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ACCOUNTING POLICIES - GENERAL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure |  |  |
Convertible Debt |  | $ 177,800 |
Intangible Assets, Net (Including Goodwill) | $ 1,817,700 |  |
Characteristics of Securitizations or Asset-backed Financing Arrangements that are Accounted for as Sale | WESCO maintains control of the receivables transferred pursuant to its accounts receivable securitization program (the “Receivables Facility”); therefore, the transfers do not qualify for “sale” treatment. As a result, the transferred receivables remain on the balance sheet, and WESCO recognizes the related secured borrowing. The expenses associated with the Receivables Facility are reported as interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Loss). |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Discount Rate Support, Methodology and Source Data | The interest rate used to discount future estimated cash flows is determined using the Canadian Institute of Actuaries ("CIA") methodology, which references yield curve information provided by Fiera Capital. |  |
Self Insurance Reserve | $ 9,500 | 9,800 |
Decrease in projected benefit obligation due to increase in discount rate of one quarter percent | 4,700 |  |
Increase in Projected Benefit Obligation due to Decrease in Discount Rate of One Quarter Percent | 5,100 |  |
change in net periodic benefit cost for change in discount rate | 300 |  |
Sales Revenue, Services, Net | 27,100 | 35,100 | $ 31,000
Shipping, Handling and Transportation Costs | 57,900 | 59,400 | 63,600
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current | 22,007 | 22,587 |
Provision for Doubtful Accounts | 5,900 | 6,100 | 5,900
Inventory Valuation Reserves | 27,300 | 24,700 |
Inventory Write-down | 7,300 | 8,600 | 6,200
General and Administrative Costs in Inventory, Amount Incurred | 65,300 | 65,000 |
Increase in deferred charges | 6,000 |  |
Deferred Finance Costs, Net | 16,508 | 17,699 |
Stock-based compensation expense | $ 12,493 | $ 12,899 | $ 14,766
Plan Option 1 |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure |  |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent | 2.00% |  |
Discount rate | 3.90% | 4.20% |
Other Pension Plan [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure |  |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent | 4.00% |  |
Minimum |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure |  |  |
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life | 2 years |  |
Maximum |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure |  |  |
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life | 20 years |  |
Convertible Debt |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure |  | $ 514,200 |

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- Definition A valuation allowance for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66008989&loc=d3e5074-111524 + Details
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- Definition The characteristics of transfers in securitizations, asset-backed financing arrangements, or similar transfers recognized as sales, including a description of the transferor's continued involvement with the transferred financial assets (including servicing, recourse, and restriction on interest) that continue to be held by the transferor, the nature and fair value of the assets obtained as proceeds and the liabilities incurred in the transfer, and the gain (loss) from sale of the transferred financial assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 860 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64830801&loc=d3e107207-111719 + Details
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