Plan assets of a defined benefit plan, as a percentage of projected benefit obligation.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Amount of administrative expenses incurred by a defined contribution plan.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanAdministrativeExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of employees' gross pay for which the employer contributes a matching contribution to a defined contribution plan.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

A portion of the employee's compensation multiplied by a specific percentage.

No definition available.

Name:	zeus_DefinedContributionPlanCompensationPercentageMultiplier
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The vesting period of the employer's matching contributions to a defined contribution plan.

No definition available.

Name:	zeus_DefinedContributionPlanVestingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	zeus_Note16RetirementPlansDetailsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=zeus_CTILocationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanNameAxis=zeus_SupplementalExecutiveRetirementPlanSERPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	zeus_MatchAmountAxis=zeus_OneHalfMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	zeus_MatchAmountAxis=zeus_TwentyPercentMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Note 16 - Retirement Plans (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Note 16 - Retirement Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan Vesting Period	5 years
Defined Contribution Plan, Administrative Expenses (in Dollars)	$ 2.1	$ 2.2	$ 2.2
One Half [Member] \| Non-union [Member]
Note 16 - Retirement Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay	6.00%
One Half [Member] \| CTI Location [Member]
Note 16 - Retirement Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay	3.00%
Twenty Percent [Member] \| CTI Location [Member]
Note 16 - Retirement Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay	20.00%
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) [Member]
Note 16 - Retirement Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Compensation Percentage Multiplier	13.00%
Minimum [Member] \| Multiemployer Plan [Member]
Note 16 - Retirement Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Percentage	80.00%
CTI Location [Member]
Note 16 - Retirement Plans (Details) [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay	3.00%