Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 66,503us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 110,882us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 109,003us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	63,407	50,586	39,604
Loss on early retirement of debt	14,890	0	0
Share-based compensation expense	8,207us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	6,381us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	5,697us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Provision for losses on accounts and notes receivable	448us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	787us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	1,004us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(3,385)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	3,713us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1,060us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	(17,803)	(38,645)	27,161
Merchandise inventories	(57,329)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	(7,064)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	58,734us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Accounts payable	(52,148)	47,374	(18,694)
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(25,828)	(32,337)	(4,490)
Other, net	(723)us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	(1,123)us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	(573)us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Cash (used for) provided by operating activities	(3,761)	140,554	218,506
Investing activities:
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	(248,536)	0	(155,210)
Additions to property and equipment	(48,424)	(28,119)	(9,832)
Additions to computer software and intangible assets	(22,384)	(32,010)	(29,131)
Proceeds from the sale of investments	1,937	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	156	3,051	3,298
Cash used for investing activities	(317,251)	(57,078)	(190,875)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	547,693	0	0
Proceeds from revolver	33,700us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit	0us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit	0us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit
Repayment of debt	(217,352)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Change in intercompany advances	0omi_ChangeInIntercompanyAdvances	0omi_ChangeInIntercompanyAdvances	0omi_ChangeInIntercompanyAdvances
Cash dividends paid	(63,104)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(60,731)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(55,681)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Repurchases of common stock	(9,934)	(18,876)	(15,000)
Financing costs paid	(5,391)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	0us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	(1,303)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation	582	898	1,293
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,180	5,352	4,986
Purchase of NCI	(1,500)	0	0
Other, net	(7,314)	(8,623)	(2,710)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	278,560	(81,980)	(68,415)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(2,681)	2,521	2,734
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(45,133)	4,017	(38,050)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	101,905	97,888	135,938
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	56,772	101,905	97,888
Owens & Minor, Inc.
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	66,503	110,882	109,003
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(96,384)	(119,084)	(120,133)
Depreciation and amortization	2	14	1
Loss on early retirement of debt	14,890
Share-based compensation expense	0	0	0
Provision for losses on accounts and notes receivable	0	0	0
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	0	0	0
Merchandise inventories	0	0	0
Accounts payable	0	(45,300)	(67,800)
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(455)	1,774	19
Other, net	(1,161)	(1,541)	(1,738)
Cash (used for) provided by operating activities	(16,605)	(53,255)	(80,648)
Investing activities:
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	0		0
Additions to property and equipment	0	0	0
Additions to computer software and intangible assets	0	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	0	0
Cash used for investing activities	0	0	0
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	547,693
Proceeds from revolver	0
Repayment of debt	(217,352)
Change in intercompany advances	(287,275)	145,354	86,131
Cash dividends paid	(63,104)	(60,731)	(55,681)
Repurchases of common stock	(9,934)	(18,876)	(15,000)
Financing costs paid	(4,780)		0
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation	582	898	1,293
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,180	5,352	4,986
Other, net	(2,783)	(2,541)	(2,901)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(35,773)	69,456	18,828
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(52,378)	16,201	(61,820)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	74,391	58,190	120,010
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	22,013	74,391	58,190
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	127,164	123,856	134,276
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	35,879	35,712	34,944
Loss on early retirement of debt	0
Share-based compensation expense	8,369	6,381	5,697
Provision for losses on accounts and notes receivable	(36)	278	587
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	1,292	5,821	2,933
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	(24,440)	(22,055)	31,513
Merchandise inventories	(65,916)	(170)	56,235
Accounts payable	(28,580)	77,320	55,941
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(12,341)	(12,068)	(2,653)
Other, net	(9)	515	1,236
Cash (used for) provided by operating activities	41,382	215,590	320,709
Investing activities:
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	0		0
Additions to property and equipment	(34,475)	(21,029)	(4,249)
Additions to computer software and intangible assets	(18,054)	(21,773)	(27,960)
Proceeds from the sale of investments	1,937
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	156	2,746	1,057
Cash used for investing activities	(50,436)	(40,056)	(31,152)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	0
Proceeds from revolver	33,700
Repayment of debt	0
Change in intercompany advances	(21,106)	(184,092)	(287,200)
Cash dividends paid	0	0	0
Repurchases of common stock	0	0	0
Financing costs paid	(611)		(1,303)
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation	0	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Other, net	(1,029)	(3,071)	(2,222)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	10,954	(187,163)	(290,725)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,900	(11,629)	(1,168)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	2,012	13,641	14,809
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	3,912	2,012	13,641
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(27,725)	(3,990)	(13,462)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	27,526	14,860	4,659
Loss on early retirement of debt	0
Share-based compensation expense	(162)	0	0
Provision for losses on accounts and notes receivable	484	509	417
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(4,677)	(2,108)	(1,873)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	6,185	(16,522)	(7,599)
Merchandise inventories	8,308	(7,676)	1,818
Accounts payable	(24,613)	15,286	(3,585)
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(14,311)	(22,043)	(1,859)
Other, net	447	(97)	(71)
Cash (used for) provided by operating activities	(28,538)	(21,781)	(21,555)
Investing activities:
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	(248,536)		(155,210)
Additions to property and equipment	(13,949)	(7,090)	(5,583)
Additions to computer software and intangible assets	(4,330)	(10,237)	(1,171)
Proceeds from the sale of investments	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	305	2,241
Cash used for investing activities	(266,815)	(17,022)	(159,723)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	0
Proceeds from revolver	0
Repayment of debt	0
Change in intercompany advances	308,381	38,738	201,069
Cash dividends paid	0	0	0
Repurchases of common stock	0	0	0
Financing costs paid	0		0
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation	0	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Purchase of NCI	(1,500)
Other, net	(3,502)	(3,011)	2,413
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	303,379	35,727	203,482
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(2,681)	2,521	2,734
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	5,345	(555)	24,938
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	25,502	26,057	1,119
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	30,847	25,502	26,057
Eliminations
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(99,439)	(119,866)	(120,814)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	96,384	119,084	120,133
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
Loss on early retirement of debt	0
Share-based compensation expense	0	0	0
Provision for losses on accounts and notes receivable	0	0	0
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	452	(68)	3,247
Merchandise inventories	279	782	681
Accounts payable	1,045	68	(3,250)
Net change in other assets and liabilities	1,279	0	3
Other, net	0	0	0
Cash (used for) provided by operating activities	0	0	0
Investing activities:
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	0		0
Additions to property and equipment	0	0	0
Additions to computer software and intangible assets	0	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	0	0
Cash used for investing activities	0	0	0
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	0
Proceeds from revolver	0
Repayment of debt	0
Change in intercompany advances	0	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0	0	0
Repurchases of common stock	0	0	0
Financing costs paid	0		0
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation	0	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Other, net	0	0	0
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	0	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

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Other income (expense) included in net income that results in no cash inflows or outflows in the period. Includes noncash adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used in) operating activities that are not separately disclosed.

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The net cash outflow or inflow from other investing activities. This element is used when there is not a more specific and appropriate element in the taxonomy.

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The cash outflow to reacquire common stock during the period.

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The cash outflow for loan and debt issuance costs.

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The cash outflow associated with the purchase of noncontrolling interest during the period.

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The cash outflow to acquire asset without physical form usually arising from contractual or other legal rights, excluding goodwill.

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Amount of cash inflow from contractual arrangement with the lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

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The net cash inflow or outflow from other financing activities. This element is used when there is not a more specific and appropriate element in the taxonomy.

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The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately.

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Amount of expense related to write-down of receivables to the amount expected to be collected. Includes, but is not limited to, accounts receivable and notes receivable.

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The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

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