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ACCOUNTING POLICIES - GENERAL (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Aug. 27, 2009
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure          
Income Taxes Receivable, Current $ 24,873 $ 23,250      
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current 52,107 40,189      
Assets, Current 2,385,640 2,408,849      
Intangible Assets, Net (Including Goodwill) $ 1,800,000 1,900,000      
Characteristics of Securitizations or Asset-backed Financing Arrangements that are Accounted for as Sale Under the Receivables Facility, WESCO sells, on a continuous basis, an undivided interest in all domestic accounts receivable to WESCO Receivables, a wholly owned special purpose entity (the “SPE”). The SPE sells, without recourse, a senior undivided interest in the receivables to financial institutions for cash while maintaining a subordinated undivided interest in the receivables, in the form of overcollateralization. Since WESCO maintains control of the transferred receivables, 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. WESCO has agreed to continue servicing the sold receivables for the third-party conduits and financial institutions at market rates; accordingly, no servicing asset or liability has been recorded. The expenses associated with the Receivables Facility are reported as a component of net interest and other in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.        
Self Insurance Reserve $ 13,100 13,900      
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current 24,468 21,313      
Provision for Doubtful Accounts 10,900 8,500 $ 5,900    
Inventory Valuation Reserves 27,600 28,600      
Inventory Write-down 9,700 8,800 7,300    
General and Administrative Costs in Inventory, Amount Incurred 69,200 70,700      
Increase in deferred charges 0 915 6,002    
Deferred Finance Costs, Net 9,575 13,711      
Stock-based compensation expense 16,445 14,809 12,493    
Goodwill 1,722,603 1,771,877 1,730,950    
Assets 4,605,036 4,735,468      
Liabilities, Current 1,061,946 1,040,969      
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent 143,967 136,858      
Liabilities 2,475,310 2,619,325      
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) 2,307,462 2,079,697 1,914,757 $ 1,812,681  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax (408,435) (312,590) $ (391,971) $ (427,761)  
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent 2,135,310 2,119,739      
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest 2,129,726 2,116,143      
Liabilities and Equity $ 4,605,036 $ 4,735,468      
Pension Plan [Member]          
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure          
Discount rate 4.00% 3.50%      
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