Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jul. 01, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Oct. 01, 2010	Jul. 02, 2010	Mar. 30, 2012	Apr. 01, 2011	Apr. 02, 2010
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 538,869	$ 527,695	$ 521,756	$ 513,682	$ 549,658	$ 510,087	$ 496,188	$ 478,856	$ 2,102,002	$ 2,034,789	$ 2,055,171
Gross profit	175,848	170,495	167,103	160,757	172,905	157,895	157,125	147,846	674,203	635,771	627,695
Net income attributable to PSS World Medical, Inc.	19,967	20,132	20,031	14,189	21,626	19,549	19,557	13,753	74,319	74,485	69,363
Selling days	64	62	63	64	65	61	63	64
Earnings per common share attributable to PSS World Medical, Inc.:
Basic	$ 0.40	$ 0.39	$ 0.38	$ 0.26	$ 0.40	$ 0.36	$ 0.36	$ 0.25	$ 1.43	$ 1.35	$ 1.20
Diluted	$ 0.38	$ 0.38	$ 0.37	$ 0.25	$ 0.38	$ 0.35	$ 0.35	$ 0.24	$ 1.38	$ 1.32	$ 1.18
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	6.375%								6.375%
Net sales	$ 538,869	$ 527,695	$ 521,756	$ 513,682	$ 549,658	$ 510,087	$ 496,188	$ 478,856	$ 2,102,002	$ 2,034,789	$ 2,055,171
Acquisition [Member]
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Effect of fourth quarter events, description					During the three months ended March 30, 2012, the Company issued $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.375% senior notes due 2022 in a private offering. The 2012 Notes were issued under an Indenture, dated February 24, 2012 among the Company, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1, beginning September 1, 2012. Refer to 12, Debt, for further discussion. During the three months ended March 30, 2012, the Company recognized a decrease in accrued incentive and stock-based compensation expense of $7,358 related to payout estimates based on performance, which is reflected in Net income attributable to PSS World Medical, Inc. in the table above.