Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended																						12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010	Jul. 03, 2010	Apr. 03, 2010	Jan. 02, 2010	Oct. 03, 2009	Jul. 04, 2009	Apr. 04, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Jan. 02, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]	Jan. 02, 2010 Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]	Jan. 02, 2010 Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]	Jan. 02, 2010 Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	Jan. 02, 2010 Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Jan. 02, 2010 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Director Plan [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Director Plan [Member]	Jan. 02, 2010 Director Plan [Member]	May 31, 2007 Director Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Purchase Plan [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Purchase Plan [Member]	Jan. 02, 2010 Purchase Plan [Member]	Jun. 12, 2009 Purchase Plan [Member]	Jan. 01, 2007 Purchase Plan [Member]
Stockholders' Equity, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Common Stock, Par Value	$ 1				$ 1				$ 1				$ 1	$ 1	$ 1
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	200,000,000				200,000,000				200,000,000				200,000,000	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, Shares Issued	44,855,207				44,840,701				45,093,379				44,855,207	44,840,701	45,093,379
Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	44,855,207				44,840,701				45,093,379				44,855,207	44,840,701	45,093,379
Preferred Stock, Par Value	$ 1				$ 1				$ 1				$ 1	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized	2,000,000				2,000,000				2,000,000				2,000,000	2,000,000	2,000,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued	0				0				0				0	0	0
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	0				0				0				0	0	0
Shares available for future issuance																																		300,000				1,000,000	800,000
Maximum amount fair value for purchase of common stock																																			$ 25,000
Common stock issued at average price																																			$ 17.39	$ 19.52	$ 13.77
Shares of common stock issued																																			104,379	94,925	147,723
Corporation common stock, issiued																															32,487	27,510	39,914
Shares available for issuance																																			724,092
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	18,026,000	24,916,000	4,603,000	(1,797,000)	12,576,000	15,635,000	4,765,000	(5,853,000)	(10,770,000)	17,760,000	(1,390,000)	(11,859,000)	45,748,000	27,123,000	(6,259,000)
Other comprehensive income, net of income tax as applicable:
Foreign currency translation adjustments													796,000	889,000	(94,000)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities													191,000	(48,000)	134,000
Change in pension and postretirement liability													(1,270,000)	397,000	745,000
Change in derivative financial instruments													339,000	1,195,000	348,000
Comprehensive income (loss)													45,804,000	29,556,000	(5,126,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(111,000)	(31,000)	(54,000)	(42,000)	33,000	(46,000)	62,000	133,000	3,000	146,000	7,000	27,000	(238,000)	182,000	183,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HNI Corporation													46,042,000	29,374,000	(5,309,000)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Beginning Balance				1,659,000				(774,000)					1,659,000	(774,000)		4,415,000	3,526,000	3,620,000	(48,000)	0	(134,000)	(2,313,000)	(2,710,000)	(3,455,000)	(395,000)	(1,590,000)	(1,938,000)	1,659,000	(774,000)	(1,907,000)
Change during the year													56,000	2,433,000	1,133,000	796,000	889,000	(94,000)	191,000	(48,000)	134,000	(1,270,000)	397,000	745,000	339,000	1,195,000	348,000	56,000	2,433,000	1,133,000
Ending Balance	1,715,000				1,659,000				(774,000)				1,715,000	1,659,000	(774,000)	5,211,000	4,415,000	3,526,000	143,000	(48,000)	0	(3,583,000)	(2,313,000)	(2,710,000)	(56,000)	(395,000)	(1,590,000)	1,715,000	1,659,000	(774,000)
Treasury Stock [Abstract]
Treasury stock shares acquired													323,965	655,032	0
Cost of treasury stock acquired													$ 10,000,000	$ 17,817,000	$ 0
Common Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Cash dividends declared per common share													$ 0.92	$ 0.86	$ 0.86
Cash dividends paid per common share	$ 0.23	$ 0.23	$ 0.23	$ 0.23	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.92	$ 0.86	$ 0.86