Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 24, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 24, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 172,018	$ 177,604	$ 320,853	$ 321,798
Cost of revenues	102,399	107,080	197,293	198,253
Gross profit	69,619	70,524	123,560	123,545
Selling, general and administrative expenses	56,850	65,220	112,137	130,823
Research and development	4,627	4,020	9,320	8,474
Restructuring expenses	1,629	21,266	3,645	22,984
Goodwill impairment	0	64,437	0	64,437
Litigation settlement	0	0	(6,584)	0
Acquisition costs	280	96	441	110
Other expense	0	0	0	745
Other operating income	248	0	578	0
Operating income (loss)	6,481	(84,515)	5,179	(104,028)
Interest income	405	395	804	895
Interest expense	2,822	1,939	4,881	3,874
Other gain (loss), net	(1,966)	(146)	(2,511)	(296)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	2,098	(86,205)	(1,409)	(107,303)
Income taxes expense (benefit)	784	5,624	1,063	(4,572)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	1,314	(91,829)	(2,472)	(102,731)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (benefit) expense of $(66), $77, $68, and $(3)	(14,329)	(2,357)	(16,885)	(2,725)
Net loss	(13,015)	(94,186)	(19,357)	(105,456)
Less: gain (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	59	(25)	1	(304)
Net loss attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.	$ (13,074)	$ (94,161)	$ (19,358)	$ (105,152)
Basic loss attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ (2.24)	$ (0.06)	$ (2.5)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.07)
Basic loss attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share	$ (0.32)	$ (2.3)	$ (0.47)	$ (2.57)
Diluted loss attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ (2.24)	$ (0.06)	$ (2.5)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.07)
Diluted loss attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share	$ (0.31)	$ (2.3)	$ (0.47)	$ (2.57)