Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 23, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 23, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 174,466	$ 168,813	$ 495,319	$ 490,611
Cost of revenues	104,210	100,153	301,503	298,406
Gross profit	70,256	68,660	193,816	192,205
Selling, general and administrative expenses	50,980	56,881	163,117	187,704
Research and development	4,369	4,335	13,689	12,809
Restructuring expenses	937	4,112	4,582	27,096
Goodwill impairment	0	0	0	64,437
Litigation settlement	0	0	(6,584)	0
Acquisition costs	253	17	694	127
Other expense	0	0	0	745
Other operating income	0	0	578	0
Operating income (loss)	13,717	3,315	18,896	(100,713)
Interest income	294	396	1,098	1,291
Interest expense	2,453	4,668	7,334	8,542
Other gain (loss), net	(1,002)	325	(3,513)	29
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	10,556	(632)	9,147	(107,935)
Income taxes expense (benefit)	2,832	3,648	3,895	(924)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	7,724	(4,280)	5,252	(107,011)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $0, $117, $68, and $114	(100)	(1,105)	(16,985)	(3,830)
Net earnings (loss)	7,624	(5,385)	(11,733)	(110,841)
Less: (loss) earnings attributable to non-controlling interests	0	(51)	1	(355)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.	$ 7,624	$ (5,334)	$ (11,734)	$ (110,486)
Basic earnings (loss) attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ (0.1)	$ 0.13	$ (2.61)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ (0.03)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.09)
Basic earnings (loss) attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share	$ 0.18	$ (0.13)	$ (0.28)	$ (2.7)
Diluted earnings (loss) attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ (0.1)	$ 0.13	$ (2.61)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ (0.03)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.09)
Diluted earnings (loss) attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share	$ 0.18	$ (0.13)	$ (0.28)	$ (2.7)