Debt financing costs, including deferred debt issuance costs and finance costs expensed as incurred.

No definition available.

Name:	axe_Financingcosts
Namespace Prefix:	axe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Limit on debt instruments available borrowings

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axe_Limitondebtinstrumentsavailableborrowings
Namespace Prefix:	axe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axe_Minimumfixedchargecoverageratio
Namespace Prefix:	axe_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Undrawn commitment fee rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axe_Undrawncommitmentfeerate
Namespace Prefix:	axe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of unused borrowing capacity under the long-term financing arrangement that is available to the entity as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnusedBorrowingCapacityAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the charge against earnings during the period for commitment fees and debt issuance expenses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116634182&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtRelatedCommitmentFeesAndDebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28555-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

Write-off of amounts previously capitalized as debt issuance cost in an extinguishment of debt.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_WriteOffOfDeferredDebtIssuanceCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axe_ReceivablesfacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axe_InventoryassetbasedrevolvingcreditfacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axe_CombinedfacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axe_CanadianTermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CurrencyAxis=currency_CAD
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	axe_DebtInstrumentTermsAxis=axe_PercentofeligiblereceivablesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	axe_DebtInstrumentTermsAxis=axe_PercentofnetorderlyliquidationvalueofappraisedeligibledomesticinventoryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	axe_DebtInstrumentTermsAxis=axe_PercentofbookvalueofappraisedeligibledomesticinventoryMemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	axe_DebtInstrumentTermsAxis=axe_PercentofnetorderlyliquidationvalueofeligibledomesticinventorynotappraisedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	axe_DebtInstrumentTermsAxis=axe_MinimumrangeimpactingbasisspreadMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	axe_DebtInstrumentTermsAxis=axe_MaximumrangeimpactingbasisspreadMemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	axe_DebtInstrumentTermsAxis=axe_ImpactonacquisitionsandrestrictedpaymentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	axe_DebtInstrumentTermsAxis=axe_ImpactonacquisitionsandrestrictedpaymentswithmaintenanceofaminimumfixedchargecoverageratioMemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

DEBT - Revolving Lines of Credit and Canadian Term Loan (Details) $ in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 28, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 29, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 05, 2015 CAD ($)	Oct. 05, 2015 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility maximum borrowing capacity						$ 750.0
Financing costs				$ 6.7
Deferred financing costs		$ 2.1		5.4
Debt related expenses				$ 1.3
Receivables facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility maximum borrowing capacity						600.0
Available, committed, unused borrowings	$ 524.7
Inventory asset based revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility maximum borrowing capacity						150.0
Available, committed, unused borrowings	$ 134.3
Combined facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Undrawn commitment fee rate		0.25%
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio	1.1
Canadian term loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount of debt instrument						$ 225.0
Long term debt term		5 years
Repayments of Canadian term loan			$ 100.2
Write off of deferred debt issuance costs			$ 0.2
Canada, Dollars \| Canadian term loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount of debt instrument					$ 300.0
Percent of eligible receivables [Member] \| Receivables facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Limit on debt instruments available borrowings	85.00%
Percent of net orderly liquidation value of appraised eligible domestic inventory [Member] \| Inventory asset based revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Limit on debt instruments available borrowings	85.00%
Percent of book value of appraised eligible domestic inventory [Member] \| Inventory asset based revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Limit on debt instruments available borrowings	75.00%
Percent of net orderly liquidation value of eligible domestic inventory not appraised [Member] \| Inventory asset based revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Limit on debt instruments available borrowings	40.00%
Minimum range impacting basis spread [Member] \| Combined facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Available, committed, unused borrowings	$ 500.0
Maximum range impacting basis spread [Member] \| Combined facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Available, committed, unused borrowings	500.0
Minimum [Member] \| Combined facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		1.25%
Minimum [Member] \| Impact on acquisitions and restricted payments [Member] \| Combined facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Available, committed, unused borrowings	131.3
Minimum [Member] \| Impact on acquisitions and restricted payments with maintenance of a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio [Member] \| Combined facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Available, committed, unused borrowings	$ 93.8
Maximum [Member] \| Combined facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		1.50%