Skip to main content
v3.26.3
Cover
Oct. 26, 2026
Cover [Abstract]  
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Oct. 26, 2026
Entity Registrant Name BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE
Entity File Number 001-35780
Entity Tax Identification Number 80-0188269
Entity Address, Address Line One 2 Wells Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town Newton
Entity Address, State or Province MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 02459
City Area Code 617
Local Phone Number 673-8000
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Trading Symbol BFAM
Security Exchange Name NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company false
Amendment Flag false
Entity Central Index Key 0001437578
X
- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the XBRL content amends previously-filed or accepted submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_AmendmentFlag
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Area code of city

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_CityAreaCode
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Cover page.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_CoverAbstract
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

For the EDGAR submission types of Form 8-K: the date of the report, the date of the earliest event reported; for the EDGAR submission types of Form N-1A: the filing date; for all other submission types: the end of the reporting or transition period. The format of the date is YYYY-MM-DD.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word 'Other'.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_DocumentType
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: dei:submissionTypeItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Address Line 1 such as Attn, Building Name, Street Name

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Name of the City or Town

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Code for the postal or zip code

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Name of the state or province.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: dei:stateOrProvinceItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details
Name: dei_EntityCentralIndexKey
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: dei:centralIndexKeyItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Indicate if registrant meets the emerging growth company criteria.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details
Name: dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Commission file number. The field allows up to 17 characters. The prefix may contain 1-3 digits, the sequence number may contain 1-8 digits, the optional suffix may contain 1-4 characters, and the fields are separated with a hyphen.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_EntityFileNumber
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: dei:fileNumberItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Two-character EDGAR code representing the state or country of incorporation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: dei:edgarStateCountryItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details
Name: dei_EntityRegistrantName
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

The Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details
Name: dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: dei:employerIdItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Local phone number for entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_LocalPhoneNumber
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 13e
-Subsection 4c

+ Details
Name: dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 14d
-Subsection 2b

+ Details
Name: dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Title of a 12(b) registered security.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b

+ Details
Name: dei_Security12bTitle
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: dei:securityTitleItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Name of the Exchange on which a security is registered.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection d1-1

+ Details
Name: dei_SecurityExchangeName
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: dei:edgarExchangeCodeItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 14a
-Subsection 12

+ Details
Name: dei_SolicitingMaterial
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details
Name: dei_TradingSymbol
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: dei:tradingSymbolItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration
X
- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Securities Act
-Number 230
-Section 425

+ Details
Name: dei_WrittenCommunications
Namespace Prefix: dei_
Data Type: xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type: na
Period Type: duration