Employee Benefit Plan - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Allocation Percentage of Assets, Equity Securities	65.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	$ 9,854,000	$ 860,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year	4,379,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Allocation Percentage of Assets, Debt Securities	35.00%
Other Comprehensive Income (loss), Reclassification, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Gain (loss) Recognized in Net Periodic Benefit Cost, After Tax	15,228,000	(368,000)	(1,038,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (loss), Reclassification, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Transition Asset (Obligation), Recognized in Net Periodic Benefit Cost, After Tax	0	18,000	251,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Prior Service Cost (Credit), After Tax	19,000	43,000	186,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Gain (Loss), After Tax	1,103,000	2,369,000	2,019,000
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Prior Service Cost (Credit), After Tax	44,000	63,000
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Actuarial Cost (Credit), After Tax	40,243,000	26,332,000
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	10,063,000	8,870,000	7,821,000
Wyle SERP [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of Participants	19
Defined Benefit Plan, Prior Service Cost [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Net Gains (Losses)	19,000
Supplemental Employee Retirement Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments in Year One	3,869,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments in Year Two	4,089,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments in Year Three	4,050,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments in Year Four	4,004,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments in Year Five	4,206,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments in Five Fiscal Years Thereafter	25,209,000
Current Arrow SERP [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of Participants	9
Former Arrow SERP [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of Participants	16
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Loss [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Net Gains (Losses)	2,180,000
International [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	$ 25,265,000	$ 20,714,000	$ 17,900,000