Commitments And Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	Note 11: Commitments and Contingencies *Lease Obligations & Other* The Company leases buildings and equipment under noncancellable operating leases expiring in various years through 2025. Future minimum rental commitments are estimated to total $125.9 million, including approximately $23.6 million in 2012, $19.6 million in 2013, $16.0 million in 2014, $13.9 million in 2015, $11.9 million in 2016 and $40.9 million thereafter. Rental expense under operating leases totaled $30.5 million, $25.6 million and $25.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. To fulfill contractual requirements for certain customers in 2011, the Company has entered into certain fixed-price noncancellable contractual obligations. These purchase obligations which will all be paid in 2012 aggregated to $56.1 million at December 31, 2011. *Concentrations of Various Risks* The Company's financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, available-for-sale investments, derivative instruments, accounts payable, and notes payable. In the case of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable, the carrying amount on the balance sheet approximates the fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The available-for-sale investments in common stock are adjusted to fair value each period with unrealized gains and losses recorded within accumulated other comprehensive income. The derivative instruments are marked to market each period. Based on borrowing rates available to the Company for loans with similar terms, the carrying value of notes payable approximates the fair values. The Company's financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of derivative financial instruments and trade accounts receivable. Our derivative financial instruments are contracts placed with major financial institutions. Credit is generally extended to customers based upon an evaluation of each customer's financial condition, with terms consistent in the industry and no collateral required. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of customers and their dispersion across geographic areas. The Company has signed supply agreements with certain vendors which may obligate the Company to make cash deposits based on the spot price of aluminum at the end of each month. These cash deposits offset amounts payable to the vendor when inventory is received. We made no cash deposits for the year ended December 31, 2011. We have an exposure of $2.6 million at December 31, 2011. Approximately 16% of our total labor force is covered by collective bargaining agreements. There are collective bargaining agreements that will expire in fiscal 2012, which cover approximately 6% of our total labor force. We believe that our overall relationship with our employees is good. *Litigation* From time to time, we are named as a defendant in legal actions incidental to our ordinary course of business. We do not believe that the resolution of these claims will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We maintain liability insurance coverage to assist in protecting our assets from losses arising from or related to activities associated with business operations. In October 2011, the United States Environmental Protection Agency named us as one of more than 100 businesses that may be a potentially responsible party for the Portland Harbor Superfund Site ("Portland Harbor"). We do not currently have sufficient information available to us to determine the total cost of any required investigation or remediation of the Portland Harbor site. Management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter or estimate a range of potential loss at this time. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company received $2.6 million related to the settlement of an insurance claim. Based on a 2003 agreement between Ispat International N.V. and Ispat Inland, Inc. (collectively, "Ispat") and Ryerson, Ryerson assigned its environmental insurance policy issued by Kemper Environmental Ltd ("Kemper") to Ispat and Ispat agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to pursue certain claims against Kemper. Ryerson received a letter from ArcelorMittal, the successor in interest by merger to Ispat, in 2010 stating it had reached a settlement with Kemper Environmental Ltd. relating to a 2005 claim and that Ryerson would receive $2.6 million as its agreed upon share of the settlement. The Company received the $2.6 million in 2010 and in accordance with ASC 450-30, the Company recognized the gain upon its realization. On April 22, 2002, Champagne Metals, an Oklahoma metals service center that processes and sells aluminum products, sued us and six other metals service centers in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. Champagne Metals alleged a conspiracy among the defendants to induce or coerce aluminum suppliers to refuse to designate it as a distributor in violation of federal and state antitrust laws and tortious interference with business and contractual relations. The complaint sought damages with the exact amount to be determined at trial. Champagne Metals also sought treble damages on its antitrust claims and sought punitive damages in addition to actual damages on its other claim. On May 12, 2009, the parties resolved all matters by agreement. Under the terms of this agreement we made a cash payment of $2.6 million to Champagne Metals. On June 12, 2009 the matter was dismissed with prejudice. There are various claims and pending actions against the Company. The amount of liability, if any, for those claims and actions at December 31, 2011 is not determinable but, in the opinion of management, such liability, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Note 11: Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Obligations & Other

The Company leases buildings and equipment under noncancellable operating leases expiring in various years through 2025. Future minimum rental commitments are estimated to total $125.9 million, including approximately $23.6 million in 2012, $19.6 million in 2013, $16.0 million in 2014, $13.9 million in 2015, $11.9 million in 2016 and $40.9 million thereafter.

Rental expense under operating leases totaled $30.5 million, $25.6 million and $25.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

To fulfill contractual requirements for certain customers in 2011, the Company has entered into certain fixed-price noncancellable contractual obligations. These purchase obligations which will all be paid in 2012 aggregated to $56.1 million at December 31, 2011.

Concentrations of Various Risks

The Company's financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, available-for-sale investments, derivative instruments, accounts payable, and notes payable. In the case of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable, the carrying amount on the balance sheet approximates the fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The available-for-sale investments in common stock are adjusted to fair value each period with unrealized gains and losses recorded within accumulated other comprehensive income. The derivative instruments are marked to market each period. Based on borrowing rates available to the Company for loans with similar terms, the carrying value of notes payable approximates the fair values.

The Company's financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of derivative financial instruments and trade accounts receivable. Our derivative financial instruments are contracts placed with major financial institutions. Credit is generally extended to customers based upon an evaluation of each customer's financial condition, with terms consistent in the industry and no collateral required. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of customers and their dispersion across geographic areas.

The Company has signed supply agreements with certain vendors which may obligate the Company to make cash deposits based on the spot price of aluminum at the end of each month. These cash deposits offset amounts payable to the vendor when inventory is received. We made no cash deposits for the year ended December 31, 2011. We have an exposure of $2.6 million at December 31, 2011.

Approximately 16% of our total labor force is covered by collective bargaining agreements. There are collective bargaining agreements that will expire in fiscal 2012, which cover approximately 6% of our total labor force. We believe that our overall relationship with our employees is good.

Litigation

From time to time, we are named as a defendant in legal actions incidental to our ordinary course of business. We do not believe that the resolution of these claims will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We maintain liability insurance coverage to assist in protecting our assets from losses arising from or related to activities associated with business operations.

In October 2011, the United States Environmental Protection Agency named us as one of more than 100 businesses that may be a potentially responsible party for the Portland Harbor Superfund Site ("Portland Harbor"). We do not currently have sufficient information available to us to determine the total cost of any required investigation or remediation of the Portland Harbor site. Management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter or estimate a range of potential loss at this time.

During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company received $2.6 million related to the settlement of an insurance claim. Based on a 2003 agreement between Ispat International N.V. and Ispat Inland, Inc. (collectively, "Ispat") and Ryerson, Ryerson assigned its environmental insurance policy issued by Kemper Environmental Ltd ("Kemper") to Ispat and Ispat agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to pursue certain claims against Kemper. Ryerson received a letter from ArcelorMittal, the successor in interest by merger to Ispat, in 2010 stating it had reached a settlement with Kemper Environmental Ltd. relating to a 2005 claim and that Ryerson would receive $2.6 million as its agreed upon share of the settlement. The Company received the $2.6 million in 2010 and in accordance with ASC 450-30, the Company recognized the gain upon its realization.

On April 22, 2002, Champagne Metals, an Oklahoma metals service center that processes and sells aluminum products, sued us and six other metals service centers in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. Champagne Metals alleged a conspiracy among the defendants to induce or coerce aluminum suppliers to refuse to designate it as a distributor in violation of federal and state antitrust laws and tortious interference with business and contractual relations. The complaint sought damages with the exact amount to be determined at trial. Champagne Metals also sought treble damages on its antitrust claims and sought punitive damages in addition to actual damages on its other claim. On May 12, 2009, the parties resolved all matters by agreement. Under the terms of this agreement we made a cash payment of $2.6 million to Champagne Metals. On June 12, 2009 the matter was dismissed with prejudice.

There are various claims and pending actions against the Company. The amount of liability, if any, for those claims and actions at December 31, 2011 is not determinable but, in the opinion of management, such liability, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.