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EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS TEXTUALS (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) numberOfPlans | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) numberOfPlans | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, cost recognized | $ 54,700 | $ 18,300 | $ 22,900
Defined Benefit Plan, Description | Wesco sponsors a contributory defined benefit plan covering substantially all Canadian employees of EECOL Electric Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the "EECOL Plan"). The EECOL Plan provides retirement benefits based on earnings and credited service, and participants contribute 2% of their earnings to the EECOL Plan. Participants become 100% vested after two years of continuous service or, if earlier, at the participant's normal retirement age. |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Unfunded Plan | Wesco also sponsors a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for certain executives of EECOL Electric Corp. (the "EECOL SERP"), which provides additional pension benefits based on earnings and credited service. The EECOL SERP is an unfunded plan. Effective January 1, 2013, the EECOL SERP was closed to new participants and existing participants became 100% vested. EECOL SERP participants now contribute 4% of their earnings to the EECOL Plan. Anixter Inc. sponsors various defined benefit pension plans in the U.S., which consist of the Anixter Inc. Pension Plan, the Anixter Inc. Executive Benefit Plan, and the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the "Anixter SERP") (together, the "Domestic Plans") and various defined benefit pension plans covering employees of foreign subsidiaries in Canada and Europe (together with the "EECOL Plan" and "EECOL SERP", the "Foreign Plans").The Anixter Inc. Pension Plan was closed to entrants first hired or rehired on or after July 1, 2015. The majority of the Anixter defined benefit pension plans are non-contributory, and with the exception of the U.S. and Canada, cover substantially all full-time employees in their respective countries. Retirement benefits are provided based on compensation as defined in each of the plan agreements |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate | 2.60% | 2.20% |
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation | $ 725,879 | $ 819,339 | 134,852
DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfPlansWithProjectedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfFairValueOfPlanAssets | numberOfPlans | 9 | 13 |
Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plan with Projected Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets, Projected Benefit Obligation | $ 214,500 | $ 504,800 |
Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plan with Projected Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets, Plan Assets | 167,400 | 365,400 |
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Amount | $ 752,512 | $ 721,005 | 103,385
DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfFairValueOfPlanAssets | numberOfPlans | 9 | 13 |
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan with Accumulated Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets, Accumulated Benefit Obligation | $ 194,600 | $ 435,600 |
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan with Accumulated Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets, Plan Assets | 167,400 | 365,400 |
Service Cost | $ 15,173 | 10,792 | 4,602
Defined Benefit Plan Assets Actual Gain Loss | 6.00% |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payment, Year One | $ 20,645 |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets | 56,274 | (2,321) | 28,915
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailment | $ 36,580 | 0 | 0
WESCO [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 50.00% |  |
Defined contribution plan, maximum annual contribution per employee, percent | 6.00% |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer discretionary contribution amount | $ 13,100 |  |
Anixter Employee Savings Plan [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 50.00% |  |
Defined contribution plan, maximum annual contribution per employee, percent | 5.00% |  |
WESCO Deferred Compensation Plan |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Deferred Compensation Liability, Current and Noncurrent |  | 27,400 |
Deferred Compensation Liability, Current |  | 10,100 |
Deferred Compensation Liability, Classified, Noncurrent |  | 17,300 |
AnixterDeferred Compensation Plan |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Distribution Paid | $ 42,800 |  |
Deferred Compensation Liability, Current |  | 45,100 |
Assets Held-in-trust |  | $ 39,600 |
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets | $ 39,700 |  |
Defined Contribution Pension Plan for Employees of Anixter Canada Inc. |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 6.00% |  |
Defined contribution plan, maximum annual contribution per employee, percent | 5.50% |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match | 25.00% |  |
Canadian Defined Contribution Plan Merger |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 50.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match | 4.00% |  |
U.S. Defined Contribution Plan Merger |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 100.00% |  |
Foreign Plan [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate | 2.40% | 2.00% |
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation | $ 424,096 | $ 486,855 | 134,852
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Amount | 381,781 | 365,718 | 103,385
Accumulated Benefit Obligation (ABO) at December 31 | 390,800 | 417,600 |
Service Cost | 12,140 | 9,029 | 4,602
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year | 10,800 |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payment, Year One | 9,430 |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailment | $ 32,680 | $ 0 | 0
United States |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate | 2.90% | 2.60% |
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation | $ 301,783 | $ 332,484 | 0
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Amount | 370,731 | 355,287 | 0
Accumulated Benefit Obligation (ABO) at December 31 | 301,800 | 328,200 |
Service Cost | 3,033 | 1,763 | 0
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payment, Year One | 11,215 |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailment | $ 3,900 | 0 | 0
Minimum | WESCO Distribution Canada Defined Contribution plan [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 3.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution greater than 20 years of service, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay | 5.00% |  |
Minimum | Anixter Employee Savings Plan [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution discretionary contribution percentage | 2.00% |  |
Minimum | Defined Contribution Pension Plan for Employees of Anixter Canada Inc. |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 3.00% |  |
Minimum | Canadian Defined Contribution Plan Merger |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 3.00% |  |
Minimum | U.S. Defined Contribution Plan Merger |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 3.00% |  |
Maximum | WESCO Distribution Canada Defined Contribution plan [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 5.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution greater than 20 years of service, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay | 7.00% |  |
Maximum | Anixter Employee Savings Plan [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution discretionary contribution percentage | 2.50% |  |
Maximum | Defined Contribution Pension Plan for Employees of Anixter Canada Inc. |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 4.00% |  |
Maximum | Canadian Defined Contribution Plan Merger |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 5.00% |  |
Maximum | U.S. Defined Contribution Plan Merger |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent | 4.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match | 50.00% |  |
Pension Plan [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Other Nonoperating Gains (Losses) | $ (53,200) | (8,200) | $ (1,400)
Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation | 424,100 | $ 486,900 |
WESCO Deferred Compensation Plan |  |  |
Schedule of Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Deferred Compensation Liability, Classified, Noncurrent | $ 20,900 |  |

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- Definition Maximum percentage of employee gross pay the employee may contribute to a defined contribution plan. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in operating assets classified as other. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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- Definition Amount of gain (loss) related to nonoperating activities, classified as other. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7,9) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123367319&loc=SL114868664-224227 + Details
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- Definition Defined contribution discretionary contribution percentage + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution greater than 20 years of service, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay + References No definition available. + Details
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