BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS, Pro Forma Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,006.8	$ 939.4
Net income (loss) attributable to DXP Enterprises, Inc.	$ 16.9	$ 5.5
Per share data [Abstract]
Basic earnings (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.97	$ 0.36
Diluted earnings (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 0.35
Units Acquired In 2015 and 2016 [Member]
Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Net sales		$ 939.4	$ 1,228.9
Net income (loss) attributable to DXP Enterprises, Inc.		$ 5.5	$ (40.7)
Per share data [Abstract]
Basic earnings (loss) (in dollars per share)		$ 0.36	$ (2.83)
Diluted earnings (loss) (in dollars per share)		$ 0.35	$ (2.83)

No definition available.

Name:	dxpe_ProFormaPerShareDataAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	dxpe_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareBasic
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareDiluted
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaInformationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=dxpe_UnitsAcquiredIn2015And2016Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: