|**Segment Reporting (Tables)**                                                                           | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|**Segment Reporting [Abstract]**                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment                                                    | Selected financial information for our reportable segments is as follows (in millions):Inpatient RehabilitationHome Health and HospiceThree Months Ended March 31,Three Months Ended March 31,2018201720182017Net operating revenues$840.3$777.8$205.7$179.3Operating expenses:Inpatient rehabilitation:Salaries and benefits424.2398.2——Other operating expenses122.9111.8——Supplies35.933.7——Occupancy costs15.515.1——Home health and hospice:Cost of services sold (excluding depreciation and amortization)——98.687.7Support and overhead costs——72.066.8598.5558.8170.6154.5Other income(0.5)(1.0)——Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates(2.0)(1.9)(0.3)(0.2)Noncontrolling interests20.516.51.91.1Segment Adjusted EBITDA$223.8$205.4$33.5$23.9Capital expenditures$62.2$43.1$1.7$1.7
|                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|                                                                                                         | Inpatient Rehabilitation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|                                                                                                         | Three Months Ended March 31,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|                                                                                                         | 2018                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Net operating revenues                                                                                   | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Operating expenses:                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Inpatient rehabilitation:                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Salaries and benefits                                                                                    | 424.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Other operating expenses                                                                                 | 122.9                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Supplies                                                                                                 | 35.9                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Occupancy costs                                                                                          | 15.5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Home health and hospice:                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Cost of services sold (excluding depreciation and amortization)                                          | —                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Support and overhead costs                                                                               | —                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|                                                                                                         | 598.5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Other income                                                                                             | (0.5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates                                                       | (2.0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Noncontrolling interests                                                                                 | 20.5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Segment Adjusted EBITDA                                                                                  | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Capital expenditures                                                                                     | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated                                                    | March 31, 2018December 31, 2017Total assets for reportable segments$4,980.0$4,939.6Reclassification of deferred income tax liabilities to net deferred income tax assets(40.4)(45.9)Total consolidated assets$4,939.6$4,893.7Inpatient RehabilitationHome Health and HospiceEncompass Health ConsolidatedAs of March 31, 2018Total assets$3,827.5$1,152.5$4,939.6Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates10.22.813.0As of December 31, 2017Total assets$3,789.1$1,150.5$4,893.7Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates9.32.611.9                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|                                                                                                         | March 31, 2018                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Total assets for reportable segments                                                                     | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Reclassification of deferred income tax liabilities to net deferred income tax assets                    | (40.4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Total consolidated assets                                                                                | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|                                                                                                         | Inpatient Rehabilitation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|As of March 31, 2018                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Total assets                                                                                             | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates                                                | 10.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|As of December 31, 2017                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Total assets                                                                                             | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates                                                | 9.3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Reconciliation of Segment Adjusted EBITDA to Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Tax Expense | Segment reconciliations (in millions):Three Months Ended March 31,20182017Total segment Adjusted EBITDA$257.3$229.3General and administrative expenses(61.1)(36.5)Depreciation and amortization(45.9)(45.2)(Loss) gain on disposal of assets(0.8)0.5Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees(35.6)(41.3)Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests21.417.6SARs mark-to-market impact on noncontrolling interests1.0—Change in fair market value of equity securities(0.6)—Income from continuing operations before income tax expense$135.7$124.4                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|                                                                                                         | Three Months Ended March 31,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|                                                                                                         | 2018                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Total segment Adjusted EBITDA                                                                            | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|General and administrative expenses                                                                      | (61.1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Depreciation and amortization                                                                            | (45.9                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|(Loss) gain on disposal of assets                                                                        | (0.8                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees                                             | (35.6                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests                                                      | 21.4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|SARs mark-to-market impact on noncontrolling interests                                                   | 1.0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Change in fair market value of equity securities                                                         | (0.6                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Income from continuing operations before income tax expense                                              | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated                                                  | Additional detail regarding the revenues of our operating segments by service line follows (in millions):Three Months Ended March 31,20182017Inpatient rehabilitation:Inpatient$817.1$752.7Outpatient and other23.225.1Total inpatient rehabilitation840.3777.8Home health and hospice:Home health185.2163.7Hospice20.515.6Total home health and hospice205.7179.3Total net operating revenues$1,046.0$957.1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|                                                                                                         | Three Months Ended March 31,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|                                                                                                         | 2018                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Inpatient rehabilitation:                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Inpatient                                                                                                | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Outpatient and other                                                                                     | 23.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Total inpatient rehabilitation                                                                           | 840.3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Home health and hospice:                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Home health                                                                                              | 185.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Hospice                                                                                                  | 20.5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Total home health and hospice                                                                            | 205.7                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Total net operating revenues                                                                             | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

X- DefinitionTabular disclosure of all significant reconciling items in the reconciliation segment adjusted EBITDA to income from continuing operations before income tax expense.
+ ReferencesNo definition available.
+ Details**Name:**
ehc_ReconciliationofSegmentAdjustedEBITDAtoIncomefromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxExpenseTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**
ehc_**Data Type:**
nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration X- DefinitionTabular disclosure of all significant reconciling items in the reconciliation of total assets from reportable segments to the entity's consolidated assets.
+ ReferencesReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 30 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8906-108599Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 31 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8924-108599
+ Details**Name:**
us-gaap_ReconciliationOfAssetsFromSegmentToConsolidatedTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**
us-gaap_**Data Type:**
nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration X- DefinitionTabular disclosure of all significant reconciling items in the reconciliation of total revenues from reportable segments to the entity's consolidated revenues.
+ ReferencesReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 31 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8924-108599Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 30 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8906-108599
+ Details**Name:**
us-gaap_ReconciliationOfRevenueFromSegmentsToConsolidatedTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**
us-gaap_**Data Type:**
nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration X- DefinitionTabular disclosure of the profit or loss and total assets for each reportable segment. An entity discloses certain information on each reportable segment if the amounts (a) are included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) are otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss.
+ ReferencesReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 30 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8906-108599Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 25 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8813-108599Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8721-108599Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 22 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8736-108599
+ Details**Name:**
us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**
us-gaap_**Data Type:**
nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration X- ReferencesNo definition available.
+ Details**Name:**
us-gaap_SegmentReportingAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**
us-gaap_**Data Type:**
xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration