<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.4.0.6</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>84</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>176</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>29</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>5</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>101 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DocumentDocumentandEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>103 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/StatementOfIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>104 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/StatementOfFinancialPositionClassified</Role>
      <ShortName>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>105 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/StatementOfFinancialPositionClassifiedParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>106 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/StatementOfCashFlowsIndirect</Role>
      <ShortName>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>107 - Disclosure - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsOrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlock</Role>
      <ShortName>SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>108 - Disclosure - INCOME TAXES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsIncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlock</Role>
      <ShortName>INCOME TAXES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>109 - Disclosure - DEBT</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsDebtDisclosureTextBlock</Role>
      <ShortName>DEBT</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>110 - Disclosure - PENSION PLANS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitsDisclosureTextBlock</Role>
      <ShortName>PENSION PLANS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>111 - Disclosure - SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ANIXTER INC.</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsScheduleOfCondensedFinancialStatementsOfSubsidiaryTextBlock</Role>
      <ShortName>SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ANIXTER INC.</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>112 - Disclosure - RESTRUCTURING CHARGE</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsRestructuringAndRelatedActivitiesDisclosureTextBlock</Role>
      <ShortName>RESTRUCTURING CHARGE</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>113 - Disclosure - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsStockholdersEquityNoteDisclosureTextBlock</Role>
      <ShortName>STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>114 - Disclosure - LEGAL CONTINGENCIES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsCommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureTextBlock</Role>
      <ShortName>LEGAL CONTINGENCIES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>115 - Disclosure - BUSINESS SEGMENTS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsSegmentReportingDisclosureTextBlock</Role>
      <ShortName>BUSINESS SEGMENTS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>116 - Disclosure - SUBSEQUENT EVENT</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsSubsequentEventsTextBlock</Role>
      <ShortName>SUBSEQUENT EVENT</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>117 - Disclosure - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsOrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlockPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>118 - Disclosure - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsOrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlockTables</Role>
      <ShortName>SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>119 - Disclosure - DEBT (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsDebtDisclosureTextBlockTables</Role>
      <ShortName>DEBT (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>120 - Disclosure - PENSION PLANS (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitsDisclosureTextBlockTables</Role>
      <ShortName>PENSION PLANS (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>121 - Disclosure - SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ANIXTER INC. (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsScheduleOfCondensedFinancialStatementsOfSubsidiaryTextBlockTables</Role>
      <ShortName>SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ANIXTER INC. (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>122 - Disclosure - RESTRUCTURING CHARGE (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsRestructuringAndRelatedActivitiesDisclosureTextBlockTables</Role>
      <ShortName>RESTRUCTURING CHARGE (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>123 - Disclosure - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsStockholdersEquityNoteDisclosureTextBlockTables</Role>
      <ShortName>STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>124 - Disclosure - BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsSegmentReportingDisclosureTextBlockTables</Role>
      <ShortName>BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>125 - Disclosure - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesAdditionalInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>126 - Disclosure - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Summary of Foreign Exchange Losses Reflected in Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesSummaryOfForeignExchangeLossesReflectedInConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Summary of Foreign Exchange Losses Reflected in Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>127 - Disclosure - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Summary of Changes in Accumulated And Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesSummaryOfChangesInAccumulatedAndOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax</Role>
      <ShortName>SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Summary of Changes in Accumulated And Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>128 - Disclosure - INCOME TAXES - Additional information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureINCOMETAXESAdditionalInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>INCOME TAXES - Additional information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>129 - Disclosure - DEBT- Debt (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureDebtDebt</Role>
      <ShortName>DEBT- Debt (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>130 - Disclosure - DEBT - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureDEBTAdditionalInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>DEBT - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>131 - Disclosure - PENSION PLANS - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosurePENSIONPLANSAdditionalInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>PENSION PLANS - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>132 - Disclosure - PENSION PLANS - Components of Net Periodic Cost (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosurePENSIONPLANSComponentsOfNetPeriodicCost</Role>
      <ShortName>PENSION PLANS - Components of Net Periodic Cost (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>133 - Disclosure - SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ANIXTER INC. - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureSUMMARIZEDFINANCIALINFORMATIONOFANIXTERINCAdditionalInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ANIXTER INC. - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>134 - Disclosure - SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ANIXTER INC - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureSummarizedFinancialInformationOfAnixterIncCondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ANIXTER INC - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>135 - Disclosure - SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ANIXTER INC - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureSummarizedFinancialInformationOfAnixterIncCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeAndComprehensiveIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ANIXTER INC - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>136 - Disclosure - RESTRUCTURING CHARGE - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureRestructuringChargeAdditionalInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>RESTRUCTURING CHARGE - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>137 - Disclosure - RESTRUCTURING CHARGES - Summary Of Liabilities Associated with Restructuring and Employee Severance (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureRestructuringChargeSummaryOfLiabilitiesAssociatedWithRestructuringAndEmployeeSeverance</Role>
      <ShortName>RESTRUCTURING CHARGES - Summary Of Liabilities Associated with Restructuring and Employee Severance (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>138 - Disclosure - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureSTOCKHOLDERSEQUITYAdditionalInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>139 - Disclosure - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Fair Value of Stock Options Granted Valuation Assumption (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureSTOCKHOLDERSEQUITYFairValueOfStockOptionsGrantedValuationAssumption</Role>
      <ShortName>STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Fair Value of Stock Options Granted Valuation Assumption (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>140 - Disclosure - LEGAL CONTINGENCIES - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureLEGALCONTINGENCIESAdditionalInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>LEGAL CONTINGENCIES - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>141 - Disclosure - BUSINESS SEGMENTS - Segment Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureBusinessSegmentsSegmentInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>BUSINESS SEGMENTS - Segment Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>142 - Disclosure - BUSINESS SEGMENTS - Changes in Goodwill (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureBusinessSegmentsChangesInGoodwill</Role>
      <ShortName>BUSINESS SEGMENTS - Changes in Goodwill (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>143 - Disclosure - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://anixter.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureSubsequentEventsAdditionalInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>SUBSEQUENT EVENTS - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">'Shares' elements on report '138 - Disclosure - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Additional Information (Detail)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 103 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 104 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Mar. 30, 2012'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 30, 2011'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 105 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 106 - Statement - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>axe-20130329.xml</File>
    <File>axe-20130329.xsd</File>
    <File>axe-20130329_cal.xml</File>
    <File>axe-20130329_def.xml</File>
    <File>axe-20130329_lab.xml</File>
    <File>axe-20130329_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
