Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 27, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 587,157	$ 662,040	$ 689,738
Cost of revenues	342,743	376,956	420,647
Gross profit	244,414	285,084	269,091
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	205,628	221,566	218,807
Research and development	19,487	15,303	17,524
Restructuring expense	10,012	6,654	10,866
Asset impairment	5,793	864	4,820
Litigation matters	19,246	1,600	(6,584)
Acquisition costs	142	364	960
Other operating income	(493)	0	(578)
Operating (loss) income	(15,401)	38,733	23,276
Interest income	806	1,180	1,515
Interest expense	3,957	4,637	18,955
Other gain (loss), net	(23)	(1,102)	(3,936)
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	(18,575)	34,174	1,900
Income tax expense	7,640	23,221	3,671
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	(26,215)	10,953	(1,771)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $0, $0, and ($68)	0	0	(17,156)
Net (loss) earnings	(26,215)	10,953	(18,927)
Less: gain attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0	1
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.	$ (26,215)	$ 10,953	$ (18,928)
Basic (loss) earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share:
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations (usd per share)	$ (0.61)	$ 0.26	$ (0.05)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (usd per share)	0.00	0.00	(0.41)
Basic earnings (loss) attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share	(0.61)	0.26	(0.46)
Diluted (loss) earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share:
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations (usd per share)	(0.61)	0.26	(0.05)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (usd per share)	0.00	0.00	(0.41)
Diluted earnings (loss) attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share	(0.61)	0.26	(0.46)
Dividend declared (usd per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.00	$ 0.00