Subsequent Events (Details Narrative) - Subsequent Event [Member] $ in Thousands	Oct. 03, 2016 USD ($) shares
First Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restate Loan and Security Agreement (the 2015 Loan Agreement) [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Maximum amount outstanding	$ 100,000
Maximum incremental availability on eligible accounts receivable and inventory	5,000
Stock Purchase Agreement [Member] \| Houston Wire & Cable (HWC) Reporting Unit [Member] \| Vertex Corporate Holdings, Inc (DXP Enterprises, Inc) [Member]
Purchase price	$ 32,300
Number of shares granted to four management team \| shares	21,000

Refers to amount of maximum incremental availability on eligible accounts receivable and inventory.

No definition available.

Name:	hwcc_MaximumIncrementalAvailabilityOnEligibleAccountsReceivableAndInventory
Namespace Prefix:	hwcc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum amount borrowed under the credit facility at any time during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=hwcc_FirstAmendmentToFourthAmendedAndRestatedLoanAndSecurityAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=hwcc_StockPurchaseAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=hwcc_HoustonWireAndCableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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