Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Earnings Per Share
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation shareholders (in dollars)	$ 140,362	$ 147,450	$ 140,942	$ 126,563	$ 113,859	$ 134,623	$ 147,751	$ 127,958	$ 555,317	$ 524,191	$ 496,405
Basic average common shares outstanding									161,522,080	169,640,115	173,785,650
Effect of dilutive stock options (in shares)									2,425,031	2,185,473	2,540,343
Dilutive average common shares outstanding									163,947,111	171,825,588	176,325,993
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.88	$ 0.91	$ 0.87	$ 0.78	$ 0.69	$ 0.80	$ 0.86	$ 0.73	$ 3.44	$ 3.09	$ 2.86
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.86	$ 0.90	$ 0.86	$ 0.77	$ 0.69	$ 0.79	$ 0.85	$ 0.72	$ 3.39	$ 3.05	$ 2.82
Anti-dilutive common shares, excluded from the computations of earning per share									4,551,578	4,286,519	2,570,500