Summarized Financial Information of Anixter, Inc. (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jul. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2010	Jul. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,612.8	$ 1,367.2	$ 3,130.3	$ 2,639.8
Operating income	97.8	70.1	180.9	127.1
Income before income taxes	83.3	57.7	154.2	67.5
Net income	52.1	34.6	96.4	40.5
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net sales	1,612.8	1,367.2	3,130.3	2,639.8
Operating income	99.2	71.8	183.6	130.3
Income before income taxes	89.4	63.2	166.3	79.5
Net income	$ 54.9	$ 40.1	$ 103.8	$ 52.5

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 4
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 9
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6920599&loc=d3e1377-109256

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+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 5
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
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