XML 53 R42.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.2

ACQUISITIONS (Details) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) numberOfEmployees countries numberOfCities | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) numberOfEmployees countries numberOfCities | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Jun. 22, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of Cities in which an Entity Operates | numberOfCities | 300 |  | 300 |  |
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax | $ 4,141,801,000 | $ 2,148,110,000 | $ 8,197,154,000 | $ 6,259,465,000 |
Operating Income (Loss) | 178,095,000 | 93,733,000 | 254,278,000 | 262,409,000 |
Revenues | $ 4,141,801,000 | 2,148,110,000 | $ 8,197,154,000 | 6,259,465,000 |
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Reasons |  |  | The estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on preliminary calculations and valuations using estimates and assumptions at the time of acquisition. The determination of the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, especially those related to identifiable intangible assets, is preliminary due to the complexity of combining multibillion dollar businesses. Accordingly, as the Company obtains additional information during the measurement period (not to exceed one year from the acquisition date), estimates and assumptions for the preliminary purchase consideration allocations may change materially. |  |
Business Combination, Reason for Business Combination |  |  | The Merger brought together two companies with highly compatible capabilities and characteristics. The combination of WESCO and Anixter created an enterprise with scale and should afford the Company the opportunity to digitize its business, and expand its services portfolio and supply chain offerings. |  |
Business Acquisition, Description of Acquired Entity |  |  | Anixter is a leading distributor of network and security solutions, electrical and electronic solutions, and utility power solutions with locations in over 300 cities across approximately 50 countries, and 2019 annual sales of more than $8 billion. |  |
Business Combination, Goodwill Recognized, Description |  |  | The resulting goodwill is primarily attributable to Anixter's workforce, significant cross-selling opportunities in additional geographies, enhanced scale, and other operational efficiencies.In the third quarter of 2020, the Company recognized adjustments to total identifiable intangible assets and deferred income taxes of $5.4 million and $7.3 million, respectively. Certain other measurement period adjustments were made to the identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed, none of which were significant, individually or in aggregate. The net impact of the adjustments made in the third quarter of 2020 was a decrease to goodwill of $7.6 million. |  |
Anixter International |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition |  |  | Jun. 22, 2020 |  |
Common stock, shares, issued (in shares) | shares |  |  |  |  | 0.2397
Common stock |  |  |  |  | $ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares) | shares |  |  |  |  | 0.6356
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares |  |  |  |  | $ 25,000
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage |  |  | 10.625% |  |
Additional countries (in countries) | countries | 50 |  | 50 |  |
Business Acquisition, Revenue Reported by Acquired Entity for Last Annual Period |  |  | $ 8,000,000,000 |  |
Operating Income (Loss) | $ 80,000,000.0 |  | 98,400,000 |  |
Revenues | 2,200,000,000 |  | 2,400,000,000 |  |
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs | $ 14,500,000 |  | $ 92,100,000 |  |
Anixter International | Cash [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition, Share Price | $ / shares |  |  |  |  | $ 72.82
Sylvania Lighting Services Corp. [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition |  |  | Mar. 05, 2019 |  |
Business Acquisition, Revenue Reported by Acquired Entity for Last Annual Period |  |  | $ 100,000,000 |  |
Number of Employees Employed by the Entity | numberOfEmployees | 220 |  | 220 |  |
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount |  | $ 11,600,000 |  | $ 11,600,000 |

X
- Definition With respect to a business combination completed during the period, this element provides a description of the business, other than the name, which may include the industry, size, products and other important information. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionDescriptionOfAcquiredEntity
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Date when the acquirer obtains control of the acquiree, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116868678&loc=d3e848-128460 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116868678&loc=d3e845-128460 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionEffectiveDateOfAcquisition1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of goodwill arising from a business combination that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120321790&loc=d3e6927-128479 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillExpectedTaxDeductibleAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total revenue reported by the acquired entity for its previous full fiscal year before the business acquisition. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionRevenueReportedByAcquiredEntityForLastAnnualPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Price of a single share of a number of saleable stocks paid or offered to be paid in a business combination. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionSharePrice
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition 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. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 23 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116868678&loc=d3e1043-128460 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents a qualitative description of the factors that make up the goodwill recognized in a business combination, such as expected synergies by the entity to be derived from combining operations of the acquiree, intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition, and such other factors as may apply. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120321790&loc=d3e6927-128479 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationGoodwillRecognizedDescription
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents a description of the reasons why the initial accounting is incomplete for those particular assets, liabilities, noncontrolling interests, or items of consideration for which the amounts recognized in the financial statements have been determined only provisionally. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121647850&loc=SL65897772-128472 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteReasons
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents a description of the primary reason for the business combination which may consist of general categories such as top-line growth, synergistic benefits, market share, and diversification and the more detailed factors that might apply. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationReasonForBusinessCombination
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Aggregate par or stated value of issued nonredeemable common stock (or common stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer). This item includes treasury stock repurchased by the entity. Note: elements for number of nonredeemable common shares, par value and other disclosure concepts are in another section within stockholders' equity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommonStockValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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 net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 31 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8924-108599 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 30 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8906-108599 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8933-108599 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8933-108599 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 22 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8736-108599 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The percentage rate used to calculate dividend payments on preferred stock. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PreferredStockDividendRatePercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Face amount or stated value per share of preferred stock nonredeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) issued to shareholders (includes related preferred shares that were issued, repurchased, and remain in the treasury). May be all or portion of the number of preferred shares authorized. Excludes preferred shares that are classified as debt. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, excluding tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value added and excise. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 30 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8906-108599 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 40 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e9031-108599 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 41 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e9038-108599 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8933-108599 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8933-108599 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130543-203045 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 22 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8736-108599 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 22 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8736-108599 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 42 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e9054-108599 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130545-203045 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 924 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 11.L) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6472922&loc=d3e499488-122856 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 22 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8736-108599 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75031198&loc=d3e14064-108612 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8933-108599 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8933-108599 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 22 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8736-108599 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 40 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e9031-108599 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 30 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8906-108599 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 41 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e9038-108599 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 42 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e9054-108599 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(g)(1)(ii)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395691&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-05(b)(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120399901&loc=d3e537907-122884 Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395209&loc=SL114868664-224227 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of Cities in which an Entity Operates + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcc_NumberOfCitiesInWhichAnEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix: | wcc_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of Employees Employed by the Entity + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcc_NumberOfEmployeesEmployedByTheEntity
Namespace Prefix: | wcc_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=wcc_AnixterInternationalMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContingentConsiderationByTypeAxis=us-gaap_CashMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=wcc_SylvaniaLightingServicesCorpMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |