Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2021	Feb. 26, 2021	Jul. 02, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jan. 03, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-5075
Entity Registrant Name	PERKINELMER, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000031791
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-03
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MA
Entity Tax Identification Number	04-2052042
Entity Address, Address Line One	940 Winter Street,
Entity Address, City or Town	Waltham,
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	02451
City Area Code	781
Local Phone Number	663-6900
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 10,743,749,481
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		112,061,794
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of PerkinElmer, Inc.’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 27, 2021 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
Common stock, $1 par value per share [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $1 Par Value
1.875% Notes due 2026 [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	1.875% Notes due 2026
0.60% Notes due 2021 [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	0.600% Notes due 2021
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
PKI [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Trading Symbol	PKI
PKI 21A [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Trading Symbol	PKI 21A
PKI 21B [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Trading Symbol	PKI 21B