Amount of liabilities incurred by the acquirer as part of consideration transferred in a business combination.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 25
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911189&loc=d3e6405-128476

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477

+ Details

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

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the required periodic payments applied to principal.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

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.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of asset related to consideration paid in advance for costs that provide economic benefits in future periods, and amount of other assets that are expected to be realized or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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(8))
-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 S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(7))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82887183&loc=d3e6676-107765

+ Details

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

- Definition

The minimum commitments or obligations by the company that would require the Company to maintain certain EBITDA ratios under the revolver commitments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zeus_BalanceRequiredForComplianceWithRevolverCommitments
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Effectof swap interest rate agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zeus_EffectofSwapInterestRateAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Under the revolver commitments, the required ratio of EBITDA minus certain capital expenditures and cash taxes paid to fixed charges.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zeus_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsEbitdaRatio
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of credit facility covenant terms monetary.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zeus_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsMonetary
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of covenants applied to revolver commitments in a line of credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zeus_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsPercentageOfRevolverCommitments
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=zeus_IndustrialRevenueBondsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=zeus_ChicagoTubeAndIronCompanyAcquisitionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=zeus_AmortizedBankingFeesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=zeus_ABLCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=zeus_AssetBasedRevolvingCreditFacilityDueJune302019Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_BaseRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=zeus_AvailabilityDollarAmountMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 4 - Debt (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
Note 4 - Debt (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 01, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current		$ 4,088		$ 4,088	$ 6,197
Industrial Revenue Bonds [Member]
Effectof Swap Interest Rate Agreement				3.46%
Industrial Revenue Bonds [Member] \| Chicago Tube and Iron Company Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Liabilities Incurred		$ 1,800	$ 5,900
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage		1.10%		1.10%
Amortized Banking Fees [Member]
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current		$ 1,800		$ 1,800
ABL Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility Covenant Terms EBITDA Ratio		1		1
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity		$ 109,000		$ 109,000
ABL Credit Facility [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal	$ 900
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| ABL Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		365,000		365,000
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		365,000		$ 365,000
Line of Credit Facility Covenant Terms Percentage of Revolver Commitments				10.00%
Balance Required for Compliance with Revolver Commitments		$ 36,500		$ 36,500
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| ABL Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				0.00%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| ABL Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				1.25%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| ABL Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				0.25%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| ABL Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				3.00%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| ABL Credit Facility [Member] \| Availability Dollar Amount [Member]
Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Terms Monetary				$ 30,000