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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Entity State Store | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of joint ventures | Entity | 3 |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts | $ 5,305,000 | $ 5,461,000 |
Capitalized vendor rebates | 8,086,000 | 10,088,000 |
Goodwill and other intangible assets impairment | 0 | 0 | $ 0
Advertising expense | 21,150,000 | 19,754,000 | 22,418,000
Shipping and handling costs | $ 41,345,000 | $ 43,324,000 | $ 39,395,000
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 |  |
Minimum | Furniture and fixtures |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives in years | 5 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 |  |
Maximum | Furniture and fixtures |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives in years | 7 years |  |
Watsco, Inc. |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of locations from which entity operates | Store | 566 |  |
Number of states in which entity operates | State | 37 |  |

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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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