| **Nature of Operations (Policies)**                   | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 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| **Accounting Policies [Abstract]**                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                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| Description of Business                               | The St. Joe Company together with its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a real estate development, asset management and operating company with real estate assets and operations currently concentrated primarily between Tallahassee and Destin, Florida.  The Company conducts primarily all of its business in the following five reportable operating segments: 1) residential real estate, 2) commercial real estate, 3) resorts and leisure, 4) leasing operations and 5) forestry.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Basis of Presentation                                 | Basis of PresentationThe accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for reporting on Form 10-Q.  Accordingly, certain information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements are not included herein.  The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries.  The equity method of accounting is used for investments in which the Company has significant influence, but not a controlling financial interest.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  The December 31, 2015 balance sheet amounts have been derived from the Company’s December 31, 2015 audited consolidated financial statements.  Certain prior period amounts in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.  These reclassifications had no effect on the Company’s previously reported stockholders’ equity or net income (loss).  Operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results of the Company that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016.A variable interest entity (“VIE”) is an entity in which a controlling financial interest may be achieved through arrangements that do not involve voting interests.  A VIE is required to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary, which is the entity that possesses the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that are significant to it.  The Company consolidates VIEs when it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE, including real estate joint ventures determined to be VIEs (see Note 9, Real Estate Joint Ventures) and VIEs involved in a 2014 real estate sale.The statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for fair presentation of the information contained herein.  The interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.  The Company adheres to the same accounting policies in preparation of its unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as the Company’s December 31, 2015 annual financial statements.  As required under GAAP, interim accounting for certain expenses, including income taxes, are based on full year assumptions.  For interim financial reporting purposes, income taxes are recorded based upon estimated annual income tax rates.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements | Recently Adopted Accounting PronouncementsConsolidationIn February 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-02 that amends the existing consolidation guidance related to (i) limited partnerships and similar legal entities, (ii) the evaluation of variable interests for fees paid to decision makers or service providers, (iii) the effect of fee arrangements and related parties on the primary beneficiary determination and (iv) certain investment funds.  These changes are expected to limit the number of consolidation models and place more emphasis on risk of loss when determining a controlling financial interest.  The Company adopted the new guidance as of January 1, 2016.  The adoption of this guidance had no impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of comprehensive income (loss), statements of cash flows or notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.Debt issuance costsIn April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03 that requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts.  The amendment does not affect the recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs.  As of January 1, 2016, the Company adopted this ASU, which required retrospective application and resulted in the reclassification of debt issuance costs of $2.1 million from other assets to a reduction of $0.7 million in debt and a reduction of $1.4 million in Senior Notes held by special purpose entity in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015.  Other than this change in presentation, this ASU did not have an impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  See Note 10, Debt for more information.Recently Issued Accounting PronouncementsRevenue recognitionIn May 2014, the FASB issued an ASU that establishes the principles used to recognize revenue for all entities.  In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08 that further clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations.  The new guidance will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017.  Early application will be permitted, but not before annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Financial InstrumentsIn January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 that amends existing guidance to address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments.  The new guidance will require equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in results of operations.  Additionally, certain disclosure requirements and other aspects of accounting for financial instruments will change as a result of the new guidance, which is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of the new guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.Financial Instruments - Credit LossesIn June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 that requires a financial asset measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected and requires that credit losses from available-for-sale debt securities be presented as an allowance for credit losses.  This new guidance will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of the new guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.LeasesIn February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 that amends the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize both finance and operating leases with terms of more than 12 months on the balance sheet.  The accounting applied by a lessor is largely unchanged from existing guidance.  The amendments also require certain quantitative and qualitative disclosures about leasing arrangements.  The new guidance will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective adoption.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
| Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets           | The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment quarterly to determine whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable.  Long-lived assets include the Company’s investments in operating and development property and property and equipment.  As part of the Company’s review for impairment of its long-lived assets, the Company reviews long-lived asset’s carrying value, current period actual financial results as compared to prior period and forecast contained in the Company’s business plan and any other events or changes in circumstances to identify whether an indicator of potential impairment may exist.  Some of the events or changes in circumstances that are considered by the Company as indicators of potential impairment include:•a prolonged decrease in the fair value or demand for the Company’s properties;•a change in the expected use or development plans for the Company’s properties;•a material change in strategy that would affect the fair value of the Company’s properties;•continuing operating or cash flow losses for an operating property; •an accumulation of costs in excess of the projected costs for a development property; and•any other adverse change that may affect the fair value of the property.The Company uses varying methods to determine if an impairment exists, such as (i) considering indicators of potential impairment, (ii) analyzing expected future cash flows and comparing the expected future undiscounted cash flows of the property to its carrying value or (iii) determining market resale values.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Investments                                           | Investments and restricted investments consist of available-for-sale securities and are recorded at fair value, which is based on quoted market prices and pricing data from external pricing services that use prices observed for recently executed market transactions.  Unrealized gains and temporary losses on investments, net of tax, are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss).  Realized gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method.  The amortized cost of debt securities are adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity computed under the effective interest method.  Such amortization and accretion is included in investment income, net.  In addition, at June 30, 2016, the Company had investments in short term commercial paper that are classified as cash equivalents, since they had maturity dates of ninety days or less from the date of purchase.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |

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Disclosure of accounting policy for recognizing and measuring the impairment of long-lived assets. An entity also may disclose its accounting policy for long-lived assets to be sold. This policy excludes goodwill and intangible assets.
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Disclosure of accounting policy for investments in financial assets, including marketable securities (debt and equity securities with readily determinable fair values), investments accounted for under the equity method and cost method, securities borrowed and loaned, and repurchase and resale agreements. For marketable securities, the disclosure may include the entity's accounting treatment for transfers between investment categories and how the fair values for such securities are determined. Also, for all investments, an entity may describe its policy for assessing, recognizing and measuring impairment of the investment.
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Disclosure of accounting policy pertaining to new accounting pronouncements that may impact the entity's financial reporting. Includes, but is not limited to, quantification of the expected or actual impact.
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