Employee Benefit Plan - Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Allocation Percentage of Assets, Equity Securities	65.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Allocation Percentage of Assets, Debt Securities	35.00%
Other Comprehensive Income (loss), Reclassification, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Gain (loss) Recognized in Net Periodic Benefit Cost, After Tax	$ (9,120)	$ (15,228)	$ 368
Other Comprehensive Income (loss), Reclassification, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Transition Asset (Obligation), Recognized in Net Periodic Benefit Cost, After Tax	0	0	18
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Prior Service Cost (Credit), After Tax	19	19	43
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Gain (Loss), After Tax	(2,311)	(1,103)	(2,369)
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Prior Service Cost (Credit), After Tax	25	44
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Actuarial Cost (Credit), After Tax	(47,053)	(40,243)
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Cash Contributions to ESOP	5,966	5,222
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	14,014	10,063	8,870
Current Arrow SERP [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of Participants	10
Former Arrow SERP [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of Participants	16
Wyle SERP [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of Participants	18
Wyle Defined Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	5,450	9,854
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year	265
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Net Gains (Losses)	(1,745)	(1,041)
Defined Benefit Plan, Prior Service Cost [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Net Gains (Losses)	19
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Loss [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Net Gains (Losses)	3,115
International [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	$ 23,990	$ 23,450	$ 20,811