Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 218,563	$ 97,888	$ 213,927	$ 135,938
Accounts and notes receivable, net	581,121	553,502
Merchandise inventories	743,247	763,756
Other current assets	205,342	213,748
Total current assets	1,748,273	1,628,894
Property and equipment, net	187,927	191,841
Goodwill, net	272,878	274,884
Intangible assets, net	39,645	42,313
Other assets, net	72,199	69,769
Total assets	2,320,922	2,207,701
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	693,616	603,137
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	18,823	25,468
Deferred income taxes	41,455	40,758
Other accrued liabilities	282,974	254,924
Total current liabilities	1,036,868	924,287
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	214,243	215,383
Deferred income taxes	28,639	30,921
Other liabilities	63,622	63,454
Total liabilities	1,343,372	1,234,045
Equity
Common stock	126,672	126,544
Paid-in capital	190,004	187,394
Retained earnings (deficit)	667,782	658,994
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(8,038)	(406)	(7,156)	(7,494)
Total Owens & Minor, Inc. shareholders' equity	976,420	972,526
Noncontrolling interest	1,130	1,130
Total equity	977,550	973,656	935,926	919,217
Total liabilities and equity	2,320,922	2,207,701
Owens & Minor, Inc.
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	148,611	58,190	200,533	120,010
Other current assets	117	1,627
Total current assets	148,728	59,817
Property and equipment, net	12	16
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries	1,455,754	1,434,186
Other assets, net	549	6,885
Total assets	1,605,043	1,500,904
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		45,300
Other accrued liabilities	10,161	6,464
Total current liabilities	10,161	51,764
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	205,322	205,754
Due to O&M and subsidiaries	413,140	270,860
Total liabilities	628,623	528,378
Equity
Common stock	126,672	126,544
Paid-in capital	190,004	187,394
Retained earnings (deficit)	667,782	658,994
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(8,038)	(406)
Total Owens & Minor, Inc. shareholders' equity	976,420	972,526
Total equity	976,420	972,526
Total liabilities and equity	1,605,043	1,500,904
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	14,786	13,641	11,772	14,809
Accounts and notes receivable, net	486,235	474,533
Merchandise inventories	727,546	750,046
Other current assets	68,373	76,036
Total current assets	1,296,940	1,314,256
Property and equipment, net	96,014	95,516
Goodwill, net	247,271	247,271
Intangible assets, net	19,450	19,972
Due from O&M and subsidiaries	378,759	236,612
Other assets, net	58,355	55,781
Total assets	2,096,789	1,969,408
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	626,178	518,545
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	11,431	18,201
Deferred income taxes	42,302	43,110
Other accrued liabilities	93,256	92,318
Total current liabilities	773,167	672,174
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	6,260	6,592
Intercompany debt	138,890	138,890
Deferred income taxes	23,906	30,141
Other liabilities	58,870	58,578
Total liabilities	1,001,093	906,375
Equity
Paid-in capital	242,024	242,024
Retained earnings (deficit)	863,782	831,327
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10,110)	(10,318)
Total Owens & Minor, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,095,696	1,063,033
Total equity	1,095,696	1,063,033
Total liabilities and equity	2,096,789	1,969,408
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	55,166	26,057	1,622	1,119
Accounts and notes receivable, net	97,657	82,216
Merchandise inventories	16,652	14,391
Other current assets	136,855	137,593
Total current assets	306,330	260,257
Property and equipment, net	91,901	96,309
Goodwill, net	25,607	27,613
Intangible assets, net	20,195	22,341
Due from O&M and subsidiaries	34,381	34,248
Other assets, net	13,295	14,238
Total assets	491,709	455,006
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	70,211	42,542
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	7,392	7,267
Deferred income taxes	(847)
Other accrued liabilities	179,557	156,142
Total current liabilities	256,313	205,951
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	2,661	3,037
Deferred income taxes	4,733	7,069
Other liabilities	4,752	4,876
Total liabilities	268,459	220,933
Equity
Common stock	1,500	1,500
Paid-in capital	258,635	258,635
Retained earnings (deficit)	(39,936)	(36,941)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	1,921	9,749
Total Owens & Minor, Inc. shareholders' equity	222,120	232,943
Noncontrolling interest	1,130	1,130
Total equity	223,250	234,073
Total liabilities and equity	491,709	455,006
Eliminations
Current assets
Accounts and notes receivable, net	(2,771)	(3,247)
Merchandise inventories	(951)	(681)
Other current assets	(3)	(1,508)
Total current assets	(3,725)	(5,436)
Due from O&M and subsidiaries	(413,140)	(270,860)
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(1,455,754)	(1,434,186)
Other assets, net		(7,135)
Total assets	(1,872,619)	(1,717,617)
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	(2,773)	(3,250)
Deferred income taxes		(2,352)
Total current liabilities	(2,773)	(5,602)
Due to O&M and subsidiaries	(413,140)	(270,860)
Intercompany debt	(138,890)	(138,890)
Deferred income taxes		(6,289)
Total liabilities	(554,803)	(421,641)
Equity
Common stock	(1,500)	(1,500)
Paid-in capital	(500,659)	(500,659)
Retained earnings (deficit)	(823,846)	(794,386)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	8,189	569
Total Owens & Minor, Inc. shareholders' equity	(1,317,816)	(1,295,976)
Total equity	(1,317,816)	(1,295,976)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (1,872,619)	$ (1,717,617)