2.4.0.82433402 - Disclosure - Pension, Profit Sharing & Other Post-Retirement Benefits (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$D2013Q2June29_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001216596duration2013-06-28T00:00:002013-06-29T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalse$D2013Q2QTD_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001216596duration2013-03-31T00:00:002013-06-29T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3false USDfalsefalse$D2012Q2QTD_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001216596duration2012-04-01T00:00:002012-06-30T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4false USDfalsefalse$D2013Q2YTD_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001216596duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-29T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5false USDfalsefalse$D2012Q2YTD_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001216596duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-06-30T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 3us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]2false 4us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpenseus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse21000002.1USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse24000002.4USD$falsetruefalse4truefalsefalse43000004.3USD$falsetruefalse5truefalsefalse41000004.1USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of pension and other (such as medical, dental and life insurance) postretirement benefit costs recognized during the period for (1) defined benefit plans (periodic benefit costs include the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss) on assets, prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) due to settlements or curtailments) and for (2) defined contribution plans (to the extent that a plan's defined contributions to an individual's account are to be made for periods in which that individual renders services, the net cost for a period is the contribution called for in that period; if a plan calls for contributions for periods after an individual retires or terminates, the estimated cost is accrued during the employee's service period).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 70 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942 false2Pension and profit sharing expense charged to operations3false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5false USDtruefalse$D2013Q2June29_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001216596duration2013-06-28T00:00:002013-06-29T00:00:00falsefalsePension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$nanafalse0Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]4true 3us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]5false 4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInCurrentFiscalYearus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse43000004.3USD$falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of employer's best estimate of contributions expected to be paid to the plan in the current remaining fiscal period.No definition available.false2Estimated future employer contributions in Current Fiscal Year6false 4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployerus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse16000001.6USD$falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe increase in the fair value of plan assets from contributions made by the employer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 false2Contributions by employer7false 4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4000000.4USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse4000000.4USD$falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse7000000.7USD$falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse8000000.8USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe total amount of net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit plans for the period. Periodic benefit costs include the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss), prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) due to settlements or curtailments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 false2Net periodic benefit cost8false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse10false USDtruefalse$D2013Q2QTD_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001216596duration2013-03-31T00:00:002013-06-29T00:00:00falsefalseOther Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$nanafalse0Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]9true 3us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]10false 4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse00USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse00USD$falsetruefalse4truefalsefalse00USD$falsetruefalse5truefalsefalse00USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe total amount of net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit plans for the period. Periodic benefit costs include the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss), prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) due to settlements or curtailments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 false2Net periodic benefit costfalsePension, Profit Sharing & Other Post-Retirement Benefits (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)HundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.nortek-inc.com/role/PensionProfitSharingOtherPostRetirementBenefitsNarrativeDetails510