Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Oct. 01, 2011	Nov. 11, 2011
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NORTEK INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001216596
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Oct. 01, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		15,128,489

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