Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Earnings Per Share
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation shareholders	$ 113,859	$ 134,623	$ 147,751	$ 127,958	$ 131,113	$ 137,268	$ 129,671	$ 98,353	$ 524,191	$ 496,405	$ 317,834
Basic average common shares outstanding (in shares)									169,640,115	173,785,650	171,607,643
Effect of dilutive stock options (in shares)									2,185,473	2,540,343	2,334,109
Dilutive average common shares outstanding (in shares)									171,825,588	176,325,993	173,941,752
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.69	$ 0.80	$ 0.86	$ 0.73	$ 0.75	$ 0.79	$ 0.75	$ 0.57	$ 3.09	$ 2.86	$ 1.85
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.69	$ 0.79	$ 0.85	$ 0.72	$ 0.74	$ 0.78	$ 0.74	$ 0.56	$ 3.05	$ 2.82	$ 1.83
Anti-dilutive shares, excluded from the computations of earning per share (in shares)									4,286,519	2,570,500	2,062,700