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ACCOUNTING POLICIES - GENERAL (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Aug. 27, 2009
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure          
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 1,360,000 $ 1,400,000      
Income Taxes Receivable, Current 23,250 5,725      
Accrued Income Taxes, Current 9,712 9,881      
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current 40,189 46,360      
Assets, Current 2,408,849 2,103,078      
Intangible Assets, Net (Including Goodwill) $ 1,872,100 1,827,900      
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).        
Self Insurance Reserve $ 13,900 9,500      
Sales Revenue, Services, Net 26,200 27,100 $ 35,100    
Shipping, Handling and Transportation Costs 61,800 57,900 59,400    
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current 21,313 22,007      
Provision for Doubtful Accounts 8,500 5,900 6,100    
Inventory Valuation Reserves 28,600 27,300      
Inventory Write-down 8,800 7,300 8,600    
General and Administrative Costs in Inventory, Amount Incurred 70,700 65,300      
Increase in deferred charges 915 6,002 3,359    
Deferred Finance Costs, Net 13,711 16,508      
Stock-based compensation expense 14,809 12,493 12,899    
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure 1,386,400 1,416,000      
Goodwill 1,771,877 1,730,950 $ 1,681,662    
Assets 4,735,468 4,431,841      
Liabilities, Current 1,040,969 873,799      
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent 136,858 168,245      
Liabilities 2,619,325 2,468,210      
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) 2,079,697 1,914,757   $ 1,602,139  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax (312,590) (391,971)   $ (206,498)  
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent 2,119,739 1,966,900      
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest 2,116,143 1,963,631      
Impact of Restatement on Opening Retained Earnings, Net of Tax   (46,381)      
Liabilities and Equity $ 4,735,468 $ 4,431,841      
Pension Plan [Member]          
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure          
Discount rate 3.50% 3.90%      
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, Face Amount         $ 345,000
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]          
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure          
Income Taxes Receivable, Current   $ 72,881      
Accrued Income Taxes, Current   32,879      
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current   48,583      
Assets, Current   2,172,457      
Goodwill   1,720,714      
Assets   4,490,984      
Liabilities, Current   896,797      
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent   158,009      
Liabilities   2,480,972      
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)   1,956,532      
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax   (387,365)      
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent   2,013,281      
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest   2,010,012      
Liabilities and Equity   4,490,984      
Scenario, Adjustment [Member]          
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure          
Income Taxes Receivable, Current   (67,156)      
Accrued Income Taxes, Current   (22,998)      
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current   (2,223)      
Assets, Current   (69,379)      
Goodwill   10,236      
Assets   (59,143)      
Liabilities, Current   (22,998)      
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent   10,236      
Liabilities   (12,762)      
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)   (41,775)      
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax   (4,606)      
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent   (46,381)      
Liabilities and Equity   (59,143)      
Restatement Adjustment [Member]          
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure          
Income Taxes Receivable, Current   5,725      
Accrued Income Taxes, Current   9,881      
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current   46,360      
Assets, Current   2,103,078      
Goodwill   1,730,950      
Assets   4,431,841      
Liabilities, Current   873,799      
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent   168,245      
Liabilities   2,468,210      
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)   1,914,757      
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax   (391,971)      
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent   1,966,900      
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest   1,963,631      
Liabilities and Equity   $ 4,431,841