v2.4.0.8

Significant Account Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 28, 2013 number | Dec. 29, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |  |  |
Minimum number of weeks in the fiscal year (in weeks) | 52 |  |
Maximum number of weeks in the fiscal year (in weeks) | 53 |  |
Outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit classified as accounts payable | $ 39.6 | $ 59.4 |
Direct shipping and handling costs | 69.1 | 64.5 | 62.5
Advertising and promotional costs | 12.2 | 10.4 | 13.1
Amount of deferred direct marketing expenses included in other current assets | 3.9 | 3.9 |
Total distribution network costs | $ 62.2 | $ 59.5 | $ 59.1

X
- Definition Total distribution network costs included costs related to purchasing, receiving, inspections, warehousing, internal inventory transfers and other costs of the distribution network. These costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hsic_DistributionNetworkCosts
Namespace Prefix: | hsic_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The maximum number of weeks in the fiscal year. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hsic_MaximumNumberOfWeeksInFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix: | hsic_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The minimum number of weeks in the fiscal year. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hsic_MinimumNumberOfWeeksInFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix: | hsic_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of payments made in excess of existing cash balances, which will be honored by the bank but reflected as a loan to the entity. Overdrafts generally have a very short time frame for correction or repayment and are therefore more similar to short-term bank financing than trade financing. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Current Liabilities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509677 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361426&loc=d3e1243-112600 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BankOverdrafts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The costs of direct-response advertising whose primary purpose is to elicit sales to customers who could be shown to have responded specifically to the advertising and that results in probable future benefits and are reported as assets net of accumulated amortization. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 17 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6387490&loc=d3e8220-108328 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 20 -Section 25 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16396996&loc=d3e7352-108325 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredAdvertisingCosts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The total expense recognized in the period for promotion, public relations, and brand or product advertising. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Cost incurred during the reporting period in transporting goods and services to customers. Includes freight-out costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18726-107790 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 45 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6408196&loc=d3e61069-111654 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Handling Costs -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6514758 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 45 -Section 45 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915142&loc=d3e60635-111653 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 45 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6408413&loc=d3e221937-122793 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Shipping Costs -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6525344 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShippingHandlingAndTransportationCosts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration