Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	May 02, 2013
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Entity Registrant Name	CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000215419
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-29
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		41,023,247
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1