Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Net sales	$ 420,798	$ 391,710	$ 830,187	$ 772,201
Cost of goods sold	278,622	261,784	551,722	519,601
Gross profit	142,176	129,926	278,465	252,600
General and administrative expenses	78,270	67,663	157,952	139,611
Selling expenses	36,935	32,219	72,288	62,979
Income from operations	26,971	30,044	48,225	50,010
Other Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Interest expense	(8,538)	(4,611)	(17,042)	(9,081)
Interest income	13	17	27	44
Other income, net	243	437	723	969
Other expense, net	(8,282)	(4,157)	(16,292)	(8,068)
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	18,689	25,887	31,933	41,942
Provision for income taxes	5,896	9,540	10,294	15,439
Income from continuing operations	12,793	16,347	21,639	26,503
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	2,604	3,778	4,291	7,767
Net income	15,397	20,125	25,930	34,270
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	127	94	(84)	49
Net income attributable to PSS World Medical, Inc.	$ 15,270	$ 20,031	$ 26,014	$ 34,221
Earnings (loss) per common share - Basic [Abstract]
Continuing operations	$ 0.26	$ 0.31	$ 0.44	$ 0.50
Discontinued operations	$ 0.05	$ 0.07	$ 0.09	$ 0.15
Attributable to PSS World Medical, Inc.	$ 0.31	$ 0.38	$ 0.53	$ 0.64
Earnings (loss) per common share - Diluted [Abstract]
Continuing operations	$ 0.26	$ 0.30	$ 0.43	$ 0.48
Discontinued operations	$ 0.05	$ 0.07	$ 0.09	$ 0.14
Attributable to PSS World Medical, Inc.	$ 0.30	$ 0.37	$ 0.52	$ 0.61
Weighted average common shares oustanding:
Basic	49,431	52,309	49,463	53,237
Diluted	50,073	53,956	50,168	55,672