Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Owens & Minor, Inc. and the subsidiaries it controls (we, us, or our) and contain all adjustments (which are comprised only of normal recurring accruals and use of estimates) necessary to conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. During the first quarter, we made certain changes to the leadership team, organizational structure, budgeting and financial reporting processes which resulted in changes to our segment reporting. These changes align our operations into two distinct business units: Global Solutions and Global Products. Global Solutions (previously Domestic and International) is our U.S. and European distribution, logistics and value-added services business. Global Products (previously Proprietary Products) provides product-related solutions, including surgical and procedural kitting and sourcing. The Halyard Surgical & Infection Prevention business (Halyard S&IP or Halyard), acquired April 30, 2018, is included in the Global Products segment. Beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2018, we reported financial results using this two segment structure and have recast prior year segment results on the same basis
Reclassifications	Reclassifications Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make assumptions and estimates that affect reported amounts and related disclosures. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASC 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which establishes principles for recognizing revenue and reporting information about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. We applied the guidance using the modified retrospective transition method. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on the amount and timing of revenue recognized, therefore, no adjustments were recorded to our consolidated financial statements upon adoption. Our revenue is primarily generated from sales contracts with customers. Under most of our distribution and product sales arrangements, our performance obligations are limited to delivery of products to a customer upon receipt of a purchase order. For these arrangements, we recognize revenue at the point in time when shipment is completed, as control passes to the customer upon product receipt. Revenue for activity-based fees and other services is recognized over time as activities are performed. Depending on the specific contractual provisions and nature of the performance obligation, revenue from services may be recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the service, on a proportional performance model, based on level of effort, or when final deliverables have been provided. Our contracts sometimes allow for forms of variable consideration including rebates, discounts and performance guarantees. In these cases, we estimate the amount of consideration to which we will be entitled in exchange for transferring the product or service to the customer. Rebates and customer discounts are estimated based on contractual terms or historical experience and we maintain a liability for rebates or discounts that have been earned but are unpaid. The amount accrued for rebates and discounts due to customers was $41.7 million at September 30, 2018 and $13.0 million at December 31, 2017. Additionally, we generate fees from arrangements that include performance targets related to cost-saving initiatives for customers that result from our supply-chain management services. Achievement against performance targets, measured in accordance with contractual terms, may result in additional fees paid to us or, if performance targets are not achieved, we may be obligated to refund or reduce a portion of our fees or to provide credits toward future purchases by the customer. For these arrangements, contingent revenue is deferred and recognized as the performance target is achieved and the applicable contingency is released. When we determine that a loss is probable under a contract, the estimated loss is accrued. The amount deferred under these arrangements is not material. For our direct to patient sales, revenues are recorded based upon the estimated amounts due from patients and third-party payors. Third-party payors include federal and state agencies (under Medicare and Medicaid programs), managed care health plans and commercial insurance companies. Estimates of contractual allowances are based upon historical collection rates for the related payor agreements. The estimated reimbursement amounts are made on a payor-specific basis and are recorded based on the best information available regarding management’s interpretation of the applicable laws, regulations and reimbursement terms. In most cases, we record revenue gross, as we are the primary obligor in the arrangement and we obtain control of the products before they are transferred to the customer. When we act as an agent in a sales arrangement and do not bear a significant portion of inventory risks, primarily for our third-party logistics business, we record revenue net of product cost. Sales taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are excluded from revenues. See Note 14 for disaggregation of revenue by segment and geography as we believe that best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of our revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.
Fair Value	The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, financing receivables, accounts payable and financing payables included in the consolidated balance sheets approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of long-term debt is estimated based on quoted market prices or dealer quotes for the identical liability when traded as an asset in an active market (Level 1) or, if quoted market prices or dealer quotes are not available, on the borrowing rates currently available for loans with similar terms, credit ratings and average remaining maturities (Level 2). We determine the fair value of our derivatives based on estimated amounts that would be received or paid to terminate the contracts at the reporting date based on current market prices for applicable currencies.
Share Repurchase	We have elected to allocate any excess of share repurchase price over par value to retained earnings.
Segment Reporting	We periodically evaluate our application of accounting guidance for reportable segments and disclose information about reportable segments based on the way management organizes the enterprise for making operating decisions and assessing performance. We report our business under two segments: Global Solutions and Global Products. The Global Solutions segment includes our United States and European distribution, logistics and value-added services business. Global Products provides product-related solutions, including surgical and procedural kitting and sourcing. The Halyard S&IP business, acquired on April 30, 2018, is a part of Global Products. We evaluate the performance of our segments based on their operating income excluding acquisition-related and exit and realignment charges, certain purchase price fair value adjustments, and other substantive items that, either as a result of their nature or size, would not be expected to occur as part of our normal business operations on a regular basis. Beginning in the second quarter of 2018, the Company is excluding acquisition-related intangible amortization from the measure of segment operating income. This change is consistent with management's internal measure of segment results. Prior periods have been recast on a consistent basis. Segment assets exclude inter-segment account balances as we believe their inclusion would be misleading and not meaningful. We believe all inter-segment sales are at prices that approximate market.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) which amended the existing accounting standards for revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 establishes principles for recognizing revenue upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers, in an amount that reflects the expected consideration received in exchange for those goods or services. We adopted ASU 2014-09 in the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. The impact on our consolidated financial statements is not material. See Note 1 for further information. In February 2016, the FASB established Topic 842, Leases, by issuing Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, which requires lessees to recognize leases on-balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model (ROU) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We expect to adopt the new standard on its effective date. A modified retrospective transition approach is required, applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. An entity may choose to use either (1) its effective date or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the consolidated financial statements as its date of initial application. If an entity chooses the second option, the transition requirements for existing leases also apply to leases entered into between the date of initial application and the effective date. The entity must also recast its comparative period consolidated financial statements and provide the disclosures required by the new standard for the comparative periods. We expect to adopt the new standard on January 1, 2019 and use the effective date as our date of initial application. Consequently, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before January 1, 2019. The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition. We expect to elect the ‘package of practical expedients’, which permits us not to reassess under the new standard our prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. We do not expect to elect the use-of-hindsight or the practical expedient pertaining to land easements; the latter not being applicable to us. We expect that this standard will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. While we continue to assess all of the effects of adoption, we currently believe the most significant effects relate to (1) the recognition of new ROU assets and lease liabilities on our balance sheet for our office and warehouse facility operating leases, and (2) providing significant new disclosures about our leasing activities. The new standard also provides practical expedients for an entity’s ongoing accounting. We currently expect to elect the short-term lease recognition exemption for all leases that qualify. This means, for those leases that qualify, we will not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities, and this includes not recognizing ROU assets or lease liabilities for existing short-term leases of those assets in transition. We also currently expect to elect the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for all of our leases. In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill. The new guidance eliminates the requirement for an entity to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, an entity will perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment testing by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recording an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value. We early adopted this guidance in conjunction with our interim impairment testing performed during the quarter ended June 30, 2018. There have been no changes in our significant accounting policies from those contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.