Represents the amount of debt acquired in a business combination that was not refinanced through proceeds from debt.

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Represents the number of real estate properties of the acquired entity, which were leased by subsidiaries of the reporting entity.

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Represents the number of service centers acquired by the entity in a business acquisition.

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Amount of current and long-term debt assumed at the acquisition date.

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Amount of other current and noncurrent liabilities assumed at the acquisition date.

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The amount of other current and noncurrent assets recognized as of the acquisition date.

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The number of countries in which the entity's customers operate as of balance sheet date.

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Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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The amount of goodwill arising from a business combination that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

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This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

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Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

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Amount of liabilities incurred by the acquirer as part of consideration transferred in a business combination.

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Amount of assets acquired at the acquisition date.

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, acquired at the acquisition date. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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Amount due from customers or clients for goods or services, including trade receivables, that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, and amounts due from others, including related parties expected to be converted to cash, sold or exchanged within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date.

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Amount of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards that are expected to be realized or consumed after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date.

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Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, that lack physical substance, having a projected indefinite period of benefit, acquired at the acquisition date.

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The amount of identifiable intangible assets recognized as of the acquisition date.

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The amount of inventory recognized as of the acquisition date.

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Amount of liabilities assumed at the acquisition date.

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The amount of property, plant, and equipment recognized as of the acquisition date.

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Amount recognized for assets, including goodwill, in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed.

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Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets, lacking physical substance with a definite life, resulting from a business combination.

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Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment.

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Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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The number of countries in which the entity operates as of balance sheet date.

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No definition available.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

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The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period.

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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Acquisitions (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			5 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 item	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014 item	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2013 item	Apr. 12, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	May 16, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2011	Apr. 04, 2013	Aug. 01, 2014 country
Acquisitions
Net sales	$ 2,576.7us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 2,705.1us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 2,616.8us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 2,553.0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 2,306.7us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 2,443.5us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 2,448.3us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 2,025.3us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 10,451.6us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 9,223.8us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 8,442.3us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Proceeds from sale of business, net									26.2	11.9	8.2
Number of countries of the acquiree entity	12								12			12						12	12
Allocation of the total purchase price of acquisitions to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Goodwill	1,736.4us-gaap_Goodwill				1,691.6us-gaap_Goodwill				1,736.4us-gaap_Goodwill	1,691.6us-gaap_Goodwill	1,314.6us-gaap_Goodwill	1,736.4us-gaap_Goodwill			1,691.6us-gaap_Goodwill		1,691.6us-gaap_Goodwill	1,736.4us-gaap_Goodwill	1,736.4us-gaap_Goodwill	1,244.3us-gaap_Goodwill
Summary purchase price allocation information for all acquisitions
Tax deductible goodwill amount	558.6								558.6			558.6						558.6	558.6
Trade names
Allocation of the total purchase price of acquisitions to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Intangible assets not subject to amortization	39.0				206.8				39.0	206.8	37.9	39.0			206.8		206.8	39.0	39.0
Summary purchase price allocation information for all acquisitions
Intangible assets not subject to amortization	39.0				206.8				39.0	206.8	37.9	39.0			206.8		206.8	39.0	39.0
Customer relationships
Summary purchase price allocation information for all acquisitions
Intangible assets acquired subject to amortization									37.3	135.3	44.3
Weighted average lives of identifiable intangible assets									13 years 7 months 6 days	12 years 6 months	10 years
Unsecured revolving credit facility
Acquisitions
Maximum borrowing capacity of the revolving credit facility, which used to fund the transaction														1,500.0							1,500.0
Term loan expiring April 4, 2018
Acquisitions
Face amount of debt, proceeds from which is used to fund transaction														500.0
Senior unsecured notes due April 15, 2023
Acquisitions
Face amount of debt, proceeds from which is used to fund transaction														500.0
NIS
Acquisitions
Net sales												8.9
AMS
Acquisitions
Net sales												105.6
Number of countries of the acquiree entity																						4
AMS \| Minimum
Acquisitions
Number of countries in which entity's customers operate																						40
Travel Main
Acquisitions
Number of real estate properties of acquired entity which were leased by subsidiaries of reporting entity													18
Total transaction value													78.9
Value of debt assumed													43.8
Metals USA
Acquisitions
Net sales									1,780.0						1,240.0
Total transaction value														1,250.0
Value of debt assumed														486.1
Number of service centers acquired														43
Purchase price														766.8
Acquired debt not refinanced through proceeds from debt														12.3
Transaction costs										11.4
Allocation of the total purchase price of acquisitions to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Cash	3.2								3.2			3.2						3.2	3.2
Accounts receivable	206.0								206.0			206.0						206.0	206.0
Inventories	379.5								379.5			379.5						379.5	379.5
Property, plant and equipment	242.6								242.6			242.6						242.6	242.6
Goodwill	382.7								382.7			382.7						382.7	382.7
Intangible assets subject to amortization	137.6								137.6			137.6						137.6	137.6
Intangible assets not subject to amortization	203.0								203.0			203.0						203.0	203.0
Other current and long-term assets	9.1								9.1			9.1						9.1	9.1
Total assets acquired	1,563.7								1,563.7			1,563.7						1,563.7	1,563.7
Deferred taxes	184.4								184.4			184.4						184.4	184.4
Current and long-term debt	486.1								486.1			486.1						486.1	486.1
Other current and long-term liabilities	126.4								126.4			126.4						126.4	126.4
Total liabilities assumed	796.9								796.9			796.9						796.9	796.9
Net assets acquired	766.8								766.8			766.8						766.8	766.8
Summary purchase price allocation information for all acquisitions
Intangible assets not subject to amortization	203.0								203.0			203.0						203.0	203.0
Metals USA \| Non-core roofing business
Acquisitions
Net sales									25.4								9.6
Proceeds from sale of business, net																26.2
Pre-tax loss on sale of business																1.1
Fox
Acquisitions
Net sales																		4.2
Haskins Steel Co., Inc. (Haskins Steel)
Acquisitions
Net sales																			29.5
GH Metal Solutions, Inc
Acquisitions
Net sales									64.5
Sunbelt Steel Texas, LLC
Acquisitions
Net sales									48.0
2014 acquisitions
Allocation of the total purchase price of acquisitions to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Cash	1.6								1.6			1.6						1.6	1.6
Accounts receivable	67.1								67.1			67.1						67.1	67.1
Inventories	89.2								89.2			89.2						89.2	89.2
Property, plant and equipment	23.0								23.0			23.0						23.0	23.0
Goodwill	51.3								51.3			51.3						51.3	51.3
Intangible assets subject to amortization	37.5								37.5			37.5						37.5	37.5
Intangible assets not subject to amortization	39.0								39.0			39.0						39.0	39.0
Other current and long-term assets	1.5								1.5			1.5						1.5	1.5
Total assets acquired	310.2								310.2			310.2						310.2	310.2
Deferred taxes	9.0								9.0			9.0						9.0	9.0
Current and long-term debt	39.2								39.2			39.2						39.2	39.2
Other current and long-term liabilities	53.1								53.1			53.1						53.1	53.1
Total liabilities assumed	101.3								101.3			101.3						101.3	101.3
Net assets acquired	208.9								208.9			208.9						208.9	208.9
Summary purchase price allocation information for all acquisitions
Intangible assets not subject to amortization	39.0								39.0			39.0						39.0	39.0
Tax deductible goodwill amount	20.3								20.3			20.3						20.3	20.3
2013 acquisitions
Summary purchase price allocation information for all acquisitions
Tax deductible goodwill amount					107.7					107.7					107.7		107.7
Airport Metals (Australia) Pty Ltd
Acquisitions
Net sales									2.4
Worthington Steel Vonore
Acquisitions
Net sales									2.6
National Specialty Alloys, LLC
Acquisitions
Net sales									78.0
McKey Perforated Products Co., Inc.,
Acquisitions
Net sales									19.6
2012 acquisitions
Acquisitions
Total transaction value									226.5
Value of debt assumed									59.4
Allocation of the total purchase price of acquisitions to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Cash	0.2								0.2			0.2						0.2	0.2
Accounts receivable	32.5								32.5			32.5						32.5	32.5
Inventories	55.0								55.0			55.0						55.0	55.0
Property, plant and equipment	30.7								30.7			30.7						30.7	30.7
Goodwill	68.0								68.0			68.0						68.0	68.0
Intangible assets subject to amortization	45.1								45.1			45.1						45.1	45.1
Intangible assets not subject to amortization	37.9								37.9			37.9						37.9	37.9
Other current and long-term assets	1.2								1.2			1.2						1.2	1.2
Total assets acquired	270.6								270.6			270.6						270.6	270.6
Deferred taxes	20.6								20.6			20.6						20.6	20.6
Current and long-term debt	59.4								59.4			59.4						59.4	59.4
Other current and long-term liabilities	23.5								23.5			23.5						23.5	23.5
Total liabilities assumed	103.5								103.5			103.5						103.5	103.5
Net assets acquired	167.1								167.1			167.1						167.1	167.1
Summary purchase price allocation information for all acquisitions
Intangible assets not subject to amortization	37.9								37.9			37.9						37.9	37.9
Tax deductible goodwill amount											30.3
Businesses Sold
Summary purchase price allocation information for all acquisitions
Tax deductible goodwill amount	$ 17.2								$ 17.2			$ 17.2						$ 17.2	$ 17.2