Leases (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019
Operating lease liabilities	$ 124.8
Operating lease right-of-use assets	117.5
Finance lease, net	$ 8.4
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
Operating lease liabilities		$ 98.1
Operating lease right-of-use assets		$ 91.8

Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Net Of Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	graybar_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Present value of lessee's discounted obligation for lease payments from operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888419&loc=SL77918627-209977

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of lessee's right to use underlying asset under operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888419&loc=SL77918627-209977

+ Details

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

- Details

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