Financial Statement Revision And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Effects Of Adjustment On Retained Earnings, Net Earnings Attributable To Parent, Earnings From Continuing Operations, And Income Taxes) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 25, 2011		Sep. 25, 2011		Jun. 26, 2011		Mar. 27, 2011		Dec. 26, 2010		Sep. 26, 2010		Jun. 27, 2010		Mar. 28, 2010		Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010	Dec. 27, 2009	Dec. 28, 2008
Retained earnings	$ 164,268								$ 230,837								$ 164,268	$ 230,837		$ 178,995
Net earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.	(19,054)	[1]	(48,662)	[2]	9,842	[3]	(8,695)	[4]	7,632	[5]	8,343	[6]	8,737	[7]	3,018	[8]	(66,569)	27,730	24,112
Earnings (loss) before income taxes																	428	37,745	35,659
Income taxes																	59,540	9,358	11,083
As Previously Reported [Member]
Retained earnings									233,322									233,322		179,809
Net earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.			(49,259)		9,520		(9,311)		7,744		7,081		9,040		3,506			27,371	26,142
Earnings (loss) before income taxes																		37,022	35,985
Income taxes																		9,767	10,290
Canada Adjustments [Member]
Retained earnings																				(814)
Net earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.			597		322		616				557		(303)		(488)			(346)	(1,325)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes																		(446)	(1,793)
Income taxes																		(100)	(468)
Income Tax Adjustments [Member]
Net earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.											705							705	(705)
Income taxes																		(705)	705
As Revised For Revision Adjustments [Member]
Retained earnings																				178,995
Net earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.			(48,662)	[2]	9,842	[3]	(8,695)	[4]	7,632	[5]	8,343		8,737	[7]	3,018	[8]		27,730	24,112
Earnings (loss) before income taxes																		36,576	34,192
Income taxes																		8,962	10,527
Discontinued Operations Adjustments [Member]
Earnings (loss) before income taxes																		1,169	1,467
Income taxes																		$ 396	$ 556

[1] Includes a $7.0 million restructuring charge (net of tax), a $3.2 million intangible impairment (net of tax), a $3.1 million goodwill impairment (net of tax), $1.0 million change in indefinite reversal assertion, a $0.9 million litigation settlement (net of tax), a $0.6 million income related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities (net of tax), a $0.3 million reduction in valuation allowance, and $0.1 million in acquisition costs (net of tax).

[2] Includes a $48.0 million valuation allowance adjustment, a $16.6 million restructuring charge (net of tax), a $0.2 million expense related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities (net of tax), and $2 thousand in acquisition costs (net of tax).

[3] Includes $2.0 million in acquisition costs (net of tax), a $1.1 million restructuring charge (net of tax), and a $38 thousand expense related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities (net of tax).

[4] Includes a $1.1 million restructuring charge (net of tax) and a $0.2 million expense related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities (net of tax).

[5] Includes a $4.2 million restructuring charge (net of tax). Also includes a $1.7 million tax charge, a $0.8 million selling, general and administrative charge (net of tax) related to adjustments to acquisition related liabilities pertaining to the period prior to the acquisition date, and a $0.2 million expense related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities (net of tax).

[6] Includes a $4.3 million valuation allowance adjustment, a $0.6 million restructuring charge (net of tax), and a $0.2 million expense related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities (net of tax).

[7] Includes a $0.9 million restructuring charge (net of tax) and a $0.4 million expense related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities (net of tax).

[8] Includes a $0.5 million restructuring charge (net of tax) and a $0.4 million expense related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities (net of tax).