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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 Entity | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of joint ventures | 3 wso_NumberOfJointVentures |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts | $ 5,461,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent | $ 5,737,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent |
Capitalized vendor rebates | 10,088,000 wso_CapitalizedVendorRebates | 9,333,000 wso_CapitalizedVendorRebates |
Goodwill and other intangible assets impairment | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment
Advertising expense | 19,754,000 us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense | 22,418,000 us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense | 23,730,000 us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Shipping and handling costs | $ 43,324,000 us-gaap_ShippingHandlingAndTransportationCosts | $ 39,395,000 us-gaap_ShippingHandlingAndTransportationCosts | $ 37,676,000 us-gaap_ShippingHandlingAndTransportationCosts
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 | 572 us-gaap_NumberOfStores / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember |  |
Number of states in which entity operates | 38 us-gaap_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember |  |

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- 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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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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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=35738203&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 Total loss recognized during the period from the impairment of goodwill plus the loss recognized in the period resulting from the impairment of the carrying amount of intangible assets, other than goodwill. + References No definition available. + Details
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Period Type: | duration

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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 Represents the number of stores. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | na
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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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Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition Capitalized vendor rebates + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of joint ventures. Joint ventures are entities operated by the controlling interest for the mutual benefit of the members. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Details
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- Details
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