CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) [Abstract]
Sales	$ 962,092	$ 1,247,043	$ 1,499,662
Cost of sales	697,290	895,057	1,066,822
Gross profit	264,802	351,986	432,840
Selling, general and administrative expense	245,470	303,819	327,899
Impairment expense	0	68,735	117,569
B27 settlement	0	7,348	0
Operating income (loss)	19,332	(27,916)	(12,628)
Other expense (income), net	(5,906)	72	131
Interest expense	15,564	10,932	12,797
Income (loss) before income taxes	9,674	(38,920)	(25,556)
Provision for income taxes	2,523	150	19,682
Net income (loss)	7,151	(39,070)	(45,238)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(551)	(534)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to DXP Enterprises, Inc.	7,702	(38,536)	(45,238)
Preferred stock dividend	90	90	90
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	7,612	(38,626)	(45,328)
Net income (loss)	7,151	(39,070)	(45,238)
Loss on long-term investment, net of income taxes	0	0	(55)
Cumulative translation adjustment, net of income taxes	(7,658)	(4,916)	(3,277)
Comprehensive loss	$ (507)	$ (43,986)	$ (48,570)
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ (2.68)	$ (3.10)
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	15,042	14,423	14,639
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ (2.68)	$ (3.10)
Weighted average common shares and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	15,882	14,423	14,639