Business and Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Business and Accounting Policies	Jun. 30, 2011
Business and Accounting Policies [Abstract]
BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES	NOTE 1: BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES Business Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Applied”) is one of North America’s largest industrial distributors serving Maintenance Repair Operations (MRO), Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) and Government markets. Applied is an authorized source for a diverse range of products, including bearings, power transmission components, fluid power components and systems, industrial rubber products, linear motion components, tools, safety products, and general maintenance and mill supply products. The Company also provides customized shop services for mechanical, fabricated rubber and fluid power products, as well as services to meet storeroom management and maintenance training needs. Although the Company does not generally manufacture the products it sells, it does assemble and repair certain products and systems. Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The financial results of the Company’s Canadian and Mexican subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements for the twelve months ended May 31. Foreign Currency The financial statements of the Company’s Canadian and Mexican subsidiaries are measured using local currencies as their functional currencies. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates, while income and expenses are translated at average exchange rates. Translation gains and losses are included as components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in consolidated shareholders’ equity. Gains and losses resulting from transactions denominated in foreign currencies are included in the statements of consolidated income as a component of other (income) expense, net. Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions used in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all short-term, highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. Marketable Securities The primary marketable security investments of the Company include money market and mutual funds held in a rabbi trust for a non-qualified compensation plan. These are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets, are classified as trading securities, and reported at fair value based on quoted market prices. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded in other (income) expense, net in the statements of consolidated income and reflect changes in the fair value of the investments during the period. Concentration of Credit Risk The Company has a broad customer base representing many diverse industries across North America. As such, the Company does not believe that a significant concentration of credit risk exists in its accounts receivable. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents include deposits with commercial banks and investments in money market funds. While Applied monitors the creditworthiness of these commercial banks and institutions, a crisis in the U.S., Canadian or Mexican financial systems could limit access to funds and/or result in the loss of principal. The terms of these deposits and investments provide that all monies are available to the Company upon demand. Allowances for Doubtful Accounts The Company evaluates the collectibility of trade accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. Initially, the Company estimates an allowance for doubtful accounts as a percentage of net sales based on historical bad debt experience. This initial estimate is adjusted based on recent trends of customers and industries estimated to be greater credit risks, trends within the entire customer pool and changes in the overall aging of accounts receivable. Accounts are written off against the allowance when it becomes evident collection will not occur. While the Company has a large customer base that is geographically dispersed, a general economic downturn in any of the industry segments in which the Company operates could result in higher than expected defaults, and therefore, the need to revise estimates for bad debts. Inventories Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for U.S. inventories and the average cost method for foreign inventories. The Company adopted the link chain dollar value LIFO method of accounting for U.S. inventories in fiscal 1974. At June 30, 2011, approximately 40% of the Company’s domestic inventory dollars relate to LIFO layers added in the 1970s. The Company maintains five LIFO pools based on the following product groupings: bearings, power transmission products, rubber products, fluid power products and other products. LIFO layers and/or liquidations are determined consistently year-to-year. The Company evaluates the recoverability of its slow moving or obsolete inventories at least quarterly. The Company estimates the recoverable cost of such inventory by product type while considering factors such as its age, historic and current demand trends, the physical condition of the inventory as well as assumptions regarding future demand. The Company’s ability to recover its cost for slow moving or obsolete inventory can be affected by such factors as general market conditions, future customer demand and relationships with suppliers. Historically, the Company’s inventories have demonstrated long shelf lives, are not highly susceptible to obsolescence and are eligible for return under various supplier return programs. Supplier Purchasing Programs The Company enters into agreements with certain suppliers providing for inventory purchase incentives. The Company’s inventory purchase incentive arrangements are unique to each supplier and are generally annual programs ending at either the Company’s fiscal year end or the supplier’s year end. Incentives are received in the form of cash or credits against purchases upon attainment of specified purchase volumes and are received monthly, quarterly or annually. The incentives are generally a specified percentage of the Company’s net purchases based upon achieving specific purchasing volume levels. These percentages can increase or decrease based on changes in the volume of purchases. The Company accrues for the receipt of these inventory purchase incentives based upon cumulative purchases of inventory. The percentage level utilized is based upon the estimated total volume of purchases expected during the life of the program. Each supplier program is analyzed, reviewed and reconciled each quarter as information becomes available to determine the appropriateness of the amount estimated to be received. Upon program completion, differences between estimates and actual incentives subsequently received have not been material. Benefits under these supplier purchasing programs are recognized under the Company’s LIFO inventory accounting method as a reduction of cost of sales when the inventories representing these purchases are recorded as cost of sales. Accrued incentives expected to be settled as a credit against purchases are reported on the consolidated balance sheet as an offset to amounts due to the related supplier. Property and Related Depreciation and Amortization Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets and is included in selling, distribution and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of consolidated income. Buildings, building improvements and leasehold improvements are depreciated over ten to thirty years or the life of the lease if a shorter period, and equipment is depreciated over three to eight years. The Company capitalizes internal use software development costs in accordance with guidance on accounting for costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use. Amortization is recorded as the software is placed in service on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, generally not to exceed twelve years. Capitalized software and hardware costs are classified as property on the consolidated balance sheets. The carrying values of property and equipment are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the recorded value cannot be recovered from undiscounted future cash flows. Impairment losses, if any, would be measured based upon the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the assets. Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill is recognized as the excess cost of an acquired entity over the net amount assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually as of January 1 or whenever changes in conditions indicate an evaluation should be completed. These conditions could include a significant change in the business climate, legal factors, operating performance indicators, competition, or sale or disposition of a significant portion of a reporting unit. The Company utilizes discounted cash flow models and market multiples for comparable businesses to determine the fair value of reporting units. Evaluating impairment requires significant judgment by management, including estimated future operating results, estimated future cash flows, the long-term rate of growth of the business, and determination of an appropriate discount rate. While the Company uses available information to prepare the estimates and evaluations, actual results could differ significantly. The Company recognizes acquired intangible assets such as customer relationships, trade names, vendor relationships, and non-competition agreements apart from goodwill. Customer relationship intangibles are amortized using the sum-of-the-years-digits method over estimated useful lives consistent with assumptions used in the determination of their value. Amortization of all other finite-lived intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated period of benefit. The Company also maintains intangible assets with indefinite lives which are not amortized. Amortization of intangible assets is included in selling, distribution and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of consolidated income. Intangible assets with finite lives are reviewed for impairment when changes in conditions indicate carrying value may not be recoverable. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are reviewed for impairment on an annual basis or whenever changes in conditions indicate an evaluation should be completed. Self-Insurance Liabilities The Company maintains business insurance programs with significant self-insured retention covering workers’ compensation, business, automobile, general product liability and other claims. The Company accrues estimated losses including those incurred but not reported using actuarial calculations, models and assumptions based on historical loss experience. The Company maintains a self-insured health benefits plan, which provides medical benefits to employees electing coverage under the plan. The Company estimates its reserve for all unpaid medical claims including those incurred but not reported based on historical experience, adjusted as necessary based upon management’s reasoned judgment. Revenue Recognition Sales are recognized when the sales price is fixed, collectibility is reasonably assured and the product’s title and risk of loss is transferred to the customer. Typically, these conditions are met when the product is shipped to the customer. The Company charges shipping and handling fees when products are shipped or delivered to a customer, and includes such amounts in net sales. The Company reports its sales net of actual sales returns and the amount of reserves established for anticipated sales returns based on historical rates. Sales tax collected from customers is excluded from net sales in the accompanying statements of consolidated income. Shipping and Handling Costs The Company records freight payments to third parties in cost of sales and internal delivery costs in selling, distribution and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of consolidated income. Internal delivery costs in selling, distribution and administrative expenses were approximately $15,400, $14,400 and $15,400 for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Income Taxes Income taxes are determined based upon income and expenses recorded for financial reporting purposes. Deferred income taxes are recorded for estimated future tax effects of differences between the bases of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes, giving consideration to enacted tax laws. Uncertain tax positions meeting a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold are recognized in accordance with the Income Taxes topic of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC). The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized income tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. Share-Based Compensation Share-based compensation represents the cost related to share-based awards granted to associates under the 2007 Long-Term Performance Plan (the 2007 Plan). The Company measures share-based compensation cost at grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award and recognizes the cost over the associate requisite service period. Non-qualified stock options and stock appreciation rights (SARs) are granted with an exercise price equal to the closing market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant and the fair values are determined using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, which incorporates assumptions regarding the expected volatility, the expected option life, the risk-free interest rate and the expected dividend yield. SARs and stock option awards generally vest over four years of continuous service and have 10-year contractual terms. The fair value of restricted stock awards, restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance shares are based on the closing market price of Company common stock on the grant date. Treasury Shares Shares of common stock repurchased by the Company are recorded at cost as treasury shares and result in a reduction of shareholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company uses the weighted-average cost method for determining the cost of shares reissued. The difference between the cost of the shares and the reissuance price is added to or deducted from additional paid-in capital.