Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock, Par Value $.20 Per Share	Additional Paid-in Capital	Treasury Stock	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning of year at Oct. 31, 2014		$ 6,425	$ 655,723	$ (30,262)	$ 1,386,655	$ (131,577)	$ 10,183
Shares issued under employee stock plans		51	15,985
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			0		0
Share-based compensation expense			10,771
Shares repurchased				(259,518)
Net earnings	$ 58,170				58,170
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax	(6,616)
Change in pension and post-retirement obligations, net of tax	(5,796)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(164,839)					(164,839)
Net changes in equity attributable to noncontrolling interest							141
End of year at Oct. 02, 2015	1,545,496	6,476	682,479	(289,780)	1,444,825	(308,828)	10,324
Total Esterline Shareholders' Equity	1,535,172
Net earnings	4,861
End of year at Jan. 01, 2016	1,514,804
Beginning of year at Oct. 02, 2015	1,545,496	6,476	682,479	(289,780)	1,444,825	(308,828)	10,324
Shares issued under employee stock plans		37	6,669
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			0		0
Share-based compensation expense			13,986
Shares repurchased				(18,734)
Net earnings	97,953				97,953
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax	13,668
Change in pension and post-retirement obligations, net of tax	(10,593)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(42,867)					(42,867)
Net changes in equity attributable to noncontrolling interest							250
End of year at Sep. 30, 2016	1,605,865	6,513	703,134	(308,514)	1,542,778	(348,620)	10,574
Beginning of year at Jan. 01, 2016	1,514,804
Net earnings	14,247
End of year at Apr. 01, 2016	1,569,070
Net earnings	28,266
End of year at Jul. 01, 2016	1,573,050
Net earnings	50,579
End of year at Sep. 30, 2016	1,605,865	6,513	703,134	(308,514)	1,542,778	(348,620)	10,574
Total Esterline Shareholders' Equity	1,595,291
Net earnings	15,792
End of year at Dec. 30, 2016	1,578,876
Beginning of year at Sep. 30, 2016	1,605,865	6,513	703,134	(308,514)	1,542,778	(348,620)	10,574
Shares issued under employee stock plans		110	26,727
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			(855)		855
Share-based compensation expense			9,323
Shares repurchased				0
Net earnings	111,554				111,554
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax	12,814
Change in pension and post-retirement obligations, net of tax	22,716
Foreign currency translation adjustment	46,220					46,220
Net changes in equity attributable to noncontrolling interest							(53)
End of year at Sep. 29, 2017	1,835,276	6,623	738,329	(308,514)	1,655,187	(266,870)	10,521
Beginning of year at Mar. 31, 2017	1,643,756
Net earnings	30,949
End of year at Jun. 30, 2017	1,740,897
Net earnings	30,407
End of year at Sep. 29, 2017	1,835,276	$ 6,623	$ 738,329	$ (308,514)	$ 1,655,187	$ (266,870)	$ 10,521
Total Esterline Shareholders' Equity	$ 1,824,755