GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	[1]	Jun. 30, 2016	[1]	Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015	[1]	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	[1]	Jun. 30, 2014	[1]	Mar. 31, 2014	[1]	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment [Abstract]
Percentage of decrease in common stock								16.00%	40.00%														16.00%
Percentage on decrease in price of crude oil								18.00%	20.00%														18.00%
Accumulated impairment of goodwill								$ 12,300															$ 12,300
Impairment expense of write off an acquired intangible asset									$ 1,100														1,072
Remaining intangible asset value of vendor distribution agreements								0															0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period						$ 197,362							$ 253,312									$ 197,362	253,312
Acquired during the year																							11,713
Sale of subsidiary																						(9,620)
Purchase accounting adjustment																						(151)
Impairment	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0		0	[1]	(9,800)	(58,900)	[1]	$ 0		0	[1]	$ (117,600)	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0			(67,663)
Translation adjustment																						0	0
Balance at end of period	187,591							197,362							253,312							187,591	197,362	$ 253,312
Other Intangibles Assets [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period						112,297							130,333									112,297	130,333
Sale of subsidiary																						0
Purchase price adjustment																						0
Acquired during the year																							7,263
Impairment									(1,100)														(1,072)
Translation adjustment																						595	(3,606)
Amortization																						(18,061)	(20,621)	(22,480)
Balance at end of period	94,831							112,297							130,333							94,831	112,297	130,333
Total Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period						309,659							383,645									309,659	383,645
Sale of subsidiary																						(9,620)
Purchase price adjustment																						(151)
Acquired during the year																							18,976
Impairment																						0	(68,735)	(117,569)
Translation adjustment																						595	(3,606)
Amortization																						(18,061)	(20,621)	(22,480)
Balance at end of period	282,422							309,659							$ 383,645							282,422	$ 309,659	383,645
B27, LLC [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment [Abstract]
Percentage of goodwill not deductible for tax purpose															60.00%								60.00%
Percentage Goodwill impairment															40.00%								40.00%
Service Centers [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period						164,244																164,244
Balance at end of period	154,473							164,244														154,473	$ 164,244
Service Centers [Member] | B27, LLC [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment [Abstract]
Accumulated impairment of goodwill								25,000	20,000						$ 10,200								25,000	10,200
Fair value of goodwill															20,100									20,100
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period						5,300		10,300														5,300
Impairment								(5,000)	(9,800)						(10,200)
Balance at end of period								5,300	10,300														5,300
Innovative Pumping Solutions [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period						15,980																15,980
Balance at end of period	15,980							15,980														15,980	15,980
Innovative Pumping Solutions [Member] | B27, LLC [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment [Abstract]
Accumulated impairment of goodwill								148,000	143,100						95,100								148,000	95,100
Fair value of goodwill															52,900									52,900
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period						0		4,900					$ 148,000									0	148,000
Impairment								(4,900)	(48,000)						(95,100)
Balance at end of period								0	$ 4,900						148,000								0	148,000
Innovative Pumping Solutions [Member] | NatPro [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment [Abstract]
Accumulated impairment of goodwill															12,300									$ 12,300
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Impairment															$ (12,300)
Supply Chain Services [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period						$ 17,138																17,138
Balance at end of period	$ 17,138							$ 17,138														$ 17,138	$ 17,138

[1] During the fourth quarter of 2014, DXP finalized its purchase accounting for customer relationships for the acquisition of B27 and amortized the customer relationships on an accelerated basis. The revision increased amortization expense by $1.0 million per quarter.