Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 25,694	$ 25,145	$ 40,791	$ 37,639
Other Comprehensive Income
Foreign currency translation	56	1,703	5,160	(4,656)
Pension and postretirement benefits liability adjustment (net of tax of $(1,696), $(1,918), $(3,524), and $(3,763), respectively)	2,662	3,011	5,534	5,909
Total Other Comprehensive Income	2,718	4,714	10,694	1,253
Comprehensive Income	28,412	29,859	51,485	38,892
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	69	116	362	(73)
Comprehensive Income attributable to Graybar Electric Company, Inc.	$ 28,343	$ 29,743	$ 51,123	$ 38,965