<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <Version>2.4.0.8</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>132</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>211</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>42</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>4</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000 - Disclosure - Document And Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document And Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>001 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheet</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>002 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (Parentheticals)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheet_Parentheticals</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (Parentheticals)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>003 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/ConsolidatedIncomeStatement</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>004 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/ConsolidatedCashFlow</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>005 - Disclosure - Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/SupplementalDisclosuresofCashFlowInformationUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006 - Disclosure - Note 1 - Basis of Presentation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note1BasisofPresentation</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 1 - Basis of Presentation</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>007 - Disclosure - Note 2 - Accounts Receivable</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note2AccountsReceivable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 2 - Accounts Receivable</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>008 - Disclosure - Note 3 - Inventories</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note3Inventories</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 3 - Inventories</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>009 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Intangible Assets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note4IntangibleAssets</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 4 - Intangible Assets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>010 - Disclosure - Note 5 - Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note5Debt</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 5 - Debt</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>011 - Disclosure - Note 6 - Derivative Instruments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note6DerivativeInstruments</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 6 - Derivative Instruments</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>012 - Disclosure - Note 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note7FairValueofFinancialInstruments</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>013 - Disclosure - Note 8 - Equity Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note8EquityPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 8 - Equity Plans</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>014 - Disclosure - Note 9 - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note9IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 9 - Income Taxes</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>015 - Disclosure - Note 10 - Shares Outstanding and Earnings Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note10SharesOutstandingandEarningsPerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 10 - Shares Outstanding and Earnings Per Share</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>016 - Disclosure - Note 11 - Segment Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note11SegmentInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 11 - Segment Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>017 - Disclosure - Note 12 - Recently Issued Accounting Updates</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note12RecentlyIssuedAccountingUpdates</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 12 - Recently Issued Accounting Updates</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>018 - Disclosure - Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/AccountingPoliciesByPolicy</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>019 - Disclosure - Note 3 - Inventories (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note3InventoriesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 3 - Inventories (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>020 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Intangible Assets (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note4IntangibleAssetsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 4 - Intangible Assets (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>021 - Disclosure - Note 5 - Debt (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note5DebtTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 5 - Debt (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>022 - Disclosure - Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note6DerivativeInstrumentsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>023 - Disclosure - Note 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note7FairValueofFinancialInstrumentsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>024 - Disclosure - Note 8 - Equity Plans (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note8EquityPlansTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 8 - Equity Plans (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>025 - Disclosure - Note 10 - Shares Outstanding and Earnings Per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note10SharesOutstandingandEarningsPerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 10 - Shares Outstanding and Earnings Per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>026 - Disclosure - Note 11 - Segment Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note11SegmentInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 11 - Segment Information (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>027 - Disclosure - Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information (Unaudited) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/SupplementalDisclosuresofCashFlowInformationUnauditedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information (Unaudited) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>028 - Disclosure - Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information (Unaudited) (Details) - Disclosure of Supplemental Cash Flow Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/DisclosureofSupplementalCashFlowInformationTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information (Unaudited) (Details) - Disclosure of Supplemental Cash Flow Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>029 - Disclosure - Note 1 - Basis of Presentation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note1BasisofPresentationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 1 - Basis of Presentation (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>030 - Disclosure - Note 2 - Accounts Receivable (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note2AccountsReceivableDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 2 - Accounts Receivable (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>031 - Disclosure - Note 3 - Inventories (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note3InventoriesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 3 - Inventories (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>032 - Disclosure - Note 3 - Inventories (Details) - Steel Inventories</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/SteelInventoriesTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 3 - Inventories (Details) - Steel Inventories</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>033 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Intangible Assets (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note4IntangibleAssetsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 4 - Intangible Assets (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>034 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Intangible Assets (Details) - Intangible Assets, Net</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/IntangibleAssetsNetTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 4 - Intangible Assets (Details) - Intangible Assets, Net</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>035 - Disclosure - Note 5 - Debt (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note5DebtDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 5 - Debt (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>036 - Disclosure - Note 5 - Debt (Details) - Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/DebtTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 5 - Debt (Details) - Debt</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>037 - Disclosure - Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note6DerivativeInstrumentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>038 - Disclosure - Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Impact to Consolidated Statements of Operations of Derivatives</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/ImpacttoConsolidatedStatementsofOperationsofDerivativesTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Details) - Impact to Consolidated Statements of Operations of Derivatives</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>039 - Disclosure - Note 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note7FairValueofFinancialInstrumentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>040 - Disclosure - Note 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value Measurements, Recorded</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsRecordedTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value Measurements, Recorded</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>041 - Disclosure - Note 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value Measurements, Not Recorded</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsNotRecordedTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value Measurements, Not Recorded</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>042 - Disclosure - Note 8 - Equity Plans (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note8EquityPlansDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 8 - Equity Plans (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>043 - Disclosure - Note 8 - Equity Plans (Details) - Stock Option Activity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/StockOptionActivityTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 8 - Equity Plans (Details) - Stock Option Activity</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>044 - Disclosure - Note 8 - Equity Plans (Details) - Stock Based Compensation Expense Recognized on Restricted Stock Units</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/StockBasedCompensationExpenseRecognizedonRestrictedStockUnitsTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 8 - Equity Plans (Details) - Stock Based Compensation Expense Recognized on Restricted Stock Units</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>045 - Disclosure - Note 8 - Equity Plans (Details) - Restricted Stock Unit Activity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/RestrictedStockUnitActivityTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 8 - Equity Plans (Details) - Restricted Stock Unit Activity</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>046 - Disclosure - Note 9 - Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note9IncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 9 - Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R48.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>047 - Disclosure - Note 10 - Shares Outstanding and Earnings Per Share (Details) - Earnings Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/EarningsPerShareTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 10 - Shares Outstanding and Earnings Per Share (Details) - Earnings Per Share</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R49.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>048 - Disclosure - Note 11 - Segment Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/Note11SegmentInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 11 - Segment Information (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R50.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>049 - Disclosure - Note 11 - Segment Information (Details) - Segment Reporting Information by Revenue</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/SegmentReportingInformationbyRevenueTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 11 - Segment Information (Details) - Segment Reporting Information by Revenue</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R51.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>050 - Disclosure - Note 11 - Segment Information (Details) - Segment Reporting Information by Capital Expenditure</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/SegmentReportingInformationbyCapitalExpenditureTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 11 - Segment Information (Details) - Segment Reporting Information by Capital Expenditure</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R52.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>051 - Disclosure - Note 11 - Segment Information (Details) - Segment Reporting Information by Assets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://olysteel.com/role/SegmentReportingInformationbyAssetsTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 11 - Segment Information (Details) - Segment Reporting Information by Assets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 -3.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '031 - Disclosure - Note 3 - Inventories (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '035 - Disclosure - Note 5 - Debt (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '037 - Disclosure - Note 6 - Derivative Instruments (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 001 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Sep. 30, 2013'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2012'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 002 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (Parentheticals)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 003 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 004 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>zeus-20140930.xml</File>
    <File>zeus-20140930.xsd</File>
    <File>zeus-20140930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>zeus-20140930_def.xml</File>
    <File>zeus-20140930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>zeus-20140930_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
