Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 2,338.6	$ 2,127.3	$ 1,941.9
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales	1,500.0	1,379.1	1,290.7
Selling, general and administrative expenses	598.3	505.1	424.0
Total costs and expenses	2,098.3	1,884.2	1,714.7
Income before other income and income taxes	240.3	243.1	227.2
Other income, net	4.1	2.9	0.6
Interest and debt expense, net	(20.4)	(17.8)	(16.2)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	224.0	228.2	211.6
Provision for income taxes	39.5	65.4	69.5
Net income from continuing operations including noncontrolling interest	184.5	162.8	142.1
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	2.3	113.1
Net income	184.5	165.1	255.2
Noncontrolling interest	(0.5)	1.0	0
Net income attributable to Teledyne	185.0	164.1	255.2
Net income from continuing operations	185.0	161.8	142.1
Net income attributable to Teledyne	$ 185.0	$ 164.1	$ 255.2
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in USD per share)	$ 4.96	$ 4.41	$ 3.88
Discontinued operations (in USD per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.06	$ 3.09
Basic earnings per common share (in USD per share)	$ 4.96	$ 4.47	$ 6.97
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	37.3	36.7	36.6
Diluted earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in USD per share)	$ 4.87	$ 4.33	$ 3.81
Discontinued operations (in USD per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.06	$ 3.03
Diluted earnings per common share (in USD per share)	$ 4.87	$ 4.39	$ 6.84
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	38.0	37.4	37.3