Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation (in dollars)	$ 126,563	$ 127,958
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	162,861,863	175,168,297
Effect of dilutive stock options (in shares)	2,493,275	2,682,635
Dilutive weighted average common shares outstanding	165,355,138	177,850,932
Earnings per share attributable to Amphenol Corporation:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.78	$ 0.73
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.77	$ 0.72
Anti-dilutive shares, excluded from the computations of earning per share	4,185,293	49,000

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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