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Capital Stock Par Value of Stock (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 10, 2004
Class of Stock [Line Items]        
Stockholders' Equity Note, Percent of Entity Owned by Current and Retired Employees 100.00%graybar_StockholdersEquityNotePercentofEntityOwnedbyCurrentandRetiredEmployees      
Common stock stated value per share (USD per share) $ 20us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 20us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare    
Common stock, subscriptions ( in shares) 806,811graybar_CommonStockSubscriptionsDuringPeriodShares      
Common shares subscribed (in dollars) $ 16,136graybar_CommonStockSubscriptionsDuringPeriodValue      
Treasury Stock Transactions, Excluding Value of Shares Reissued [Abstract]        
Shares of common stock purchased 752,983us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired 638,647us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired 558,599us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired  
Shares of common stock retired 780,077us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesRetired 681,637us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesRetired 658,890us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesRetired  
Preferred stock shares authorized       10,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
Preferred stock par or stated value per share (USD per share)       $ 0.01us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Preferred stock outstanding (in shares) 0us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesOutstanding 0us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesOutstanding    
Common stock dividend declared, percent   2.50%graybar_CommonStockDividendDeclaredPercent 20.00%graybar_CommonStockDividendDeclaredPercent  
Common Stock        
Class of Stock [Line Items]        
Percentage Ownership in Voting Trust 83.00%graybar_StockholdersEquityNotePercentofEntityHeldinVotingTrust
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember