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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 3) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013 item | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Information |  |  |
Number of reportable segments | 1 |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%
Carbon steel |  |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 53.00% | 51.00% | 53.00%
Aluminum |  |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 15.00% | 15.00% | 15.00%
Stainless steel |  |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 14.00% | 15.00% | 15.00%
Alloy steel |  |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 10.00% | 12.00% | 10.00%
Toll processing |  |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00%
Other |  |  |
Segment Information |  |  |
Sales (as a percent) | 6.00% | 5.00% | 5.00%

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

X
- Definition Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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