Consolidated Statements of Equity And Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Member]	Total PSS World Medical Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning balance, value at Mar. 27, 2009		$ 583	$ 200,175	$ 175,620	$ 1,652	$ 378,030	$ 0
Beginning balance, shares at Mar. 27, 2009		58,301,253
Net income	69,363			69,363		69,363	0
Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale investments, net of tax					56	56
Reclassification adjustments for gains on available-for-sale investments included in net income, net of tax					(2,260)	(2,260)
Impact of interest rate swap, net of tax					552	552
Total comprehensive income						67,711	0
Repurchases and retirement of common stock, shares	(2,767,000)	(2,767,093)
Repurchases and retirement of common stock, value		(28)	(57,148)			(57,176)
Exercise of stock options, shares	(548,000)	547,823
Exercise of stock options, value		6	4,483			4,489
Stock-based compensation			11,887			11,887
Vesting of restricted stock, shares		90,354
Vesting of restricted stock, value		1	(1)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			2,516			2,516
Employee benefits and other, shares		27,256
Employee benefits and other, value			557			557
Ending balance, value at Apr. 02, 2010		562	162,469	244,983	0	408,014	0
Ending balance, shares at Apr. 02, 2010		56,199,593
Net income	74,485			74,485		74,485	179
Total comprehensive income						74,485	179
Acquisition of variable interest entity							3,421
Repurchases and retirement of common stock, shares	(2,728,000)	(2,728,300)
Repurchases and retirement of common stock, value	54,761	(27)	(54,734)			(54,761)
Exercise of stock options, shares	(338,000)	337,853
Exercise of stock options, value		3	2,075			2,078
Stock-based compensation			9,285			9,285
Vesting of restricted stock, shares		802,005
Vesting of restricted stock, value		8	(8)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			3,187			3,187
Employee benefits and other, shares		23,892
Employee benefits and other, value			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
Net income	74,319			74,319		74,319	83
Total comprehensive income						74,319	83
Repurchases and retirement of common stock, shares	(5,595,000)	(5,594,668)
Repurchases and retirement of common stock, value	140,439	(56)	(133,229)	(7,154)		(140,439)
Exercise of stock options, shares	(171,000)	170,961
Exercise of stock options, value		1	1,382			1,383
Stock-based compensation			6,430			6,430
Vesting of restricted stock, shares		301,581
Vesting of restricted stock, value		4	(4)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			2,057			2,057
Employee benefits and other, shares		26,021
Employee benefits and other, value			452			452
Ending balance, value at Mar. 30, 2012	$ 390,811	$ 495	$ 0	$ 386,633	$ 0	$ 387,128	$ 3,683
Ending balance, shares at Mar. 30, 2012		49,538,938