CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION (DETAILS) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended											3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 04, 2014	Jun. 28, 2013	Jul. 04, 2014	Jun. 28, 2013	Jan. 03, 2014	Jul. 04, 2014 Senior Debt Obligations [Member]	Mar. 15, 2012 Senior Debt Obligations [Member]	Jul. 04, 2014 3.85% Senior Notes (net of discount) [Member]	Jan. 03, 2014 3.85% Senior Notes (net of discount) [Member]	Mar. 15, 2012 3.85% Senior Notes (net of discount) [Member]	Jul. 04, 2014 5.00% Senior Notes (net of discount) [Member]	Jan. 03, 2014 5.00% Senior Notes (net of discount) [Member]	Mar. 15, 2012 5.00% Senior Notes (net of discount) [Member]	Jul. 04, 2014 Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 28, 2013 Eliminations [Member]	Jul. 04, 2014 Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 28, 2013 Eliminations [Member]	Jan. 03, 2014 Eliminations [Member]	Jul. 04, 2014 Issuer parent [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jun. 28, 2013 Issuer parent [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jul. 04, 2014 Issuer parent [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jun. 28, 2013 Issuer parent [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jan. 03, 2014 Issuer parent [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jul. 04, 2014 Issuer Fox LP [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jun. 28, 2013 Issuer Fox LP [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jul. 04, 2014 Issuer Fox LP [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jun. 28, 2013 Issuer Fox LP [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jan. 03, 2014 Issuer Fox LP [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jul. 04, 2014 Guarantors [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jun. 28, 2013 Guarantors [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jul. 04, 2014 Guarantors [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jun. 28, 2013 Guarantors [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jan. 03, 2014 Guarantors [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jul. 04, 2014 Non-guarantors [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jun. 28, 2013 Non-guarantors [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jul. 04, 2014 Non-guarantors [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jun. 28, 2013 Non-guarantors [Member] Operating Segments [Member]	Jan. 03, 2014 Non-guarantors [Member] Operating Segments [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 283,000,000	$ 234,000,000	$ 283,000,000	$ 234,000,000										$ (43,000,000)	$ (22,000,000)	$ (43,000,000)	$ (22,000,000)		$ 54,000,000	$ 38,000,000	$ 54,000,000	$ 38,000,000							$ 25,000,000	$ 11,000,000	$ 25,000,000	$ 11,000,000		$ 247,000,000	$ 207,000,000	$ 247,000,000	$ 207,000,000
Accounts receivable, including retentions	1,374,000,000		1,374,000,000		1,393,000,000									(11,000,000)		(11,000,000)		(12,000,000)											761,000,000		761,000,000		815,000,000	624,000,000		624,000,000		590,000,000
Costs and accrued earnings in excess of billings on contracts	1,537,000,000		1,537,000,000		1,521,000,000									(4,000,000)		(4,000,000)		(6,000,000)											966,000,000		966,000,000		980,000,000	575,000,000		575,000,000		547,000,000
Less receivable allowances	(59,000,000)		(59,000,000)		(65,000,000)																								(23,000,000)		(23,000,000)		(30,000,000)	(36,000,000)		(36,000,000)		(35,000,000)
Net accounts receivable	2,852,000,000		2,852,000,000		2,849,000,000									(15,000,000)		(15,000,000)		(18,000,000)											1,704,000,000		1,704,000,000		1,765,000,000	1,163,000,000		1,163,000,000		1,102,000,000
Intercompany accounts receivable														(3,179,000,000)		(3,179,000,000)		(3,320,000,000)	489,000,000		489,000,000		440,000,000	25,000,000		25,000,000		19,000,000	2,235,000,000		2,235,000,000		2,439,000,000	430,000,000		430,000,000		422,000,000
Other current assets	231,000,000		231,000,000		258,000,000									(22,000,000)		(22,000,000)		(10,000,000)	14,000,000		14,000,000		42,000,000						122,000,000		122,000,000		108,000,000	117,000,000		117,000,000		118,000,000
Total current assets	3,366,000,000		3,366,000,000		3,391,000,000									(3,259,000,000)		(3,259,000,000)		(3,396,000,000)	557,000,000		557,000,000		589,000,000	25,000,000		25,000,000		19,000,000	4,086,000,000		4,086,000,000		4,332,000,000	1,957,000,000		1,957,000,000		1,847,000,000
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries and unconsolidated joint ventures	244,000,000		244,000,000		245,000,000									(6,975,000,000)		(6,975,000,000)		(7,218,000,000)	5,454,000,000		5,454,000,000		5,731,000,000	67,000,000		67,000,000		52,000,000	1,520,000,000		1,520,000,000		1,488,000,000	178,000,000		178,000,000		192,000,000
Property and equipment, net	592,000,000		592,000,000		608,000,000														28,000,000		28,000,000		29,000,000						179,000,000		179,000,000		166,000,000	385,000,000		385,000,000		413,000,000
Intangible assets, net	523,000,000		523,000,000		570,000,000																								207,000,000		207,000,000		229,000,000	316,000,000		316,000,000		341,000,000
Goodwill	3,709,000,000		3,709,000,000		3,696,000,000																								2,230,000,000		2,230,000,000		2,230,000,000	1,479,000,000		1,479,000,000		1,466,000,000
Other long-term assets	221,000,000		221,000,000		208,000,000									(3,000,000)		(3,000,000)		(4,000,000)	18,000,000		18,000,000		19,000,000						109,000,000		109,000,000		106,000,000	97,000,000		97,000,000		87,000,000
Total assets	8,655,000,000		8,655,000,000		8,718,000,000									(10,237,000,000)		(10,237,000,000)		(10,618,000,000)	6,057,000,000		6,057,000,000		6,368,000,000	92,000,000		92,000,000		71,000,000	8,331,000,000		8,331,000,000		8,551,000,000	4,412,000,000		4,412,000,000		4,346,000,000
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	51,000,000		51,000,000		45,000,000														2,000,000		2,000,000		2,000,000						23,000,000		23,000,000		16,000,000	26,000,000		26,000,000		27,000,000
Accounts payable and subcontractors payable, including retentions	692,000,000		692,000,000		688,000,000									(61,000,000)		(61,000,000)		(67,000,000)	11,000,000		11,000,000		3,000,000						410,000,000		410,000,000		421,000,000	332,000,000		332,000,000		331,000,000
Accrued salaries and employee benefits	523,000,000		523,000,000		507,000,000														38,000,000		38,000,000		34,000,000						350,000,000		350,000,000		345,000,000	135,000,000		135,000,000		128,000,000
Billings in excess of costs and accrued earnings on contracts	222,000,000		222,000,000		233,000,000																								120,000,000		120,000,000		126,000,000	102,000,000		102,000,000		107,000,000
Intercompany accounts payable														(3,179,000,000)		(3,179,000,000)		(3,320,000,000)	1,726,000,000		1,726,000,000		1,952,000,000						1,125,000,000		1,125,000,000		1,052,000,000	328,000,000		328,000,000		316,000,000
Short-term intercompany notes payable														(317,000,000)		(317,000,000)		(276,000,000)	66,000,000		66,000,000		66,000,000						21,000,000		21,000,000		21,000,000	230,000,000		230,000,000		189,000,000
Other current liabilities	327,000,000		327,000,000		366,000,000									(19,000,000)		(19,000,000)		(10,000,000)	32,000,000		32,000,000		50,000,000	9,000,000		9,000,000		9,000,000	276,000,000		276,000,000		277,000,000	29,000,000		29,000,000		40,000,000
Total current liabilities	1,815,000,000		1,815,000,000		1,839,000,000									(3,576,000,000)		(3,576,000,000)		(3,673,000,000)	1,875,000,000		1,875,000,000		2,107,000,000	9,000,000		9,000,000		9,000,000	2,325,000,000		2,325,000,000		2,258,000,000	1,182,000,000		1,182,000,000		1,138,000,000
Long-term debt	1,779,000,000		1,779,000,000		1,667,000,000														1,007,000,000		1,007,000,000		907,000,000	600,000,000		600,000,000		700,000,000	47,000,000		47,000,000		28,000,000	125,000,000		125,000,000		32,000,000
Deferred tax liabilities	428,000,000		428,000,000		444,000,000									(3,000,000)		(3,000,000)		(3,000,000)											357,000,000		357,000,000		371,000,000	74,000,000		74,000,000		76,000,000
Self-insurance reserves	128,000,000		128,000,000		127,000,000																								11,000,000		11,000,000		11,000,000	117,000,000		117,000,000		116,000,000
Pension and post-retirement benefit obligations	281,000,000		281,000,000		286,000,000																								117,000,000		117,000,000		124,000,000	164,000,000		164,000,000		162,000,000
Long-term intercompany notes payable														(1,734,000,000)		(1,734,000,000)		(1,827,000,000)											568,000,000		568,000,000		564,000,000	1,166,000,000		1,166,000,000		1,263,000,000
Other long-term liabilities	136,000,000		136,000,000		128,000,000														4,000,000		4,000,000		3,000,000						102,000,000		102,000,000		94,000,000	30,000,000		30,000,000		31,000,000
Total liabilities	4,567,000,000		4,567,000,000		4,491,000,000									(5,313,000,000)		(5,313,000,000)		(5,503,000,000)	2,886,000,000		2,886,000,000		3,017,000,000	609,000,000		609,000,000		709,000,000	3,527,000,000		3,527,000,000		3,450,000,000	2,858,000,000		2,858,000,000		2,818,000,000
Commitments and contingencies
URS stockholders' equity	3,943,000,000		3,943,000,000		4,081,000,000									(6,975,000,000)		(6,975,000,000)		(7,218,000,000)	3,943,000,000		3,943,000,000		4,081,000,000	24,000,000		24,000,000		19,000,000	5,454,000,000		5,454,000,000		5,731,000,000	1,497,000,000		1,497,000,000		1,468,000,000
Intercompany notes receivable														2,051,000,000		2,051,000,000		2,103,000,000	(772,000,000)		(772,000,000)		(730,000,000)	(541,000,000)		(541,000,000)		(657,000,000)	(650,000,000)		(650,000,000)		(630,000,000)	(88,000,000)		(88,000,000)		(86,000,000)
Total URS stockholders' equity	3,943,000,000		3,943,000,000		4,081,000,000									(4,924,000,000)		(4,924,000,000)		(5,115,000,000)	3,171,000,000		3,171,000,000		3,351,000,000	(517,000,000)		(517,000,000)		(638,000,000)	4,804,000,000		4,804,000,000		5,101,000,000	1,409,000,000		1,409,000,000		1,382,000,000
Noncontrolling interests	145,000,000		145,000,000		146,000,000																													145,000,000		145,000,000		146,000,000
Total stockholders' equity	4,088,000,000		4,088,000,000		4,227,000,000									(4,924,000,000)		(4,924,000,000)		(5,115,000,000)	3,171,000,000		3,171,000,000		3,351,000,000	(517,000,000)		(517,000,000)		(638,000,000)	4,804,000,000		4,804,000,000		5,101,000,000	1,554,000,000		1,554,000,000		1,528,000,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	8,655,000,000		8,655,000,000		8,718,000,000									(10,237,000,000)		(10,237,000,000)		(10,618,000,000)	6,057,000,000		6,057,000,000		6,368,000,000	92,000,000		92,000,000		71,000,000	8,331,000,000		8,331,000,000		8,551,000,000	4,412,000,000		4,412,000,000		4,346,000,000
Disclosure Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	2,555,000,000	2,792,000,000	5,092,000,000	5,595,000,000										(85,000,000)	(88,000,000)	(147,000,000)	(168,000,000)												1,525,000,000	1,708,000,000	2,988,000,000	3,431,000,000		1,115,000,000	1,172,000,000	2,251,000,000	2,332,000,000
Cost of revenues	(2,407,000,000)	(2,642,000,000)	(4,854,000,000)	(5,293,000,000)										85,000,000	88,000,000	147,000,000	168,000,000												(1,431,000,000)	(1,585,000,000)	(2,828,000,000)	(3,183,000,000)		(1,061,000,000)	(1,145,000,000)	(2,173,000,000)	(2,278,000,000)
General and administrative expenses	(27,000,000)	(23,000,000)	(49,000,000)	(46,000,000)															(26,000,000)	(24,000,000)	(49,000,000)	(46,000,000)												(1,000,000)	1,000,000
Equity in income (loss) in subsidiaries														(146,000,000)	(71,000,000)	(161,000,000)	(144,000,000)		95,000,000	66,000,000	118,000,000	132,000,000		7,000,000	7,000,000	15,000,000	15,000,000		48,000,000	2,000,000	37,000,000	6,000,000		(4,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(9,000,000)	(9,000,000)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures	17,000,000	18,000,000	36,000,000	42,000,000																									2,000,000	2,000,000	4,000,000	5,000,000		15,000,000	16,000,000	32,000,000	37,000,000
Intercompany royalty and general and administrative charges																			22,000,000	32,000,000	56,000,000	69,000,000							(23,000,000)	(28,000,000)	(48,000,000)	(61,000,000)		1,000,000	(4,000,000)	(8,000,000)	(8,000,000)
Operating income (loss)	138,000,000	145,000,000	225,000,000	298,000,000										(146,000,000)	(71,000,000)	(161,000,000)	(144,000,000)		91,000,000	74,000,000	125,000,000	155,000,000		7,000,000	7,000,000	15,000,000	15,000,000		121,000,000	99,000,000	153,000,000	198,000,000		65,000,000	36,000,000	93,000,000	74,000,000
Interest expense	(18,000,000)	(21,000,000)	(36,000,000)	(42,000,000)															(9,000,000)	(8,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(16,000,000)		(7,000,000)	(9,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(17,000,000)							(2,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(9,000,000)
Intercompany interest income														(13,000,000)	(12,000,000)	(26,000,000)	(25,000,000)		3,000,000	2,000,000	5,000,000	5,000,000		1,000,000	1,000,000	2,000,000	2,000,000		9,000,000	9,000,000	18,000,000	18,000,000				1,000,000
Intercompany interest expense														13,000,000	12,000,000	26,000,000	25,000,000			(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)							(3,000,000)	(2,000,000)	(5,000,000)	(5,000,000)		(10,000,000)	(9,000,000)	(20,000,000)	(19,000,000)
Other income (expenses)	1,000,000	(3,000,000)	(3,000,000)	(6,000,000)																														1,000,000	(3,000,000)	(3,000,000)	(6,000,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	121,000,000	121,000,000	186,000,000	250,000,000										(146,000,000)	(71,000,000)	(161,000,000)	(144,000,000)		85,000,000	67,000,000	113,000,000	143,000,000		1,000,000	(1,000,000)	1,000,000			127,000,000	106,000,000	166,000,000	211,000,000		54,000,000	20,000,000	67,000,000	40,000,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	(13,000,000)	(39,000,000)	(39,000,000)	(81,000,000)															3,000,000		2,000,000	(4,000,000)		2,000,000	4,000,000	5,000,000	6,000,000		(32,000,000)	(39,000,000)	(48,000,000)	(78,000,000)		14,000,000	(4,000,000)	2,000,000	(5,000,000)
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests	108,000,000	82,000,000	147,000,000	169,000,000										(146,000,000)	(71,000,000)	(161,000,000)	(144,000,000)		88,000,000	67,000,000	115,000,000	139,000,000		3,000,000	3,000,000	6,000,000	6,000,000		95,000,000	67,000,000	118,000,000	133,000,000		68,000,000	16,000,000	69,000,000	35,000,000
Noncontrolling interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries	(20,000,000)	(15,000,000)	(32,000,000)	(30,000,000)																														(20,000,000)	(15,000,000)	(32,000,000)	(30,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to URS	88,000,000	67,000,000	115,000,000	139,000,000										(146,000,000)	(71,000,000)	(161,000,000)	(144,000,000)		88,000,000	67,000,000	115,000,000	139,000,000		3,000,000	3,000,000	6,000,000	6,000,000		95,000,000	67,000,000	118,000,000	133,000,000		48,000,000	1,000,000	37,000,000	5,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to URS	126,000,000	30,000,000	137,000,000	69,000,000										(209,000,000)	3,000,000	(193,000,000)	(3,000,000)		126,000,000	30,000,000	137,000,000	69,000,000		3,000,000	3,000,000	6,000,000	6,000,000		133,000,000	31,000,000	142,000,000	67,000,000		73,000,000	(37,000,000)	45,000,000	(70,000,000)
Disclosure Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash from operating activities			262,000,000	90,000,000												5,000,000	(1,000,000)				(14,000,000)	(90,000,000)				(12,000,000)	2,000,000				229,000,000	189,000,000				54,000,000	(10,000,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment			33,000,000	26,000,000																											1,000,000					32,000,000	26,000,000
Changes in restricted cash			3,000,000	2,000,000																																3,000,000	2,000,000
Capital expenditures, less equipment purchased through capital leases and equipment notes			(42,000,000)	(46,000,000)																	(5,000,000)	(3,000,000)									(27,000,000)	(15,000,000)				(10,000,000)	(28,000,000)
Other intercompany investing activities																(815,000,000)	(708,000,000)				36,000,000	394,000,000				112,000,000	(2,000,000)				(156,000,000)	307,000,000				823,000,000	9,000,000
Net cash from investing activities			(6,000,000)	(18,000,000)												(815,000,000)	(708,000,000)				31,000,000	391,000,000				112,000,000	(2,000,000)				(182,000,000)	292,000,000				848,000,000	9,000,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings from long-term debt																(100,000,000)					100,000,000
Payments on long-term debt			(3,000,000)	(2,000,000)												(100,000,000)										100,000,000					(3,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Borrowings from revolving line of credit			663,000,000	858,000,000																	485,000,000	815,000,000														178,000,000	43,000,000
Payments on revolving line of credit			(581,000,000)	(823,000,000)																	(485,000,000)	(755,000,000)														(96,000,000)	(68,000,000)
Net payments on other indebtedness			(11,000,000)	(24,000,000)																	(1,000,000)	(16,000,000)									(3,000,000)	(2,000,000)				(7,000,000)	(6,000,000)
Net change in overdrafts			1,000,000	(13,000,000)													(19,000,000)															(5,000,000)				1,000,000	(1,000,000)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation				2,000,000																		2,000,000
Proceeds from employee stock purchases and exercises of stock options			2,000,000	13,000,000																	2,000,000	13,000,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(36,000,000)	(32,000,000)																																(36,000,000)	(32,000,000)
Dividends paid			(31,000,000)	(31,000,000)																	(31,000,000)	(31,000,000)
Repurchases of common stock			(266,000,000)	(93,000,000)																	(266,000,000)	(93,000,000)
Other intercompany financing activities																815,000,000	708,000,000				126,000,000	(212,000,000)									(36,000,000)	(488,000,000)				(905,000,000)	(8,000,000)
Net cash from financing activities			(262,000,000)	(145,000,000)												815,000,000	689,000,000				(70,000,000)	(277,000,000)				(100,000,000)					(42,000,000)	(487,000,000)				(865,000,000)	(70,000,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			(6,000,000)	(73,000,000)												5,000,000	(20,000,000)				(53,000,000)	24,000,000									5,000,000	(6,000,000)				37,000,000	(71,000,000)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			5,000,000	(8,000,000)																																5,000,000	(8,000,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			284,000,000	315,000,000												(48,000,000)	(2,000,000)				107,000,000	14,000,000									20,000,000	17,000,000				205,000,000	286,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	283,000,000	234,000,000	283,000,000	234,000,000										(43,000,000)	(22,000,000)	(43,000,000)	(22,000,000)		54,000,000	38,000,000	54,000,000	38,000,000							25,000,000	11,000,000	25,000,000	11,000,000		247,000,000	207,000,000	247,000,000	207,000,000
Senior Notes and Canadian Notes [Abstract]
Senior Notes, interest rate, stated percentage										3.85%			5.00%
Senior Notes, future indebtedness threshold for guarantors								100,000,000			100,000,000
Senior Notes (net of discount)						$ 999,000,000	$ 999,000,000	$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000		$ 599,000,000	$ 599,000,000							$ 399,000,000		$ 399,000,000		$ 299,000,000	$ 600,000,000		$ 600,000,000		$ 700,000,000