Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Earnings Per Share
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation shareholders (in dollars)	$ 147,450	$ 134,623	$ 414,955	$ 410,332
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	161,349,493	167,951,866	161,905,598	171,411,779
Effect of dilutive stock options (in shares)	2,430,678	1,883,201	2,428,000	2,316,630
Dilutive weighted average common shares outstanding	163,780,171	169,835,067	164,333,598	173,728,409
Earnings per share attributable to Amphenol Corporation shareholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.91	$ 0.80	$ 2.56	$ 2.39
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.90	$ 0.79	$ 2.53	$ 2.36
Anti-dilutive stock options, excluded from the computations of earning per share	5,414,925	6,319,513	4,345,057	3,555,165