Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 25, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 148,835	$ 144,194
Cost of revenues	94,894	91,173
Gross profit	53,941	53,021
Selling, general and administrative expenses	55,287	65,603
Research and development	4,693	4,454
Restructuring expenses	2,016	1,718
Litigation settlement	(6,584)	0
Acquisition costs	161	14
Other expense	0	745
Other operating income	330	0
Operating loss	(1,302)	(19,513)
Interest income	399	500
Interest expense	2,059	1,935
Other gain (loss), net	(545)	(150)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(3,507)	(21,098)
Income taxes expense (benefit)	279	(10,196)
Net loss from continuing operations	(3,786)	(10,902)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit) of $134 and ($80)	(2,556)	(368)
Net loss	(6,342)	(11,270)
Less: loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(58)	(279)
Net loss attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.	$ (6,284)	$ (10,991)
Basic loss attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share:
Loss from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.26)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.01)
Basic loss attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share	$ (0.15)	$ (0.27)
Diluted loss attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share:
Loss from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.26)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.01)
Diluted loss attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share	$ (0.15)	$ (0.27)