Employee Benefits - Supplemental Bonus Plan (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Contributions to Company Sponsored Retirement Plans
Company's expense for Reliance-sponsored retirement plans	$ 41.2	$ 37.3	$ 34.1
Master Plan
Contributions to Company Sponsored Retirement Plans
Company's expense for Reliance-sponsored retirement plans	22.3	21.4	21.5
Other Defined Contribution Plans
Contributions to Company Sponsored Retirement Plans
Company's expense for Reliance-sponsored retirement plans	8.5	7.9	7.0
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Contributions to Company Sponsored Retirement Plans
Company's expense for Reliance-sponsored retirement plans	1.8	1.5	1.8
Deferred Compensation Plan
Contributions to Company Sponsored Retirement Plans
Company's expense for Reliance-sponsored retirement plans	0.7	0.6	0.6
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans
Contributions to Company Sponsored Retirement Plans
Company's expense for Reliance-sponsored retirement plans	5.1	3.5	2.6
Defined Benefit Plans
Contributions to Company Sponsored Retirement Plans
Company's expense for Reliance-sponsored retirement plans	$ 2.8	$ 2.4	$ 0.6

The amount of pension and other (such as medical, dental and life insurance) postretirement benefit costs recognized during the period for (1) defined benefit plans (periodic benefit costs include the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss) on assets, prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) due to settlements or curtailments) and for (2) defined contribution plans (to the extent that a plan's defined contributions to an individual's account are to be made for periods in which that individual renders services, the net cost for a period is the contribution called for in that period; if a plan calls for contributions for periods after an individual retires or terminates, the estimated cost is accrued during the employee's service period).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 70
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170846&loc=d3e28014-114942

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration