Name:	rs_CashSurrenderValuePoliciesOwnedByWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the amount of loan borrowing capacity available against life insurance policies.

No definition available.

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

Represents the gross amount of loans borrowed by the entity against cash surrender value of certain life insurance policies to pay premiums and accrued interest owed.

No definition available.

Name:	rs_LoansBorrowedAgainstLifeInsurancePolicies
Namespace Prefix:	rs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the fixed interest rate on borrowings against the cash surrender value of certain life insurance policies.

No definition available.

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

Represents the amount of loans and accrued interest outstanding on life insurance policies.

No definition available.

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

Represents the premiums and accrued interest on loans outstanding against life insurance policies.

No definition available.

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

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts which could be received based on the terms of the insurance contract upon surrendering life policies owned by the entity.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6812-107765

Name:	us-gaap_CashSurrenderValueOfLifeInsurance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Guaranteed minimum interest crediting rate applied to cash values for life insurance contracts which are purchased by corporate entities for purposes such as funding the cost of providing employee benefits and protecting against the loss of "key persons." where investment income is accumulated tax free through the internal build-up of the cash surrender value.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910