Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per 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
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
Net sales	$ 948,709	$ 1,032,754	$ 1,017,738	$ 940,585	$ 949,886	$ 948,463	$ 884,798	$ 770,954	$ 3,939,786	$ 3,554,101	$ 2,820,065
Gross profit	294,837	323,477	321,222	304,124	310,020	309,717	289,299	249,192	1,243,660	1,158,228	886,554
Operating income	164,660	186,059	214,874	186,085	190,554	189,134	175,625	145,044	751,678	700,357	488,913
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation	113,859	134,623	147,751	127,958	131,113	137,268	129,671	98,353	524,191	496,405	317,834
Net income 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
Net income per share-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
Change in contingent acquisition-related obligations			17,800						17,813
Tax expense related to change in contingent obligations			6,600
Change in contingent obligations, net of tax (in dollars per share)			$ 0.06
Net income per diluted common share excluding the effects of change in contingent acquisition related obligations			$ 0.79
Charges related to flood in Sidney, New York	8,600	12,800							21,479
Tax benefit related to flood in Sidney, New York	3,200	4,700
Charges related to flood in Sidney, New York (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ 0.05
One-time tax benefit related to reserve adjustments from the favorable settlement of international tax positions and the completion of prior year audits		4,500				8,500	10,300	1,900	4,493	20,700
One-time tax benefit related to reserve adjustments from the favorable settlement of international tax positions and the completion of prior year audits (in dollars per share)		$ 0.03				$ 0.05	$ 0.06	$ 0.01
Net income per diluted common share excluding the effects of charges related to flood and reserve adjustments from favorable settlement of international tax positions and completion of prior year audits		$ 0.81
Acquisition-related expenses	2,000								2,000
Tax benefit related to acquisition-related expenses	$ 200
Acquisition-related expenses, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01
Net income per diluted common share excluding the effects of charges related to flood and acquisition-related expenses	$ 0.73
Net income per diluted common share excluding the effects of reserve adjustments from favorable settlement of international tax positions and completion of prior year audits						$ 0.73	$ 0.68	$ 0.55