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Note 11 - Segment Information (Details) - Segment Reporting Information by Capital Expenditures (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	$ 1,691zeus_CapitalExpenditures	$ 2,341zeus_CapitalExpenditures
Flat Products [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	1,188zeus_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = zeus_FlatProductsMember	1,017zeus_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = zeus_FlatProductsMember
Tubular and Pipe Products [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	503zeus_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = zeus_TubularandPipeProductsMember	1,320zeus_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = zeus_TubularandPipeProductsMember
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures		$ 4zeus_CapitalExpenditures / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateMember

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingOtherSignificantReconcilingItemLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Expenses incurred during the reporting period regarding the purchases of fixed assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zeus_CapitalExpenditures
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=zeus_FlatProductsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=zeus_TubularandPipeProductsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: