Trade Receivable Securitization Program	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]
Trade Receivable Securitization Program	Trade Receivable Securitization Program At June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had a $100,000 trade receivable securitization program that expires in October 2011. The trade receivable securitization program provides for the sale of certain of the Company’s trade receivables on a revolving basis to Graybar Commerce Corporation (“GCC”), a wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote, special-purpose subsidiary. GCC sells an undivided interest in the trade receivables to an unrelated multi-seller commercial paper conduit. In the event that a dislocation in the market for the conduit’s receivables-backed commercial paper develops and the conduit is unable to purchase the undivided interest offered by GCC, the agent bank for the trade receivable securitization program is obligated to purchase the undivided interest in the trade receivables from GCC under the terms of the program. The Company accounts for the securitization as an on-balance sheet financing arrangement because the Company has maintained effective control of the trade receivables through a call option that gives GCC the unilateral right to repurchase the undivided interest. Accordingly, the trade receivables and related debt are included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. GCC has granted a security interest in its trade receivables to the commercial paper conduit. There were no borrowings outstanding under the trade receivable securitization program at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

Trade Receivable Securitization Program

At June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had a $100,000 trade receivable securitization program that expires in October 2011. The trade receivable securitization program provides for the sale of certain of the Company’s trade receivables on a revolving basis to Graybar Commerce Corporation (“GCC”), a wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote, special-purpose subsidiary. GCC sells an undivided interest in the trade receivables to an unrelated multi-seller commercial paper conduit. In the event that a dislocation in the market for the conduit’s receivables-backed commercial paper develops and the conduit is unable to purchase the undivided interest offered by GCC, the agent bank for the trade receivable securitization program is obligated to purchase the undivided interest in the trade receivables from GCC under the terms of the program.

The Company accounts for the securitization as an on-balance sheet financing arrangement because the Company has maintained effective control of the trade receivables through a call option that gives GCC the unilateral right to repurchase the undivided interest. Accordingly, the trade receivables and related debt are included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. GCC has granted a security interest in its trade receivables to the commercial paper conduit. There were no borrowings outstanding under the trade receivable securitization program at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.