Consolidated Statements Of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total PSS World Medical Shareholders' Equity Member	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning balance, value at Mar. 28, 2008	$ 339,351	$ 609	$ 212,768	$ 123,930	$ 2,044	$ 339,351	$ 0
Beginning balance, shares at Mar. 28, 2008		60,894,626
Statements Of Equity [Line Items]
Net income	51,486			51,486		51,486	0
Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale investments, net of tax	234				234	234
Reclassification adjustments for gains on available-for-sale investments included in net income, net of tax	(275)				(275)	(275)
Impact of interest rate swap, net of taxes	(351)				(351)	(351)
Total comprehensive income	51,094					51,094	0
Repurchases and retirement of common stock, shares		(3,377,385)
Repurchases and retirement of common stock, value	(52,768)	(34)	(52,734)			(52,768)
Exercise of stock options, shares		604,974
Exercise of stock options, value	6,208	6	6,202			6,208
Stock-based compensation	5,843		5,843			5,843
Vesting of restricted stock, shares		156,012
Vesting of restricted stock, value	0	2	(2)			0
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	1,700		1,700			1,700
Convertible note hedge transaction, net of income tax benefit	(33,103)		(33,103)			(33,103)
Warrant transaction	25,368		25,368			25,368
Equity component related to issuance of convertible notes, net of income tax	33,728		33,728			33,728
Employee benefits and other, shares		23,026
Employee benefits and other, value	609		405	204		609
Ending balance, value at Mar. 27, 2009	378,030	583	200,175	175,620	1,652	378,030	0
Ending balance, shares at Mar. 27, 2009		58,301,253
Statements Of Equity [Line Items]
Net income	69,363			69,363		69,363	0
Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale investments, net of tax	56				56	56
Reclassification adjustments for gains on available-for-sale investments included in net income, net of tax	(2,260)				(2,260)	(2,260)
Impact of interest rate swap, net of taxes	552				552	552
Total comprehensive income	67,711					67,711	0
Repurchases and retirement of common stock, shares		(2,767,093)
Repurchases and retirement of common stock, value	(57,176)	(28)	(57,148)			(57,176)
Exercise of stock options, shares		547,823
Exercise of stock options, value	4,489	6	4,483			4,489
Stock-based compensation	11,887		11,887			11,887
Vesting of restricted stock, shares		90,354
Vesting of restricted stock, value	0	1	(1)			0
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	2,516		2,516			2,516
Employee benefits and other, shares		27,256
Employee benefits and other, value	557	0	557			557
Ending balance, value at Apr. 02, 2010	408,014	562	162,469	244,983	0	408,014	0
Ending balance, shares at Apr. 02, 2010		56,199,593
Statements Of Equity [Line Items]
Net income	74,664			74,485		74,485	179
Total comprehensive income	74,664					74,485	179
Acquisition of variable interest entity	3,421						3,421
Repurchases and retirement of common stock, shares		(2,728,300)
Repurchases and retirement of common stock, value	(54,761)	(27)	(54,734)			(54,761)
Exercise of stock options, shares		337,853
Exercise of stock options, value	2,078	3	2,075			2,078
Stock-based compensation	9,285		9,285			9,285
Vesting of restricted stock, shares		802,005
Vesting of restricted stock, value	0	8	(8)			0
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	3,187		3,187			3,187
Employee benefits and other, shares		23,892
Employee benefits and other, value	638		638			638
Ending balance, value at Apr. 01, 2011	$ 446,526	$ 546	$ 122,912	$ 319,468	$ 0	$ 442,926	$ 3,600
Ending balance, shares at Apr. 01, 2011		54,635,043