Summary of Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 29, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010	Jul. 03, 2010	Apr. 03, 2010	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Jan. 02, 2010	Jan. 03, 2009
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 527,536	$ 550,855	$ 480,400	$ 445,212	$ 500,269	$ 504,220	$ 432,810	$ 396,151	$ 466,147	$ 458,853	$ 398,222	$ 363,506	$ 2,004,003	$ 1,833,450	$ 1,686,728
Cost of products sold	341,585	359,519	315,287	298,385	322,255	324,825	285,880	261,427	302,246	297,635	256,905	244,326	1,314,776	1,194,387	1,101,112
Gross profit	185,951	191,336	165,113	146,827	178,014	179,395	146,930	134,724	163,901	161,218	141,317	119,180	689,227	639,063	585,616
Selling and administrative expenses	155,046	149,421	151,455	143,734	147,034	138,671	136,197	132,413	136,911	130,514	128,032	122,800	599,656	554,315	518,257
Restructuring related charges (income)	583	172	292	897	1,131	277	463	1,390	6,628	(251)	1,238	1,834	1,944	3,261	9,449
Operating income	30,322	41,743	13,366	2,196	29,849	40,447	10,270	921	20,362	30,955	12,047	(5,454)	87,627	81,487	57,910
Interest income (expense) - net	(2,452)	(2,503)	(2,633)	(2,435)	(2,604)	(2,345)	(2,923)	(3,456)	(3,158)	(2,677)	(2,962)	(2,635)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	27,870	39,240	10,733	(239)	27,245	38,102	7,347	(2,535)	17,204	28,278	9,085	(8,089)	77,604	70,159	46,478
Income taxes	10,493	15,036	3,835	(86)	9,219	13,186	2,744	(738)	4,621	12,630	3,493	(3,947)	29,278	24,411	16,797
Income (loss) from continuing operations, less applicable income taxes	17,377	24,204	6,898	(153)	18,026	24,916	4,603	(1,797)	12,583	15,648	5,592	(4,142)	48,326	45,748	29,681
Discontinued operations, less applicable income taxes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(7)	(13)	(827)	(1,711)	0	0	(2,558)
Net income (loss)	17,377	24,204	6,898	(153)	18,026	24,916	4,603	(1,797)	12,576	15,635	4,765	(5,853)	48,326	45,748	27,123
Less: net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(216)	(286)	(127)	(12)	(111)	(31)	(54)	(42)	33	(46)	62	133	(641)	(238)	182
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 17,593	$ 24,490	$ 7,025	$ (141)	$ 18,137	$ 24,947	$ 4,657	$ (1,755)	$ 12,543	$ 15,681	$ 4,703	$ (5,986)	$ 48,967	$ 45,986	$ 26,941
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to HNI Corporation - basic	$ 0.39	$ 0.54	$ 0.15	$ 0.00	$ 0.40	$ 0.56	$ 0.10	$ (0.04)	$ 0.28	$ 0.35	$ 0.12	$ (0.09)
Discontinued operations attributable to HNI Corporation - basic	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)	$ (0.04)
Net income (loss) attributable to HNI Corporation per common share - basic	$ 0.39	$ 0.54	$ 0.15	$ 0.00	$ 0.40	$ 0.56	$ 0.10	$ (0.04)	$ 0.28	$ 0.35	$ 0.10	$ (0.13)	$ 1.08	$ 1.03	$ 0.60
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic	45,050,000	45,224,000	45,420,000	45,152,000	44,828,000	44,787,000	44,745,000	44,853,000	44,815,000	44,801,000	45,193,000	45,166,000	45,211,385	44,803,248	44,993,934
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to HNI Corporation - diluted	$ 0.39	$ 0.53	$ 0.15	$ 0.00	$ 0.40	$ 0.55	$ 0.10	$ (0.04)	$ 0.27	$ 0.34	$ 0.12	$ (0.09)
Discontinued operations attributable to HNI Corporation - diluted	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)	$ (0.04)
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share - diluted	$ 0.39	$ 0.53	$ 0.15	$ 0.00	$ 0.40	$ 0.55	$ 0.10	$ (0.04)	$ 0.27	$ 0.34	$ 0.10	$ (0.13)	$ 1.07	$ 1.01	$ 0.59	$ (0.14)	$ 1.02
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted	45,692,000	45,820,000	45,945,000	45,152,000	45,759,000	45,637,000	45,667,000	44,853,000	45,743,000	45,601,000	46,012,000	45,166,000	45,819,979	45,694,278	45,808,704
As a Percentage of Net Sales
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	35.20%	34.70%	34.40%	33.00%	35.60%	35.60%	33.90%	34.00%	35.20%	35.10%	35.50%	32.80%
Selling and administrative expenses	29.40%	27.10%	31.50%	32.30%	29.40%	27.50%	31.50%	33.40%	29.40%	28.40%	32.20%	33.80%
Restructuring related charges	0.10%	0.00%	0.10%	0.20%	0.20%	0.10%	0.10%	0.40%	1.40%	(0.10%)	0.30%	0.50%
Operating income (loss)	5.70%	7.60%	2.80%	0.50%	6.00%	8.00%	2.40%	0.20%	4.40%	6.70%	3.00%	(1.50%)
Income taxes	2.00%	2.70%	0.80%	0.00%	1.80%	2.60%	0.60%	(0.20%)	1.00%	2.80%	0.90%	(1.10%)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	3.30%	4.40%	1.40%	0.00%	3.60%	4.90%	1.10%	(0.50%)	2.70%	3.40%	1.40%	(1.10%)
Discontinued operations, less applicable taxes	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	(0.20%)	(0.50%)
Net income (loss) attributable to HNI Corporation	3.30%	4.40%	1.50%	0.00%	3.60%	4.90%	1.10%	(0.40%)	2.70%	3.40%	1.20%	(1.60%)