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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 3) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 segment | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |  |  |
Number of reportable segments | 1 |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%
Carbon steel |  |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 53.00% | 52.00% | 56.00%
Aluminum |  |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 15.00% | 18.00% | 18.00%
Stainless steel |  |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 15.00% | 16.00% | 13.00%
Alloy steel |  |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 10.00% | 8.00% | 7.00%
Toll processing |  |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00%
Other |  |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 5.00% | 4.00% | 4.00%

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- Definition The number of reportable segments of the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | rs_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the percentage of revenue from sale of goods and services. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rs_SalesRevenueGoodsAndServicesNetPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | rs_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type: | duration