Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 15,097	$ 12,494
Other Comprehensive Income
Foreign currency translation	5,104	(6,359)
Pension and postretirement benefits liability adjustment (net of tax of $(1,828), and $(1,845), respectively)	2,872	2,898
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	7,976	(3,461)
Comprehensive Income	23,073	9,033
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	293	(189)
Comprehensive Income attributable to Graybar Electric Company, Inc.	$ 22,780	$ 9,222