Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 159,194	$ 159,213	$ 157,638	$ 96,136
Accounts and notes receivable, net	504,509	471,661
Merchandise inventories	751,613	720,116
Other current assets	70,600	52,799
Total current assets	1,485,916	1,403,789
Property and equipment, net	100,807	101,545
Goodwill, net	247,271	247,271
Intangible assets, net	23,575	24,825
Due from O&M and subsidiaries
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries
Other assets, net	48,301	44,609
Total assets	1,905,870	1,822,039
Accounts and drafts payable	581,768	531,735
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	18,626	20,588
Deferred income taxes	34,810	39,082
Other accrued liabilities	97,829	103,076
Total current liabilities	733,033	694,481
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	212,137	209,096
Due to O&M and subsidiaries
Intercompany debt
Deferred income taxes	15,860	12,107
Other liabilities	49,061	48,837
Total liabilities	1,010,091	964,521
Common stock	127,539	126,867
Paid-in capital	175,169	165,447
Retained earnings (deficit)	597,945	570,320
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,874)	(5,116)
Total shareholders' equity	895,779	857,518	815,528	769,179
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,905,870	1,822,039
Owens and Minor Inc [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	156,785	156,897	155,117	92,088
Accounts and notes receivable, net		313
Merchandise inventories
Other current assets	419	118
Total current assets	157,204	157,328
Property and equipment, net
Goodwill, net
Intangible assets, net
Due from O&M and subsidiaries
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries	1,097,883	1,036,211
Other assets, net	3,767	1,450
Total assets	1,258,854	1,194,989
Accounts and drafts payable	81,200
Accrued payroll and related liabilities
Deferred income taxes
Other accrued liabilities	6,996	6,197
Total current liabilities	88,196	6,197
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	207,233	204,785
Due to O&M and subsidiaries	67,646	126,489
Intercompany debt
Deferred income taxes
Other liabilities
Total liabilities	363,075	337,471
Common stock	127,539	126,867
Paid-in capital	175,169	165,447
Retained earnings (deficit)	597,945	570,320
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,874)	(5,116)
Total shareholders' equity	895,779	857,518
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,258,854	1,194,989
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	2,393	2,316	2,241	3,765
Accounts and notes receivable, net	504,509	471,348
Merchandise inventories	751,613	720,116
Other current assets	69,595	52,438
Total current assets	1,328,110	1,246,218
Property and equipment, net	100,807	101,542
Goodwill, net	247,271	247,271
Intangible assets, net	23,575	24,825
Due from O&M and subsidiaries	26,871	84,966
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries
Other assets, net	44,534	43,159
Total assets	1,771,168	1,747,981
Accounts and drafts payable	500,564	531,732
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	18,615	20,570
Deferred income taxes	34,810	39,082
Other accrued liabilities	90,503	96,311
Total current liabilities	644,492	687,695
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	4,904	4,311
Due to O&M and subsidiaries
Intercompany debt	138,890	138,890
Deferred income taxes	15,860	12,107
Other liabilities	49,061	48,837
Total liabilities	853,207	891,840
Common stock
Paid-in capital	242,024	242,024
Retained earnings (deficit)	681,049	619,496
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,112)	(5,379)
Total shareholders' equity	917,961	856,141
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,771,168	1,747,981
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	16		280	283
Accounts and notes receivable, net
Merchandise inventories
Other current assets	586	243
Total current assets	602	243
Property and equipment, net		3
Goodwill, net
Intangible assets, net
Due from O&M and subsidiaries	40,775	41,523
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries
Other assets, net
Total assets	41,377	41,769
Accounts and drafts payable	4	3
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	11	18
Deferred income taxes
Other accrued liabilities	330	568
Total current liabilities	345	589
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
Due to O&M and subsidiaries
Intercompany debt
Deferred income taxes
Other liabilities
Total liabilities	345	589
Common stock	1,500	1,500
Paid-in capital	62,814	62,814
Retained earnings (deficit)	(23,282)	(23,134)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total shareholders' equity	41,032	41,180
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	41,377	41,769
Eliminations [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts and notes receivable, net
Merchandise inventories
Other current assets
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Goodwill, net
Intangible assets, net
Due from O&M and subsidiaries	(67,646)	(126,489)
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(1,097,883)	(1,036,211)
Other assets, net
Total assets	(1,165,529)	(1,162,700)
Accounts and drafts payable
Accrued payroll and related liabilities
Deferred income taxes
Other accrued liabilities
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
Due to O&M and subsidiaries	(67,646)	(126,489)
Intercompany debt	(138,890)	(138,890)
Deferred income taxes
Other liabilities
Total liabilities	(206,536)	(265,379)
Common stock	(1,500)	(1,500)
Paid-in capital	(304,838)	(304,838)
Retained earnings (deficit)	(657,767)	(596,362)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	5,112	5,379
Total shareholders' equity	(958,993)	(897,321)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (1,165,529)	$ (1,162,700)