Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Oct. 02, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 526.8	$ 551.7	$ 1,586.9	$ 1,686.8
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales	317.0	340.3	968.8	1,036.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses	139.3	139.6	432.3	441.4
Total costs and expenses	456.3	479.9	1,401.1	1,478.3
Operating income	70.5	71.8	185.8	208.5
Interest expense, net	(5.6)	(6.0)	(17.2)	(17.9)
Other income/(expense), net	(0.7)	(2.1)	15.2	2.1
Income before income taxes	64.2	63.7	183.8	192.7
Provision for income taxes	11.1	13.9	44.3	50.9
Net income from continuing operations	53.1	49.8	139.5	141.8
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(1.1)	(1.5)	(1.6)	(1.8)
Net income	52.0	48.3	137.9	140.0
Noncontrolling interest	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3
Net income attributable to Teledyne	52.0	48.3	137.9	140.3
Amounts attributable to Teledyne:
Net income from continuing operations	53.1	49.8	139.5	142.1
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$ (1.1)	$ (1.5)	$ (1.6)	$ (1.8)
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in USD per share)	$ 1.53	$ 1.41	$ 4.04	$ 4.01
Discontinued operations (in USD per share)	(0.03)	(0.04)	(0.04)	(0.05)
Basic earnings per common share (in USD per share)	$ 1.50	$ 1.37	$ 4.00	$ 3.96
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	34.7	35.3	34.5	35.4
Diluted earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in USD per share)	$ 1.49	$ 1.38	$ 3.94	$ 3.93
Discontinued operations (in USD per share)	(0.03)	(0.04)	(0.04)	(0.05)
Diluted earnings per common share (in USD per share)	$ 1.46	$ 1.34	$ 3.90	$ 3.88
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	35.6	36.1	35.4	36.2