (as applicable) our Other NEOs "Total" compensation as reported in the SCT for that year: Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs 2022 2021 2020 Total Compensation as Reported in SCT $ 3,528,998 $ 3,229,308 $ 2,920,816 Pension and Equity Values Reported in SCT (1,317,879) (1,154,731) (1,373,938) Fair Value of Equity Compensation Granted in Current Year - Value at Year End 1,900,629 2,013,352 1,267,017 Dividends Paid on Unvested Restricted Share Awards 14,891 13,840 12,994 Change in the Fair Value of Awards Made in Prior Fiscal Years That Were Unvested at End of Current Fiscal Year 772,621 1,972,241 228,765 Change in the Fair Value of Awards Made in Prior Fiscal Years That Vested During Current Fiscal Year (705,502) 50,398 177,710 Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs $ 4,193,758 $ 6,124,408 $ 3,233,364 | | |
| Equity Valuation Assumption Difference, Footnote [Text Block] | The weighted average key assumptions utilized to determine the equity awards adjustments in the Compensation Actually Paid tables above were as follows: Weighted Average Assumptions 2022 2021 2020 Dividend Yield 1.6 % 1.7 % 1.7 % Expected Volatility 26.2 % 24.2 % 21.8 % Risk-Free Interest Rate 2.9 % 0.4 % 0.8 % Expected Holding Period (Years) 2.1 2.1 2.1 Market Price of Stock $ 63.95 $ 60.74 $ 48.93 Exercise Price $ 50.53 $ 45.67 $ 40.06 | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return [Text Block] | ¢ Compensation Actually Paid to CEO (in millions) ¢ Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs (in millions) — SCI TSR — Peer Group TSR | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income [Text Block] | ¢ Compensation Actually Paid to CEO (in millions) ¢ Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs (in millions) — Post-Tax Net Income (in millions) | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure [Text Block] | ¢ Compensation Actually Paid to CEO (in millions) ¢ Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs (in millions) — Normalized Earnings Per Share | | |
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 157.70 | 159.40 | 108.60 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 116 | 155.30 | 109 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 565,338,000 | $ 802,939,000 | $ 515,907,000 |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 3.85 | 4.53 | 2.86 |
| PEO Name | Thomas L. Ryan | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 1 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Non-GAAP Measure Description [Text Block] | We believe normalized earnings per share drives the performance of the Company and enhances shareholder value. Normalized Earnings per Share is calculated by applying a targeted 24.2% effective tax rate to the Company’s calculation of its reported diluted earnings per share and further adjusting to exclude certain non-routine items as described in the Performance Measures section of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) on page 48 . The following is the list of the metrics used by the Company to link the compensation of our NEOs to Company performance. | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 2 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Normalized Earnings Per Share | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 3 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Customer Satisfaction Ratings | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 4 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Normalized Free Cash Flow Per Share | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 5 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Total Shareholder Return | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 6 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Comparable Preneed Production | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 7 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Normalized Return on Equity | | |
| PEO [Member] | Pension and Equity Values Reported in SCT [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ (6,879,013) | $ (6,021,236) | $ (7,318,678) |
| PEO [Member] | Fair Value of Equity Compensation Granted in Current Year - Value at Year End [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 9,821,155 | 12,367,931 | 6,744,257 |
| PEO [Member] | Dividends Paid on Unvested Restricted Share Awards [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 77,588 | 73,011 | 69,654 |
| PEO [Member] | Change in the Fair Value of Awards Made in Prior Fiscal Years That Were Unvested at End of Current Fiscal Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 2,187,970 | 10,527,347 | 1,233,016 |
| PEO [Member] | Change in the Fair Value of Awards Made in Prior Fiscal Years That Vested During Current Fiscal Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (3,751,932) | 604,506 | 959,881 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Pension and Equity Values Reported in SCT [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (1,317,879) | (1,154,731) | (1,373,938) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Fair Value of Equity Compensation Granted in Current Year - Value at Year End [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 1,900,629 | 2,013,352 | 1,267,017 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Dividends Paid on Unvested Restricted Share Awards [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 14,891 | 13,840 | 12,994 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Change in the Fair Value of Awards Made in Prior Fiscal Years That Were Unvested at End of Current Fiscal Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 772,621 | 1,972,241 | 228,765 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Change in the Fair Value of Awards Made in Prior Fiscal Years That Vested During Current Fiscal Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ (705,502) | $ 50,398 | $ 177,710 |
