EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 04, 2015	Jun. 28, 2014	Jul. 04, 2015	Jun. 28, 2014
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (in dollars)	$ 16,164	$ 27,074	$ 35,959	$ 44,031
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities (in dollars)	100	300	300	500
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. excluding undistributed earnings (in dollars)	$ 16,000	$ 26,600	$ 35,500	$ 43,300
Basic
Weighted average common shares (in shares)	47.6	47.6	47.6	47.7
Effect of dilutive securities:
Non-participating employee incentive stock options and performance awards (in shares)	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.6
Adjusted weighted average common shares (in shares)	48.1	48.2	48.1	48.3
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.56	$ 0.74	$ 0.91
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.55	$ 0.74	$ 0.90
Stock Options
Effect of dilutive securities:
Anti-dilutive stock options (in shares)	0.3	0.1	0.3	0.1
Impo Motor Pompa Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.
Numerator:
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interest (in dollars)	$ 100	$ 200	$ 200	$ 200