CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 498,390us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 399,876us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 506,717us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization	156,048	131,141	115,350
Amortization of stock-based compensation	41,930us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	36,923us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	34,546us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	(7,318)	(7,429)	(8,112)
Deferred income taxes	(25,744)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	273us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(5,414)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Restructuring, integration, and other charges	29,324arw_RestructuringChargesNetOfTax	65,601arw_RestructuringChargesNetOfTax	30,739arw_RestructuringChargesNetOfTax
Trade name impairment charge	78,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Gain on sale of investment	(18,269)arw_GainLossoninvestmentsNetOfTax	0arw_GainLossoninvestmentsNetOfTax	0arw_GainLossoninvestmentsNetOfTax
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements	(7,129)	(7,172)	(5,029)
Other	2,686us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	3,534us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	(5,786)us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquired businesses:
Accounts receivable	(521,613)	(572,886)	(318,689)
Inventories	(210,789)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	(21,277)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	(62,383)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Accounts payable	628,697	446,814	406,874
Accrued expenses	12,396	(123,969)	38,858
Other assets and liabilities	16,692	99,262	(52,638)
Net cash provided by operating activities	673,301	450,691	675,033
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash consideration paid for acquired businesses	(162,881)	(367,940)	(281,918)
Acquisition of property, plant, and equipment	(122,505)	(116,162)	(112,224)
Proceeds from sale of investment	40,542	0	0
Purchase of cost method investments	0	(3,000)	(15,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(244,844)	(487,102)	(409,142)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Change in short-term and other borrowings	(12,541)	(31,340)	(9,812)
Proceeds from (repayment of) long-term bank borrowings, net	(145,000)	71,400	(5,400)
Net proceeds from note offering	0	591,156	0
Redemption of senior notes	0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfSeniorDebt	(338,184)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfSeniorDebt	0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfSeniorDebt
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	21,788	36,014	13,372
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements	7,129	7,172	5,029
Repurchases of common stock	(304,763)	(362,793)	(260,870)
Other	(1,499)	0	0
Net cash used for financing activities	(434,886)	(26,575)	(257,681)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	16,182	43,904	4,587
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	9,753	(19,082)	12,797
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	390,602	409,684	396,887
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 400,355	$ 390,602	$ 409,684

This item represents the net total realized and unrealized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period, net of tax, as a result of selling or holding marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, including the unrealized holding gain (loss) of held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category and the cumulative unrealized gain (loss) which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholder's equity) for available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period. Additionally, this item would include any gains (losses) realized, net of tax, during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting and losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments.

No definition available.