XML 47 R35.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Cash Discounts And Doubtful Accounts (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Reserve for Cash Discount and Allowances for Doubtful Accounts      
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]      
Beginning Balance $ 6,837us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= graybar_ReserveforCashDiscountandAllowancesforDoubtfulAccountsMember
$ 6,868us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= graybar_ReserveforCashDiscountandAllowancesforDoubtfulAccountsMember
$ 7,764us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= graybar_ReserveforCashDiscountandAllowancesforDoubtfulAccountsMember
Provision (Charged to Expense) 29,087us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= graybar_ReserveforCashDiscountandAllowancesforDoubtfulAccountsMember
24,971us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= graybar_ReserveforCashDiscountandAllowancesforDoubtfulAccountsMember
25,607us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= graybar_ReserveforCashDiscountandAllowancesforDoubtfulAccountsMember
Deductions (28,851)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= graybar_ReserveforCashDiscountandAllowancesforDoubtfulAccountsMember
(25,002)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= graybar_ReserveforCashDiscountandAllowancesforDoubtfulAccountsMember
(26,503)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= graybar_ReserveforCashDiscountandAllowancesforDoubtfulAccountsMember
Ending Balance 7,073us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= graybar_ReserveforCashDiscountandAllowancesforDoubtfulAccountsMember
6,837us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= graybar_ReserveforCashDiscountandAllowancesforDoubtfulAccountsMember
6,868us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= graybar_ReserveforCashDiscountandAllowancesforDoubtfulAccountsMember
Allowance for cash discounts      
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]      
Beginning Balance 1,560us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember
1,411us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember
1,498us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember
Provision (Charged to Expense) 25,318us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember
22,943us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember
21,228us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember
Deductions (25,114)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember
(22,794)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember
(21,315)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember
Ending Balance 1,764us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember
1,560us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember
1,411us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember
Allowance for doubtful accounts      
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]      
Beginning Balance 5,277us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
5,457us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
6,266us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Provision (Charged to Expense) 3,769us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
2,028us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
4,379us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Deductions (3,737)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
(2,208)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
(5,188)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Ending Balance $ 5,309us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
$ 5,277us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
$ 5,457us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember