Condensed Consolidating Guarantor Financial Statements (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets
Current Assets	$ 1,419.2	$ 1,352.7
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	493.8	491.1
Other noncurrent assets	215.3	219.4
Total Assets	2,128.3	2,063.2
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities	556.8	547.3
Noncurrent liabilities	1,470.4	1,484.6
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	1.4
Ryerson Inc. stockholders' equity	94.0	23.4
Noncontrolling interest	5.7	7.9
Total Liabilities and Equity	2,128.3	2,063.2
Parent [Member]
Assets
Current Assets	1,392.4	1,399.6
Other noncurrent assets	900.4	798.1
Total Assets	2,292.8	2,197.7
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities	21.9	44.5
Noncurrent liabilities	2,176.9	2,129.8
Ryerson Inc. stockholders' equity	94.0	23.4
Total Liabilities and Equity	2,292.8	2,197.7
Guarantor [Member]
Assets
Current Assets	1,162.0	1,089.2
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	424.0	419.3
Other noncurrent assets	1,544.4	1,480.5
Total Assets	3,130.4	2,989.0
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities	1,820.1	1,781.6
Noncurrent liabilities	452.3	484.4
Ryerson Inc. stockholders' equity	858.0	723.0
Total Liabilities and Equity	3,130.4	2,989.0
Non-guarantor [Member]
Assets
Current Assets	225.7	225.9
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	69.8	71.8
Other noncurrent assets	16.2	15.4
Total Assets	311.7	313.1
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities	76.9	84.4
Noncurrent liabilities	31.8	31.0
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	1.4
Ryerson Inc. stockholders' equity	195.9	189.8
Noncontrolling interest	5.7	7.9
Total Liabilities and Equity	311.7	313.1
Eliminations [Member]
Assets
Current Assets	(1,360.9)	(1,362.0)
Other noncurrent assets	(2,245.7)	(2,074.6)
Total Assets	(3,606.6)	(3,436.6)
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities	(1,362.1)	(1,363.2)
Noncurrent liabilities	(1,190.6)	(1,160.6)
Ryerson Inc. stockholders' equity	(1,053.9)	(912.8)
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ (3,606.6)	$ (3,436.6)