Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Gross Sales	$ 1,576,376		$ 1,492,594		$ 4,418,354		$ 4,254,275
Cash discounts	(6,619)		(6,135)		(18,422)		(16,775)
Net Sales	1,569,757		1,486,459		4,399,932		4,237,500
Cost of merchandise sold	(1,275,222)		(1,208,796)		(3,573,998)		(3,460,040)
Gross Margin	294,535		277,663		825,934		777,460
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(233,773)		(220,791)		(678,647)		(652,950)
Depreciation and amortization	(9,786)		(9,251)		(29,140)		(27,268)
Other income, net	739		451		2,897		1,653
Income from Operations	51,715		48,072		121,044		98,895
Interest expense, net	(364)		(407)		(1,122)		(1,171)
Income before Provision for Income Taxes	51,351		47,665		119,922		97,724
Provision for income taxes	(20,815)		(18,946)		(48,929)		(39,100)
Net Income	30,536		28,719		70,993		58,624
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(72)		(86)		(164)		(154)
Net Income attributable to Graybar Electric Company, Inc.	$ 30,464		$ 28,633		$ 70,829		$ 58,470
Net Income per share of Common Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.93	[1]	$ 1.80	[1]	$ 4.47	[1]	$ 3.67	[1]
Cash Dividends per share of Common Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	[2]	$ 0.30	[2]	$ 0.90	[2]	$ 0.90	[2]
Average Common Shares Outstanding (Shares)	15,799	[1]	15,895	[1]	15,861	[1]	15,954	[1]

[1] Adjusted for the declaration of a two and a half percent (2.5%) stock dividend in 2013, shares related to which were issued in February 2014. Prior to the adjustment, the average common shares outstanding were 15,507 and 15,565 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

[2] Cash dividends declared were $4,754 and $4,665 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Cash dividends declared were $14,302 and $14,041 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.