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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012 Entity | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of joint ventures | 3 |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts | $ 10,473 | $ 12,946 |
Capitalized vendor rebates | 8,015 | 6,386 |
Advertising expense | 23,730 | 25,052 | 26,646
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 589,487 | 529,244 | 507,669
Shipping, Handling and Transportation Costs |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ 37,676 | $ 30,234 | $ 25,443
Minimum |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Accounts receivable period, in days | 30 |  |
Minimum | Building and Building Improvements |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives in years | 3 years |  |
Minimum | Other Depreciable Assets |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives in years | 3 years |  |
Maximum |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Accounts receivable period, in days | 45 |  |
Maximum | Building and Building Improvements |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives in years | 40 years |  |
Maximum | Other Depreciable Assets |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives in years | 10 years |  |
Watsco, Inc. |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of locations from which entity operates | 573 |  |
Number of states in which entity operates | 38 |  |

X
- Definition Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 720 -SubTopic 35 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 93-7 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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. + Details
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- Definition A valuation allowance for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5074-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 4 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 43 -Paragraph 5A -Chapter 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 SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 4 -Article 5 Reference 3: 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=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 330 -SubTopic 10 -Section 30 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386349&loc=d3e3636-108311 + Details
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- Definition Capitalized vendor rebates + References No definition available. + Details
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Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Number of joint ventures. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of locations from which entity operates. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Sales invoice payment terms + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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