| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 2407408 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans - Asset Allocations for Funded Pension Plans (Detail) (http://www.genpt.com/role/EmployeeBenefitPlansAssetAllocationsForFundedPensionPlansDetail) |
| Table | Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table] |
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0000040987 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) |
| Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Axis] | Pension Benefits [Member] |
| Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] | Period [Axis] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31 | 2015-12-31 | |||||
| Defined Benefit Plan, Asset Categories [Axis] | Defined Benefit Plan, Asset Categories [Axis] | |||||
| Equity Securities [Member] | Debt Securities [Member] | Plan Asset Categories [Domain] | Equity Securities [Member] | Debt Securities [Member] | Plan Asset Categories [Domain] | |
Target plan asset allocation | ||||||
Actual plan asset allocation | ||||||