Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jul. 29, 2011	Jul. 01, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2010	Apr. 02, 2010	Jul. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain / (loss) related to retirement of notes		$ (0.1)		$ 0.8	$ 0.3		$ (29.7)
Reduction of accreted value of convertible debt, debt component	11.6			28.6		37.4
Retired amount of 10% Senior Notes due 2014							150.8
Interest rate of Senior Notes		5.95%				5.95%
Debt (Textuals) [Abstract]
Total debt outstanding		964.2				964.2		892.4
Weighted-average cost of borrowings		5.00%		6.30%		5.10%	6.80%
Conversion value of bonds converted		0
Debt issuance cost written off					2.5
Reduction in equity in connection with repurchase, net of reduction in deferred tax liability						22.9
Net (loss) gain on retirement of debt		(0.1)		0.8	0.3		(29.7)
Receivables Sold		517.9				517.9		407.8
Retired remaining Notes due 2033				40.9		(82.2)
Reduction in accreted value of debt settled by shares	13.3					1.6
Reduction in equity in connection with repurchase				13.1		44.9	13.1
Reduction in deferred tax liability				8.0		22.0
Committed, unused available credit lines		259.8				259.8
Carrying amount of liabilities, consolidated VIE		245.0				245.0		200.0
Maximum fund permitted to fund for payment of dividends and share repurchases under revolving credit agreement						$175 million plus 50 percent of company's cumulative net income from the effective date of the new agreement
Proforma leveraged ratio and accounts receivable securitization facility under revolving credit agreement						Anixter Inc. will be allowed to prepay, purchase or redeem indebtedness of the Company, provided that its proforma leverage ratio (as defined) is less than or equal to 2.75 to 1.00 and that its unrestricted domestic cash balance plus availability under the revolving credit agreement and the accounts receivable securitization facility is equal to or greater than $175 million
Current leverage ratio applicable margin under revolving credit agreement						Libor plus 200 basis points
Liquidity termination date of the program		May 2013
Former program maturity date		July 2011
Maturity date of the new agreement		April 2016
Renewed program all-in drawn funding cost		CP plus 115 basis points	CP plus 90 basis points
Unused capacity fees						decreased from 57.5 to 60 basis points to 45 to 55 basis points depending on utilization
Loss on write off of deferred financing costs before tax						0.1
10% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain / (loss) related to retirement of notes					30.5	0.1
Reduction of accreted value of convertible debt, debt component					121.9
Retired amount of 10% Senior Notes due 2014					150.8
Interest rate of Senior Notes					10.00%
Debt (Textuals) [Abstract]
Net (loss) gain on retirement of debt					30.5	0.1
Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity		275	200			275
Other Debt Agreements [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 400	$ 350			$ 400