Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2013 AirCraft
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of Boeing aircraft subject to lawsuit	21
Scenario 1
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of Possible Loss	1,600,000,000
Scenario 2
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of Possible Loss	851,000,000
Ducommun AeroStructures | El Mirage and Monrovia, California
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Reserve for estimated liability	1,500,000
Ducommun AeroStructures | Casmalia and West Covina, California
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Reserve for estimated liability	400,000
Possible Loss, minimum	400,000
Possible Loss, maximum	3,100,000
For each false claim made on or before September 28, 1999
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Civil penalty	10,000
For each false claim made on or after September 28, 1999
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Civil penalty	11,000