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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Business (Details) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018 item
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Minimum number of locations in which company operates metal service center network | 300
Number of states in which the company operates metal service center network | 40
Number of countries in which entity operates outside the U.S. | 13
Minimum number of products the company distributes | 100,000

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- Definition Represents the minimum number of metal products distributed by entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rs_MinimumNumberOfMetalProductsDistributedByEntity
Namespace Prefix: | rs_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The minimum number of locations the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rs_NumberOfLocationsInWhichEntityOperatesMinimum
Namespace Prefix: | rs_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of countries in which the entity operates as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfCountriesInWhichEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant