Discontinued Operations Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017	Jan. 03, 2016
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accounts, Notes and Loans Receivable, Net	$ 0	$ 28,400
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations before income taxes	179,615	619	$ (28)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes on discontinued operations and dispositions	44,522	4,255	11,537
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Inventory, Current	0	26,977
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Assets, Current	0	3,183
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Prepaid income taxes, Current [Abstract]	0	425
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current	0	58,985
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Property, Plant and Equipment, Noncurrent	0	25,219
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Intangible Assets, Noncurrent	0	3,292
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Goodwill, Noncurrent	0	38,794
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Assets, Noncurrent	0	1,084
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Noncurrent	0	68,389
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets	0	127,374
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current [Abstract]	0	16,770
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accrued restructuring and contract termination charges, Current	0	209
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accrued Liabilities, Current	2,102	9,992
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Current	2,102	26,971
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent	0	7,851
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	0	7,109
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Noncurrent	0	14,960
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities	2,102	41,931
Technical Services Business [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations before income taxes	0	1,753	(28)
Fluid Sciences Segment [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations before income taxes	0	(1,134)	0
Other Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets		(1,600)
PerkinElmer Labs, Inc. [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration		20,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	$ 1,100	$ 7,100
Capital loss on disposition of a business		7300
Tax effect of disposition of a business		2500
Medical Imaging Business [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Discontinued Operation, Period of Continuing Involvement after Disposal	12 months
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations before income taxes	$ 179,615	$ 0	$ 0
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Gain (Loss) from Disposal of Discontinued Operation	43,131
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration	277,400
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Working Capital Adjustment	4,200
Suzhou PerkinElmer Medical Laboratory Co. Ltd [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations before income taxes	(1,108)
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration	$ 2,300