SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA - Summary of Quarterly Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2017	[1]	Sep. 29, 2017	[2]	Jun. 30, 2017	[3]	Mar. 31, 2017	[4]	Dec. 30, 2016	[5]	Sep. 30, 2016	[6]	Jul. 01, 2016	[7]	Apr. 01, 2016	[8]	Dec. 29, 2017		Dec. 30, 2016		Jan. 01, 2016
Quarterly Operating Results Unaudited [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,013.8		$ 2,016.4		$ 2,001.4		$ 1,895.8		$ 1,894.6		$ 1,956.3		$ 1,955.7		$ 1,816.2		$ 7,927.4		$ 7,622.8		$ 6,190.5
Cost of goods sold	1,615.4		1,619.2		1,605.7		1,516.1		1,507.5		1,559.6		1,562.3		1,445.4		6,356.4		6,074.8		4,850.0
Operating income	80.4		81.0		82.7		69.0		81.0		87.3		56.7		60.3		313.1		285.3		267.8
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	61.5		62.4		63.8		49.9		58.6		65.4		36.1		37.4		237.6		197.5		182.9
Net income from continuing operations									36.8		40.3		20.8		23.2		109.0		121.1		96.9
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations									0.0		0.1		(0.3)		(0.4)		0.0		(0.6)		30.7
Net income	$ 0.4		$ 37.6		$ 40.1		$ 30.9		$ 36.8		$ 40.4		$ 20.5		$ 22.8		$ 109.0		$ 120.5		$ 127.6
Basic:
Continuing operations									$ 1.10		$ 1.21		$ 0.62		$ 0.70		$ 3.24		$ 3.63		$ 2.92
Discontinued operations									0.00		0.00		(0.01)		(0.01)		0.00		(0.02)		0.92
Net income	$ 0.01		$ 1.12		$ 1.19		$ 0.92		1.10		1.21		0.61		0.69		3.24		3.61		3.84
Diluted:
Continuing operations									1.09		1.20		0.62		0.70		3.21		3.61		2.90
Discontinued operations									0.00		0.01		(0.01)		(0.02)		0.00		(0.02)		0.91
Net income	0.01		1.11		1.18		0.91		1.09		1.21		0.61		0.68		3.21		3.59		$ 3.81
Common stock price (NYSE symbol: AXE):
Stock price high	88.60		86.45		86.35		88.00		84.05		65.96		63.49		60.10
Stock price low	62.40		70.50		73.75		75.70		58.99		51.50		49.29		37.60
Share price close	$ 76.00		$ 85.00		$ 78.20		$ 79.30		$ 81.05		$ 64.50		$ 54.09		$ 52.48		$ 76.00	[1]	$ 81.05	[5]

[1] In the fourth quarter of 2017, "Operating income" includes $9.0 million of intangible asset amortization, $1.5 million of acquisition and integration costs and an intangible asset impairment charge of $5.7 million.

[2] In the third quarter of 2017, "Operating income" includes $9.1 million of intangible asset amortization and $0.8 million of acquisition and integration costs.

[3] In the second quarter of 2017, "Operating income" includes $9.0 million of intangible asset amortization

[4] In the first quarter of 2017, "Operating income" includes $9.0 million of intangible asset amortization

[5] In the fourth quarter of 2016, "Operating income" includes $9.0 million of intangible asset amortization and $0.8 million of acquisition and integration costs.

[6] In the third quarter of 2016, "Operating income" includes $9.4 million of intangible asset amortization, $0.7 million of acquisition and integration costs and a restructuring reversal of $0.2 million.

[7] In the second quarter of 2016, "Operating income" includes $9.5 million of intangible asset amortization, $5.6 million of restructuring charges, $7.6 million of Latin America bad debt provision, $1.4 million of acquisition and integration costs and $9.6 million related to a settlement of pension obligation in the UK.

[8] In the first quarter of 2016, "Operating income" includes $9.7 million of intangible asset amortization and $2.2 million of acquisition and integration costs.