Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per 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
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
Net sales	$ 1,145,978	$ 1,103,376	$ 1,061,107	$ 981,604	$ 948,709	$ 1,032,754	$ 1,017,738	$ 940,585	$ 4,292,065	$ 3,939,786	$ 3,554,101
Gross profit	355,451	344,329	334,161	309,271	294,837	323,477	321,222	304,124	1,343,212	1,243,660	1,158,228
Operating income	221,220	215,670	206,176	185,279	164,660	186,059	214,874	186,085	828,345	751,678	700,357
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation	140,362	147,450	140,942	126,563	113,859	134,623	147,751	127,958	555,317	524,191	496,405
Net income 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
Net income per share-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
Tax cost primarily related to delay of research and development credits and certain domestic taxes on foreign income that are part of tax provisions within American Taxpayer Relief Act	11,300								11,300
Net income per diluted common share resulting from the delay in the reinstatement of certain federal income tax provisions for the year 2012	$ 0.07								$ 0.07
Net income per diluted common share excluding the effects of charges related to acquisition-related expenses and tax cost related to delay of research and development credits and certain domestic taxes on foreign income that are part of tax provisions within American Taxpayer Relief Act	$ 0.94
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, net of tax (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
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
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				2,000	2,000
Tax benefit related to acquisition-related expenses					200
Acquisition-related expenses, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01				$ 0.01				$ 0.01
Tax expense primarily related to research and development credits and certain domestic taxes on foreign income that are part of tax provisions within American Taxpayer Relief Act									$ 11,300
Net income per diluted common share excluding the effects of charges related to flood and acquisition-related expenses					$ 0.73