CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 01, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 108,974	$ 90,316
Cost of revenue	62,880	53,424
Gross profit	46,094	36,892
Operating expenses:
Research and development and engineering	9,215	8,052
Selling, general and administrative	23,001	21,187
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	2,849	2,108
Restructuring, acquisition and divestiture related costs	817	2,958
Total operating expenses	35,882	34,305
Operating income from continuing operations	10,212	2,587
Interest income (expense), net	(1,328)	(1,185)
Foreign exchange transaction gains (losses), net	(1)	83
Other income (expense), net	96	743
Gain on acquisition of business	26,409
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	35,388	2,228
Income tax provision	1,114	322
Income from continuing operations	34,274	1,906
Consolidated net income	34,274	1,906
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(22)
Net income attributable to Novanta Inc.	$ 34,252	$ 1,906
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Basic	$ 0.99	$ 0.05
Diluted	0.98	0.05
Earnings per common share attributable to Novanta Inc.:
Basic	0.99	0.05
Diluted	$ 0.98	$ 0.05
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic	34,765	34,657
Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted	35,125	34,853