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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, 2013 Entity | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of joint ventures | 3 |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts | $ 5,737 | $ 10,473 |
Capitalized vendor rebates | 9,333 | 8,015 |
Advertising expense | 22,418 | 23,730 | 25,052
Shipping and handling costs | $ 39,395 | $ 37,676 | $ 30,234
Minimum | Buildings and 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 | Buildings and 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 | 569 |  |
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 + 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 SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 4 -Article 5 Reference 2: 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=28368275&loc=d3e5074-111524 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 The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + 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 Cost incurred during the reporting period in transporting goods and services to customers. Includes freight-out costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18726-107790 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 45 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6408196&loc=d3e61069-111654 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Handling Costs -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6514758 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 45 -Section 45 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915142&loc=d3e60635-111653 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 45 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6408413&loc=d3e221937-122793 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Shipping Costs -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6525344 + Details
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- Details
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