Revenue Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2018		Mar. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	$ 1,740.7		$ 1,535.2
UNITED STATES
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	916.9		846.8
CHINA
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	156.4		129.9
GERMANY
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	86.5		69.6
Countries Excluding United States, China and Germany [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	580.9		488.9
Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	871.7		716.1
Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation | UNITED STATES
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	408.4		330.4
Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation | CHINA
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	108.3		90.5
Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation | GERMANY
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	35.9		28.7
Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation | Countries Excluding United States, China and Germany [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	319.1		266.5
Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	869.0		819.1
Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies | UNITED STATES
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	508.5		516.4
Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies | CHINA
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	48.1		39.4
Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies | GERMANY
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	50.6		40.9
Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies | Countries Excluding United States, China and Germany [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	261.8		222.4
Professional Tools and Equipment [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	1,120.1		961.6
Professional Tools and Equipment [Member] | Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	706.5		558.6
Professional Tools and Equipment [Member] | Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	413.6		403.0
Industrial Automation, Controls and Sensors [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	327.8		290.7
Industrial Automation, Controls and Sensors [Member] | Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	104.6		96.1
Industrial Automation, Controls and Sensors [Member] | Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	223.2		194.6
Franchise Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	172.9		171.7
Franchise Distribution [Member] | Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	0.0		0.0
Franchise Distribution [Member] | Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	172.9		171.7
All Other Products and Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	119.9		111.2
All Other Products and Services [Member] | Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	60.6		61.4
All Other Products and Services [Member] | Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	59.3		49.8
Retail Fueling [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	348.3	[1]	346.5	[2]
Retail Fueling [Member] | Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	0.0	[1]	0.0	[2]
Retail Fueling [Member] | Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	348.3	[1]	346.5	[2]
Industrial & Manufacturing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	156.1		109.9
Industrial & Manufacturing [Member] | Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	90.4		65.1
Industrial & Manufacturing [Member] | Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	65.7		44.8
Vehicle Repair [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	158.8	[1]	157.9	[2]
Vehicle Repair [Member] | Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	0.0	[1]	0.0	[2]
Vehicle Repair [Member] | Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	158.8	[1]	157.9	[2]
Utilities & Power [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	56.0		52.6
Utilities & Power [Member] | Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	55.4		51.7
Utilities & Power [Member] | Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	0.6		0.9
Other Direct End Markets [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	518.5		460.5
Other Direct End Markets [Member] | Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	301.2		261.7
Other Direct End Markets [Member] | Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	217.3		198.8
Direct End Markets [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	1,237.7		1,127.4
Direct End Markets [Member] | Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	447.0		378.5
Direct End Markets [Member] | Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	790.7		748.9
Other Distributors [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	503.0	[1]	407.8	[2]
Other Distributors [Member] | Operating Segments | Professional Instrumentation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	424.7	[1]	337.6	[2]
Other Distributors [Member] | Operating Segments | Industrial Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	78.3	[1]	70.2	[2]
Distributors [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	$ 789.7		$ 746.9

[1] (a) Retail fueling and vehicle repair includes sales to these end markets made through third party distributors. Total distributor sales for the three months ended March 30, 2018 was $789.7 million.

[2] (a) Retail fueling and vehicle repair includes sales to these end markets made through third party distributors. Total distributor sales for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $746.9 million.