2.2.0.25falsefalse2113100 - Disclosure - Repurchases of Common Sharestruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse4/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $D2011Q3YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000815065duration2010-04-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170usdPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0ste_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstractstefalsenadurationNotes to Financial Statements [Abstract]falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNotes to Financial Statements [Abstract]falsefalseNotes To Financial Statements [Abstract]3false0us-gaap_ScheduleOfTreasuryStockByClassTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Repurchases of Common Shares</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-indent:20px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-indent:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we repurchased 96,259 of our common shares for an aggregate amount of $3,297, representing an average price of $34.25 per common share. We also obtained 654 of our common shares during the third quarter of fiscal 2011 in connection with stock based compensation award programs. At </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">December 31, 2010</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">, $184,378 of STERIS common shares remained authorized for repurchase pursuant to a March 2008 Board Authorization. Also, 10,703,769 common shares were held in treasury at </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">December 31, 2010</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-indent:20px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</font></div></div>Repurchases of Common Shares&nbsp;During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we repurchased 96,259 of our common shares for an aggregate amount of $3,297,falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringThis element may be used to capture the complete disclosure pertaining to an entity's treasury stock, including the average cost per share, carrying basis for each class of treasury stock, description of share repurchase program authorized by an entity's Board of Directors, the treatment of the purchase price in excess of the current market value, number of shares held for each class of treasury stock, and other information necessary to a fair presentation.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseSchedule of Treasury Stock by Class [Text Block]12Repurchases of Common SharesUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue