<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="omi-20220131.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000075252</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2022-01-31</startDate>
            <endDate>2022-01-31</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl80L2ZyYWc6MDViNWU4NDk3M2EwNDc4ZmE1ODk5MDg4MDY4YmFlNWMvdGFibGU6YWFiNGNkOTA5ZDRmNGY4OGE0ZDkzYTg0YzczZjM5ZmQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphYWI0Y2Q5MDlkNGY0Zjg4YTRkOTNhODRjNzNmMzlmZF8wLTEtMS0xLTM2OTgy_f90373cc-e3eb-45e8-84b9-4eca8f020f67">0000075252</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl80L2ZyYWc6MDViNWU4NDk3M2EwNDc4ZmE1ODk5MDg4MDY4YmFlNWMvdGFibGU6YWFiNGNkOTA5ZDRmNGY4OGE0ZDkzYTg0YzczZjM5ZmQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphYWI0Y2Q5MDlkNGY0Zjg4YTRkOTNhODRjNzNmMzlmZF8xLTEtMS0xLTM2OTgy_2f3b3d9d-943d-4f66-92ce-675a6452c21b">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:CurrentFiscalYearEndDate
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl80L2ZyYWc6MDViNWU4NDk3M2EwNDc4ZmE1ODk5MDg4MDY4YmFlNWMvdGFibGU6YWFiNGNkOTA5ZDRmNGY4OGE0ZDkzYTg0YzczZjM5ZmQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphYWI0Y2Q5MDlkNGY0Zjg4YTRkOTNhODRjNzNmMzlmZF8yLTEtMS0xLTM2OTgy_fc651c3b-be39-4be7-a0e6-be3b741a4977">--12-31</dei:CurrentFiscalYearEndDate>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpjNWVkZDllODgwYTg0Mjc4OGIzYjc0YWE5YTQ4ZjA0Y18yNzQ5_ff60b583-06b6-47c6-be2a-1786ac14b755">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpjNWVkZDllODgwYTg0Mjc4OGIzYjc0YWE5YTQ4ZjA0Y18yNzUw_e1c7daff-09d0-4ef3-bf60-8c110dd95198">2022-01-31</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpjNWVkZDllODgwYTg0Mjc4OGIzYjc0YWE5YTQ4ZjA0Y18yNzUy_a17e28d7-0488-43f3-b27e-2b69a8f2ede0">Owens &amp; Minor, Inc.</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6ZGJiZTJlMmEwZDg4NGVmNjgxNzM5NjlmNWY5NDcyOWIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkYmJlMmUyYTBkODg0ZWY2ODE3Mzk2OWY1Zjk0NzI5Yl8wLTAtMS0xLTM2OTgy_c472b26c-b8b7-46aa-b9ba-1cd0094b5fd6">VA</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6ZGJiZTJlMmEwZDg4NGVmNjgxNzM5NjlmNWY5NDcyOWIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkYmJlMmUyYTBkODg0ZWY2ODE3Mzk2OWY1Zjk0NzI5Yl8wLTMtMS0xLTM2OTgy_e6bbd45f-6975-42d6-b6f3-74a0a3bf34ff">001-09810</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6ZGJiZTJlMmEwZDg4NGVmNjgxNzM5NjlmNWY5NDcyOWIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkYmJlMmUyYTBkODg0ZWY2ODE3Mzk2OWY1Zjk0NzI5Yl8wLTUtMS0xLTM2OTgy_c604ccb6-c33a-4879-83ee-ed842a34c246">54-1701843</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6ZGJiZTJlMmEwZDg4NGVmNjgxNzM5NjlmNWY5NDcyOWIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkYmJlMmUyYTBkODg0ZWY2ODE3Mzk2OWY1Zjk0NzI5Yl8zLTAtMS0xLTM2OTgy_be9799d8-6f4f-493e-aa19-559e0c15e5e3">9120 Lockwood Boulevard,</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6ZGJiZTJlMmEwZDg4NGVmNjgxNzM5NjlmNWY5NDcyOWIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkYmJlMmUyYTBkODg0ZWY2ODE3Mzk2OWY1Zjk0NzI5Yl8zLTMtMS0xLTM2OTgy_7ff68c31-2521-4cfe-b765-f55f18be2453">Mechanicsville</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6ZGJiZTJlMmEwZDg4NGVmNjgxNzM5NjlmNWY5NDcyOWIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkYmJlMmUyYTBkODg0ZWY2ODE3Mzk2OWY1Zjk0NzI5Yl8zLTQtMS0xLTM2OTgy_ac7013a2-c50b-4cf8-bdaa-a15bcc3e9885">VA</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6ZGJiZTJlMmEwZDg4NGVmNjgxNzM5NjlmNWY5NDcyOWIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkYmJlMmUyYTBkODg0ZWY2ODE3Mzk2OWY1Zjk0NzI5Yl8zLTUtMS0xLTM2OTgy_1432b712-2a17-4f04-8fb4-cc17da424785">23116</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpjNWVkZDllODgwYTg0Mjc4OGIzYjc0YWE5YTQ4ZjA0Y18yNzQ2_d7486136-3071-46d5-911b-52db6daaa172">(804)</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpjNWVkZDllODgwYTg0Mjc4OGIzYjc0YWE5YTQ4ZjA0Y18yNzQ3_4562ef1d-21d6-4d05-8bea-945ec6406c41">723-7000</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6MzkwN2VlZDJlNTY3NDhjMzk5M2NlMzhhODI0MGJlMjUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTozOTA3ZWVkMmU1Njc0OGMzOTkzY2UzOGE4MjQwYmUyNV8xLTAtMS0xLTM2OTgy_9672b200-018b-4d32-aa15-2ba99d240c45">Common Stock, $2 par value per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6MzkwN2VlZDJlNTY3NDhjMzk5M2NlMzhhODI0MGJlMjUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTozOTA3ZWVkMmU1Njc0OGMzOTkzY2UzOGE4MjQwYmUyNV8xLTItMS0xLTM2OTgy_53647b3b-2dc8-4a70-8a7d-b994600a1ad6">OMI</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6MzkwN2VlZDJlNTY3NDhjMzk5M2NlMzhhODI0MGJlMjUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTozOTA3ZWVkMmU1Njc0OGMzOTkzY2UzOGE4MjQwYmUyNV8xLTQtMS0xLTM2OTgy_14214620-b01c-47f2-8113-8bf03afa406b">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6Yjg1Yzg2Njk2YTYyNGU2NzlmMGUxM2U0YTg5MTgyMDUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpiODVjODY2OTZhNjI0ZTY3OWYwZTEzZTRhODkxODIwNV8wLTAtMS0xLTM2OTgy_bffda952-7ee1-436d-be7e-43c66d9194a0">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6MGZhYzYwYzc5NmFmNGZlYmI4YzUwNzVmZDBmNjVmZTgvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowZmFjNjBjNzk2YWY0ZmViYjhjNTA3NWZkMGY2NWZlOF8wLTAtMS0xLTM2OTgy_57deaa00-68a5-4152-a242-fb24cde3289e">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6Y2Q3OTZkZmU3N2JlNGZlOGIxMjNkYzdkNjE3ZDAwYTIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpjZDc5NmRmZTc3YmU0ZmU4YjEyM2RjN2Q2MTdkMDBhMl8wLTAtMS0xLTM2OTgy_be7d563e-ec78-48c6-8306-dd1ce1765a31">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGFibGU6OTI2OWY4ZjNjZjczNGRlNjhjNGY4ZDM4ZWYyODJkZWIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5MjY5ZjhmM2NmNzM0ZGU2OGM0ZjhkMzhlZjI4MmRlYl8wLTAtMS0xLTM2OTgy_61367233-0acc-45c8-89e2-354cf28a5639">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i8aa4de54af6943ffb4a93dcfee0eda5e_D20220131-20220131"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjYxNzc3OGYzYmVkZTRlMDhiMjRiNjAzNjJmZjE5YmNiL3NlYzo2MTc3NzhmM2JlZGU0ZTA4YjI0YjYwMzYyZmYxOWJjYl8xL2ZyYWc6YzVlZGQ5ZTg4MGE4NDI3ODhiM2I3NGFhOWE0OGYwNGMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpjNWVkZDllODgwYTg0Mjc4OGIzYjc0YWE5YTQ4ZjA0Y18yNzQ4_26563097-cd19-4d11-b50c-40e6dcf12dbe">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
