Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 109,003	$ 115,198	$ 110,579
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	39,604	34,135	29,148
Deferred income tax benefit	1,060	14,520	(94)
Provision for LIFO reserve	4,194	13,700	11,088
Share-based compensation expense	5,697	5,674	6,358
Provision for losses on accounts and notes receivable	1,004	2,176	1,808
Pension expense			21,366
Pension contributions		(409)	(13,850)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	27,161	(37,273)	24,611
Merchandise inventories	54,540	(99,950)	(41,315)
Accounts payable	(18,694)	44,058	(15,254)
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(4,490)	(24,654)	9,334
Other, net	(573)	1,244	(596)
Cash provided by (used for) operating activities	218,506	68,419	143,183
Investing activities:
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	(155,210)
Additions to property and equipment	(9,832)	(24,981)	(31,221)
Additions to computer software and intangible assets	(29,131)	(11,334)	(10,128)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	3,298	2,430	3,926
Cash used for investing activities	(190,875)	(33,885)	(37,423)
Financing activities:
Cash dividends paid	(55,681)	(50,909)	(44,780)
Repurchases of common stock	(15,000)	(16,124)
Financing costs paid	(1,303)		(2,795)
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation	1,293	2,154	2,091
Proceeds from termination of interest rate swaps		4,005
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	4,986	9,179	7,234
Other, net	(2,710)	(5,836)	(2,773)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(68,415)	(57,531)	(41,023)
Discontinued operations:
Operating cash flows		(278)	(1,660)
Net cash used for discontinued operations		(278)	(1,660)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2,734
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(38,050)	(23,275)	63,077
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	135,938	159,213	96,136
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	97,888	135,938	159,213
Owens & Minor, Inc.
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	109,003	115,198	110,579
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(120,133)	(122,209)	(117,875)
Depreciation and amortization	1
Share-based compensation expense			534
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable		313	(313)
Accounts payable	(67,800)	113,100
Net change in other assets and liabilities	19	539	(142)
Other, net	(1,738)	(998)	(1,153)
Cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(80,648)	105,943	(8,370)
Financing activities:
Change in intercompany advances	86,131	(87,415)	108,634
Cash dividends paid	(55,681)	(50,909)	(44,780)
Repurchases of common stock	(15,000)	(16,124)
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation	1,293	2,154	2,091
Proceeds from termination of interest rate swaps		4,005
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	4,986	9,179	7,234
Other, net	(2,901)	(3,720)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	18,828	(142,830)	73,179
Discontinued operations:
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(61,820)	(36,887)	64,809
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	120,010	156,897	92,088
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	58,190	120,010	156,897
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	134,276	122,555	118,007
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	34,944	34,135	29,144
Deferred income tax benefit	2,933	14,520	(94)
Provision for LIFO reserve	4,194	13,700	11,088
Share-based compensation expense	5,697	5,674	5,824
Provision for losses on accounts and notes receivable	587	2,176	1,808
Pension expense			21,366
Pension contributions		(409)	(13,850)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	31,513	(37,461)	24,924
Merchandise inventories	52,041	(99,865)	(41,315)
Accounts payable	55,941	(69,128)	(15,252)
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(2,653)	(25,338)	9,825
Other, net	1,236	2,339	557
Cash provided by (used for) operating activities	320,709	(37,102)	152,032
Investing activities:
Additions to property and equipment	(4,249)	(24,798)	(31,221)
Additions to computer software and intangible assets	(27,960)	(11,197)	(10,128)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,057	2,430	3,926
Cash used for investing activities	(31,152)	(33,565)	(37,423)
Financing activities:
Change in intercompany advances	(287,200)	85,276	(110,490)
Financing costs paid	(1,303)		(2,795)
Other, net	(2,222)	(2,116)	(2,773)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(290,725)	83,160	(116,058)
Discontinued operations:
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1,168)	12,493	(1,449)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	14,809	2,316	3,765
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	13,641	14,809	2,316
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(13,462)	(346)	(132)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	4,659		4
Deferred income tax benefit	(1,873)
Provision for losses on accounts and notes receivable	417
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	(7,599)	(125)
Merchandise inventories	1,818	(85)
Accounts payable	(3,585)	86	(2)
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(1,859)	145	(349)
Other, net	(71)	(97)
Cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(21,555)	(422)	(479)
Investing activities:
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	(155,210)
Additions to property and equipment	(5,583)	(183)
Additions to computer software and intangible assets	(1,171)	(137)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,241
Cash used for investing activities	(159,723)	(320)
Financing activities:
Change in intercompany advances	201,069	2,139	1,856
Other, net	2,413
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	203,482	2,139	1,856
Discontinued operations:
Operating cash flows		(278)	(1,660)
Net cash used for discontinued operations		(278)	(1,660)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2,734
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	24,938	1,119	(283)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	1,119		283
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	26,057	1,119
Eliminations
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(120,814)	(122,209)	(117,875)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	120,133	122,209	117,875
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	3,247
Merchandise inventories	681
Accounts payable	(3,250)
Net change in other assets and liabilities	$ 3