Name:	rs_DebtInstrumentCovenantPercentageOfEBITDAParentAndSubsidiaryGuarantorsMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the percentage of consolidated tangible assets which the subsidiary guarantors together with the entity required to own under the terms of the financial covenants.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_DebtInstrumentCovenantPercentageOfTangibleAssetsParentAndSubsidiaryGuarantorsMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of tranches comprising the debt issuance.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_DebtInstrumentIssuedTranchesNumber
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the lump sum amount payable at the maturity of the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_DebtInstrumentPaymentAtMaturity
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the percentage of annual amortization of term loan during the fifth year.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_DebtInstrumentTermLoanAnnualAmortizationPercentageForFifthYear
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the percentage of annual amortization of term loan during the first year.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_DebtInstrumentTermLoanAnnualAmortizationPercentageForFirstYear
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the percentage of annual amortization of term loan during the fourth year.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_DebtInstrumentTermLoanAnnualAmortizationPercentageForFourthYear
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the percentage of annual amortization of term loan during the second year.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_DebtInstrumentTermLoanAnnualAmortizationPercentageForSecondYear
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the percentage of annual amortization of term loan during the third year.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_DebtInstrumentTermLoanAnnualAmortizationPercentageForThirdYear
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the redemption price as a percentage of the principal amount at which the debt instrument may be required to be redeemed by the entity in the event of a change of control or downgrade of the entity's credit rating.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_DebtRedemptionPriceDueToChangeOfControlAndDowngradeOfCreditRatingAsPercentageOfPrincipalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The total additional amount of letters of credit available to be issued as of the reporting date.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_LettersOfCreditAdditionalIssuanceCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of banks as lenders of the line of credit facility.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_LineOfCreditFacilityBankLendersNumber
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Increased maximum borrowing capacity under the credit subject to approval of the lenders and certain other conditions.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_LineOfCreditFacilityContingentIncreaseToMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_MajorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 31

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Increase of additional borrowings on existing and new debt instruments.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph f

-Article 4

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentIncreaseAdditionalBorrowings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Reflects the calculation as of the balance sheet date of the average interest rate weighted by the amount of debt outstanding by type or by instrument at that time.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

No definition available.