Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the required periodic payments applied to principal.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fixed interest rate related to the interest rate derivative.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of asset related to consideration paid in advance for costs that provide economic benefits in future periods, and amount of other assets that are expected to be realized or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The minimum commitments or obligations by the company that would require the Company to maintain certain EBITDA ratios under the revolver commitments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zeus_BalanceRequiredForComplianceWithRevolverCommitments
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The premium rate of a derivative instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zeus_DerivativePremiumRate
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Effectof swap interest rate agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount by which a fixed rate interest hedge notional amount is decreased on a monthly basis.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Under the revolver commitments, the required ratio of EBITDA minus certain capital expenditures and cash taxes paid to fixed charges.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zeus_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsEbitdaRatio
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of credit facility covenant terms monetary.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zeus_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsMonetary
Namespace Prefix:	zeus_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of covenants applied to revolver commitments in a line of credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=zeus_AssetBasedRevolvingCreditFacilityDueJune302019Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=zeus_ABLCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=zeus_AvailabilityDollarAmountMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_BaseRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=zeus_TermLoanMemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=zeus_AmortizedBankingFeesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=zeus_IndustrialRevenueBondsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=zeus_ChicagoTubeAndIronCompanyAcquisitionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 5 - Debt (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
Note 5 - Debt (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 02, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2013
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| A B L Credit Facility [Member] \| Availability Dollar Amount [Member]
Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Terms Monetary		$ 30,000
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| A B L Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		0.00%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| A B L Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		1.25%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| A B L Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		0.25%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| A B L Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		3.00%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| A B L Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 365,000
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		$ 365,000
Line of Credit Facility Covenant Terms Percentage of Revolver Commitments		10.00%
Balance Required for Compliance with Revolver Commitments		$ 36,500
A B L Credit Facility [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Term Loan Member [Member]
Long-term Line of Credit			$ 53,200
A B L Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility Covenant Terms EBITDA Ratio		1
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity		$ 87,300
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal	$ 840
Minimum [Member]
Derivative Premium Rate		1.75%
Maximum [Member]
Derivative Premium Rate		2.25%
Amortized Banking Fees [Member]
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current		$ 3,000
Industrial Revenue Bonds [Member]
Effectof Swap Interest Rate Agreement		3.46%
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Long-term Line of Credit		$ 33,500
Fixed Rate Interest Hedge Notional Monthly Decrease		$ 729
Chicago Tube and Iron Company Acquisition [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage		0.12%
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate		1.21%