Quarterly Information (Schedule Of Quarterly Information) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2012		Sep. 23, 2012		Jun. 24, 2012		Mar. 25, 2012		Dec. 25, 2011		Sep. 25, 2011		Jun. 26, 2011		Mar. 27, 2011		Dec. 30, 2012	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 200,178,000		$ 168,813,000		$ 177,604,000		$ 144,194,000		$ 225,054,000		$ 185,222,000		$ 193,272,000		$ 160,201,000		$ 690,789,000	$ 763,749,000	$ 716,451,000
Gross profit	78,637,000		68,660,000		70,524,000		53,021,000		92,597,000		74,000,000		80,071,000		65,622,000		270,842,000	312,290,000	314,449,000
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	(31,435,000)	[1]	(4,280,000)	[2]	(91,829,000)	[3]	(10,902,000)	[4]	(14,409,000)	[5]	(51,481,000)	[6]	9,219,000	[7]	(8,790,000)	[8]	(138,446,000)	(65,461,000)	19,289,000
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.	(35,390,000)	[9]	(5,334,000)	[10]	(94,161,000)	[11]	(10,991,000)	[4]	(19,054,000)	[12]	(48,662,000)	[6]	9,842,000	[7]	(8,695,000)	[8]	(145,876,000)	(66,569,000)	27,730,000
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share, Basic (US$ per share)	$ (0.76)		$ (0.10)		$ (2.24)		$ (0.26)		$ (0.35)		$ (1.27)		$ 0.23		$ (0.22)		$ (3.36)	$ (1.61)	$ 0.48
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share, Diluted (US$ per share)	$ (0.76)		$ (0.10)		$ (2.24)		$ (0.26)		$ (0.35)		$ (1.27)		$ 0.23		$ (0.22)		$ (3.36)	$ (1.61)	$ 0.48
Basic (US$ per share)	$ (0.86)		$ (0.13)		$ (2.30)		$ (0.27)		$ (0.47)		$ (1.20)		$ 0.24		$ (0.22)		$ (3.56)	$ (1.64)	$ 0.69
Diluted (US$ per share)	$ (0.86)		$ (0.13)		$ (2.30)		$ (0.27)		$ (0.47)		$ (1.20)		$ 0.24		$ (0.22)		$ (3.56)	$ (1.64)	$ 0.69
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charge, net of tax			3,800,000		17,000,000				7,000,000
Make-whole premium			1,100,000
Charges related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities									(600,000)
Goodwill impairment, net of tax	38,300,000				64,400,000
Indefinite reversal assertion									1,000,000
Litigation settlement, net of tax									900,000
Intangible asset impairment attributable to continuing operations, net of tax									400,000
Acquisition costs, net of tax			17,000		100,000				100,000
Valuation allowance adjustment			100,000		500,000				(300,000)
Income taxes (benefit) expense																	7,364,000	59,573,000	3,828,000
Selling, general and administrative charge																			800,000
CEO Transition [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charge, net of tax					2,900,000
Checkpoint Systems, Inc
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charge, net of tax	1,500,000		3,800,000		17,000,000				7,000,000		16,600,000		1,100,000		1,100,000
Make-whole premium			1,100,000
Charges related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities									(600,000)		200,000		38,000		200,000
Goodwill impairment, net of tax	41,500,000				64,800,000				3,100,000
Indefinite reversal assertion									1,000,000
Litigation settlement, net of tax									900,000								300,000
Intangible impairment, net of tax	300,000		800,000		700,000				3,200,000
Acquisition costs, net of tax	200,000		17,000		100,000		14,000		100,000		2,000		2,000,000
Valuation allowance adjustment	(300,000)		100,000		500,000				(300,000)		48,000,000
Checkpoint Systems, Inc | Sale Of Suzhou, China [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Business	1,400,000
Checkpoint Systems, Inc | CEO Transition [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charge, net of tax					2,900,000
Checkpoint Systems, Inc | Improper And Fraudulent Canadian Activities [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charge, net of tax							1,600,000
Charges related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities	$ 3,400,000						$ 500,000

[1] Includes a $38.3 million goodwill impairment (net of tax), a $1.5 million restructuring charge (net of tax), a $0.3 million litigation settlement (net of tax), a $0.3 million valuation allowance release, $0.2 million in acquisition costs (net of tax), compensation of $3.4 million for the financial impact of the fraudulent Canadian activities (net of tax), and a $1.4 million gain on sale of our non-strategic Suzhou, China subsidiary (net of tax).

[2] Includes a $3.8 million restructuring charge (net of tax), a $1.1 million make-whole premium on debt charge (net of tax), a $0.1 million valuation allowance adjustment, and $17 thousand in acquisition costs (net of tax).

[3] Includes a $64.4 million goodwill impairment charge (net of tax), a $17.0 million restructuring charge (net of tax), a $2.9 million charge related to our CEO transition (net of tax), a $0.5 million valuation allowance adjustment, and $0.1 million in acquisition costs (net of tax).

[4] Includes a $1.6 million restructuring charge (net of tax), $0.5 million expense related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities (net of tax), and $14 thousand in acquisition costs (net of tax).

[5] Includes a $7.0 million restructuring charge (net of tax), a $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 $0.4 million intangible impairment (net of tax), a $0.3 million reduction in valuation allowance, and $0.1 million in acquisition costs (net of tax).

[6] 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).

[7] 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).

[8] 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).

[9] Includes a $41.5 million goodwill impairment (net of tax), a $1.5 million restructuring charge (net of tax), a $0.3 million litigation settlement (net of tax) a $0.3 million valuation allowance release, a $0.3 million asset impairment (net of tax), $0.2 million in acquisition costs (net of tax), $3.4 million related to improper and fraudulent Canadian activities including insurance proceeds (net of tax), and a $1.4 million gain on sale of our non-strategic Suzhou, China subsidiary (net of tax).

[10] Includes a $3.8 million restructuring charge (net of tax), a $1.1 million make-whole premium on debt charge (net of tax), an $0.8 million intangible impairment charge (net of tax), a $0.1 million valuation allowance adjustment, and $17 thousand in acquisition costs (net of tax).

[11] Includes a $64.8 million goodwill impairment charge (net of tax), a $17.0 million restructuring charge (net of tax), a $2.9 million charge related to our CEO transition (net of tax), a $0.7 million intangible impairment charge (net of tax), a $0.5 million valuation allowance adjustment, and $0.1 million in acquisition costs (net of tax).

[12] 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), a $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).