Summary of Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 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	Jan. 03, 2009	Dec. 29, 2007
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 500,269	$ 504,220	$ 432,810	$ 396,151	$ 466,147	$ 458,853	$ 398,222	$ 363,506	$ 405,553	$ 446,173	$ 374,772	$ 396,829	$ 1,833,450	$ 1,686,728	$ 1,623,327
Cost of products sold	322,255	324,825	285,880	261,427	302,246	297,635	256,905	244,326	257,601	281,528	247,215	274,182	1,194,387	1,101,112	1,060,526
Gross profit	178,014	179,395	146,930	134,724	163,901	161,218	141,317	119,180	147,952	164,645	127,557	122,647	639,063	585,616	562,801
Selling and administrative expenses	147,034	138,671	136,197	132,413	136,911	130,514	128,032	122,800	131,110	126,091	122,637	133,938	554,315	518,257	513,776
Restructuring related charges (income)	1,131	277	463	1,390	6,628	(251)	1,238	1,834	27,040	4,440	3,878	5,085	3,261	9,449	40,443
Operating income	29,849	40,447	10,270	921	20,362	30,955	12,047	(5,454)	(10,198)	34,114	1,042	(16,376)	81,487	57,910	8,582
Interest income (expense) - net	(2,604)	(2,345)	(2,923)	(3,456)	(3,158)	(2,677)	(2,962)	(2,635)	(2,562)	(3,116)	(2,923)	(3,064)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	27,245	38,102	7,347	(2,535)	17,204	28,278	9,085	(8,089)	(12,760)	30,998	(1,881)	(19,440)	70,159	46,478	(3,083)
Income taxes	9,219	13,186	2,744	(738)	4,621	12,630	3,493	(3,947)	(3,490)	10,382	(635)	(7,742)	24,411	16,797	(1,485)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, less applicable income taxes	18,026	24,916	4,603	(1,797)	12,583	15,648	5,592	(4,142)	(9,270)	20,616	(1,246)	(11,698)	45,748	29,681	(1,598)
Discontinued operations, less applicable income taxes	0	0	0	0	(7)	(13)	(827)	(1,711)	(1,500)	(2,856)	(144)	(161)	0	(2,558)	(4,661)
Net income (loss)	18,026	24,916	4,603	(1,797)	12,576	15,635	4,765	(5,853)	(10,770)	17,760	(1,390)	(11,859)	45,748	27,123	(6,259)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(111)	(31)	(54)	(42)	33	(46)	62	133	3	146	7	27	(238)	182	183
Net income (loss) attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 18,137	$ 24,947	$ 4,657	$ (1,755)	$ 12,543	$ 15,681	$ 4,703	$ (5,986)	$ (10,773)	$ 17,614	$ (1,397)	$ (11,886)	$ 45,986	$ 26,941	$ (6,442)
Income (loos) from continuing operations attributable to HNI Corporation per common share - basic	$ 0.4	$ 0.56	$ 0.1	$ (0.04)	$ 0.28	$ 0.35	$ 0.12	$ (0.09)	$ (0.21)	$ 0.45	$ (0.03)	$ (0.26)
Discontinued operations attributable to HNI Corporation per common share - basic	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.06)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Net income (loss) attributable to HNI Corporation per common share - basic	$ 0.4	$ 0.56	$ 0.1	$ (0.04)	$ 0.28	$ 0.35	$ 0.1	$ (0.13)	$ (0.24)	$ 0.39	$ (0.03)	$ (0.27)	$ 1.03	$ 0.6	$ (0.14)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic	44,828,000	44,801,000	45,193,000	45,166,000	44,815,000	44,801,000	45,193,000	45,166,000	45,054,000	44,994,000	44,895,000	44,612,000	44,803,248	44,993,934	44,888,809
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to HNI Corporation per common share - diluted	$ 0.4	$ 0.55	$ 0.1	$ (0.04)	$ 0.27	$ 0.34	$ 0.12	$ (0.09)	$ (0.21)	$ 0.45	$ (0.03)	$ (0.26)
Discontinued operations attributable to HNI Corporation per common share - diluted	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.06)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Net income (loss) attributable to HNI Corporation per common share - diluted	$ 0.4	$ 0.55	$ 0.1	$ (0.04)	$ 0.27	$ 0.34	$ 0.1	$ (0.13)	$ (0.24)	$ 0.39	$ (0.03)	$ (0.27)	$ 1.01	$ 0.59	$ (0.14)	$ 1.02	$ 2.57
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted	45,759,000	45,601,000	46,012,000	45,166,000	45,743,000	45,601,000	46,012,000	45,166,000	45,054,000	45,598,000	44,895,000	44,612,000	45,694,278	45,808,704	44,888,809
Percentage of Net Sales [Abstract]
Net sales	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Gross profit	35.60%	35.60%	33.90%	34.00%	35.20%	35.10%	35.50%	32.80%	36.50%	36.90%	34.00%	30.90%
Selling and administrative expenses	29.40%	27.50%	31.50%	33.40%	29.40%	28.40%	32.20%	33.80%	32.30%	28.30%	32.70%	33.80%
Restructuring related charges	0.20%	0.10%	0.10%	0.40%	1.40%	(0.10%)	0.30%	0.50%	6.70%	1.00%	1.00%	1.30%
Operating income (loss)	6.00%	8.00%	2.40%	0.20%	4.40%	6.70%	3.00%	(1.50%)	(2.50%)	7.60%	0.30%	(4.10%)
Income taxes	1.80%	2.60%	0.60%	(0.20%)	1.00%	2.80%	0.90%	(1.10%)	(0.90%)	2.30%	(0.20%)	(2.00%)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	3.60%	4.90%	1.10%	(0.50%)	2.70%	3.40%	1.40%	(1.10%)	(2.30%)	4.60%	(0.30%)	(2.90%)
Discontinued operations, less applicable taxes	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	(0.20%)	(0.50%)	(0.40%)	(0.60%)	0.00%	0.00%
Net income (loss) attributable to HNI Corporation	3.60%	4.90%	1.10%	(0.40%)	2.70%	3.40%	1.20%	(1.60%)	(2.70%)	3.90%	(0.40%)	(3.00%)