Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 26,098	$ 29,360
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries		0
Depreciation and amortization	12,629	8,578
Share-based compensation expense	1,910	2,385
Provision for losses on accounts and notes receivable	107	190
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(56)	(1,465)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	(34,575)	7,553
Merchandise inventories	21,784	82,160
Accounts payable	98,198	(38,279)
Net change in other assets and liabilities	28,981	11,609
Other, net	(465)	(194)
Cash (used for) provided by operating activities	154,611	101,897
Investing activities:
Additions to property and equipment	(7,513)	(4,536)
Additions to computer software and intangible assets	(7,264)	(3,840)
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	44	99
Cash used for investing activities	(14,733)	(8,277)
Financing activities:
Cash dividends paid	(15,199)	(14,001)
Repurchases of common stock	(2,282)	(3,750)
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation	207	690
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,792	3,371
Other, net	(1,958)	(1,941)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(17,440)	(15,631)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,763)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	120,675	77,989
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	97,888	135,938
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	218,563	213,927
Owens & Minor, Inc.
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	26,098	29,360
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(29,188)	(31,330)
Depreciation and amortization	3
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts payable		(113,100)
Net change in other assets and liabilities	3,720	3,622
Other, net	(406)	(423)
Cash (used for) provided by operating activities	227	(111,871)
Financing activities:
Change in intercompany advances	106,661	207,520
Cash dividends paid	(15,199)	(14,001)
Repurchases of common stock	(2,282)	(3,750)
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation	207	690
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,792	3,371
Other, net	(985)	(1,436)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	90,194	192,394
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	90,421	80,523
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	58,190	120,010
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	148,611	200,533
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	32,455	31,693
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	9,060	8,564
Share-based compensation expense	1,910	2,385
Provision for losses on accounts and notes receivable	53	190
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	626	(1,465)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	(11,755)	8,355
Merchandise inventories	24,300	82,024
Accounts payable	60,533	74,057
Net change in other assets and liabilities	2,813	7,408
Other, net	(39)	230
Cash (used for) provided by operating activities	119,956	213,441
Investing activities:
Additions to property and equipment	(5,816)	(4,534)
Additions to computer software and intangible assets	(5,786)	(3,840)
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	45	99
Cash used for investing activities	(11,557)	(8,275)
Financing activities:
Change in intercompany advances	(106,529)	(207,698)
Other, net	(725)	(505)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(107,254)	(208,203)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,145	(3,037)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	13,641	14,809
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	14,786	11,772
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(2,996)	(312)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	3,566	14
Provision for losses on accounts and notes receivable	54
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(682)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	(22,344)	(101)
Merchandise inventories	(2,786)	85
Accounts payable	37,188	764
Net change in other assets and liabilities	22,448	(122)
Other, net	(20)	(1)
Cash (used for) provided by operating activities	34,428	327
Investing activities:
Additions to property and equipment	(1,697)	(2)
Additions to computer software and intangible assets	(1,478)
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	(1)
Cash used for investing activities	(3,176)	(2)
Financing activities:
Change in intercompany advances	(132)	178
Other, net	(248)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(380)	178
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,763)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	29,109	503
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	26,057	1,119
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	55,166	1,622
Eliminations
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(29,459)	(31,381)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	29,188	31,330
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	(476)	(701)
Merchandise inventories	270	51
Accounts payable	477
Net change in other assets and liabilities		$ 701