Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Statements of Operations [Abstract] Income (Loss) Per Share [Abstract] Net income (loss) per share: Diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Total Earnings Per Share, Diluted Basic Earnings Per Share, Basic, Total Earnings Per Share, Basic Cost of operations: Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Income tax expense Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest, Total Income (loss) before income taxes Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Other (expense) income: Other, net Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Interest Expense Operating Income (Loss) Operating Income (Loss), Total Operating income (loss) Total costs and expenses Costs and Expenses Operating Expenses Operating expenses Operating expenses Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Current assets: Assets, Current [Abstract] LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Current liabilities: Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Stockholders' equity: Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Accumulated other comprehensive loss: Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Total stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Total accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Unrealized loss on derivatives, net Unrecognized pension liability Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Net of Tax, Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Capital surplus Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Common stock - $1.00 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 33,989,046 and 34,700,481 shares issued and outstanding in 2010 and 2009, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Total liabilities Liabilities, Total Liabilities Other liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current, Total Liabilities, Current Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued expenses Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accounts Payable, Current Assets Total assets Other assets Other Assets, Noncurrent Goodwill Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill, Beginning Balance Goodwill Goodwill Net property and equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Accumulated depreciation Accumulated depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Beginning Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Ending Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Property and equipment, at cost Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Total current assets Assets, Current, Total Assets, Current Other current assets Other Assets, Current Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Total Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Inventories Inventory, Net, Total Inventory, Net Allowances for accounts receivable Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current Common stock, par value Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Operating activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Financing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Total (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents Net cash used in financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Purchases of common stock for treasury Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Total Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total Acquisition of businesses Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Total Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital Changes in current assets and liabilities, net Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital, Total Changes in current assets and liabilities, net Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Amortization of deferred financing costs Amortization of Financing Costs Amortization of intangible assets Amortization of Intangible Assets, Total Amortization of Intangible Assets Stock-based compensation Share-based Compensation, Total Share-based Compensation Accretion of debt discount Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium) Depreciation Depreciation, Total Depreciation Interest expense Unrecognized pension liability Accumulated depreciation Purchases of common stock for treasury Business Segments [Abstract] Business Segments [Abstract] Business Segments. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] INCOME TAXES Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Earnings Per Share [Text Block] INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE Comprehensive Income Note [Text Block] COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES Net sales Sales Revenue, Net, Total Sales Revenue, Net Cost of goods sold Cost of Goods and Services Sold, Total Cost of Goods and Services Sold SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ANIXTER INC. Schedule of Condensed Financial Statements [Text Block] Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number) Long-term debt Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Total Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Summarized Financial Information of Company [Abstract] Summarized Financial Information of Anixter Inc [Abstract] Summarized Financial Information of Company Abstract. Legal Contingencies [Abstract] Legal Contingencies. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Pension Plans [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] LEGAL CONTINGENCIES Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Document and Entity Information. Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Early Repayment of Senior Debt Retirement of Notes due 2014 Retirement of Notes due 2014 Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt Net loss on retirement of debt Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt, Total Net gain (loss) on retirement of debt Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Goodwill, Impairment Loss Goodwill impairment Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Excess income tax benefit from employee stock plans Excess income tax benefit from employee stock plans Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess income tax benefit from employee stock plans Excess income tax benefit from employee stock plans Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt Proceeds from issuance of Notes due 2014 Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities Other Payments for Repurchase of Other Equity Retirement of Convertible Notes due 2033 - equity component Retirement of Convertible Notes due 2033 - equity component Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Payments for (Proceeds from) Productive Assets Capital expenditures, net Payments for (Proceeds from) Productive Assets, Total Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Proceeds from stock options exercised Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments, Total Cash and cash equivalents Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Current Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Current, Total Accounts receivable (less allowances of $25.6 and $25.7 in 2010 and 2009, respectively) Debt, Current Short-term debt Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets and Liabilities, Net Other, net Other, net Proceeds from Other Debt Proceeds from borrowings Repayments of Other Debt Repayment of borrowings Repayments of Convertible Debt Retirement of Convertible Notes due 2033 - debt component Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Deferred financing costs Debt Abstract. Debt [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] DEBT Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] BUSINESS SEGMENTS Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] PENSION PLANS Fair Value Measurements Disclosure [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements Disclosure. Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure Abstract. Schedule of Goodwill [Text Block] GOODWILL IMPAIRMENT IN 2009 Subsequent Event. Subsequent Event [Abstract] Schedule of Subsequent Events [Text Block] SUBSEQUENT EVENT Goodwill Impairment in 2009 [Abstract] Goodwill Impairment.