Summary of Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 29, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Jan. 03, 2009
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 541,263	$ 565,706	$ 510,698	$ 442,297	$ 527,536	$ 550,855	$ 480,400	$ 445,212	$ 500,269	$ 504,220	$ 432,810	$ 396,151	$ 2,059,964	$ 2,004,003	$ 1,833,450
Cost of products sold	348,282	365,835	336,040	294,515	341,585	359,519	315,287	298,385	322,255	324,825	285,880	261,427	1,344,672	1,314,776	1,194,387
Gross profit	192,981	199,871	174,658	147,782	185,951	191,336	165,113	146,827	178,014	179,395	146,930	134,724	715,292	689,227	639,063
Selling and administrative expenses	155,237	154,641	154,538	144,556	155,046	149,421	151,455	143,734	147,034	138,671	136,197	132,413	608,972	599,656	554,315
Restructuring related charges (income)	97	115	(35)	156	583	172	292	897	1,131	277	463	1,390	333	1,944	3,261
Operating income	37,647	45,115	20,155	3,070	30,322	41,743	13,366	2,196	29,849	40,447	10,270	921	105,987	87,627	81,487
Interest income (expense) - net	(1,529)	(2,668)	(2,567)	(2,516)	(2,452)	(2,503)	(2,633)	(2,435)	(2,604)	(2,345)	(2,923)	(3,456)
Income (loss) before income taxes	36,118	42,447	17,588	554	27,870	39,240	10,733	(239)	27,245	38,102	7,347	(2,535)	96,707	77,604	70,159
Income taxes	13,376	14,398	6,189	(625)	10,493	15,036	3,835	(86)	9,219	13,186	2,744	(738)	33,338	29,278	24,411
Net income (loss)	22,742	28,049	11,399	1,179	17,377	24,204	6,898	(153)	18,026	24,916	4,603	(1,797)	63,369	48,326	45,748
Less: net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(18)	(45)	(22)	(229)	(216)	(286)	(127)	(12)	(111)	(31)	(54)	(42)	(314)	(641)	(238)
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 22,760	$ 28,094	$ 11,421	$ 1,408	$ 17,593	$ 24,490	$ 7,025	$ (141)	$ 18,137	$ 24,947	$ 4,657	$ (1,755)	$ 63,683	$ 48,967	$ 45,986
Net income (loss) attributable to HNI Corporation per common share - basic	$ 0.50	$ 0.62	$ 0.25	$ 0.03	$ 0.39	$ 0.54	$ 0.15	$ 0.00	$ 0.40	$ 0.56	$ 0.10	$ (0.04)	$ 1.41	$ 1.08	$ 1.03
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic	45,117,315,000	45,317,912,000	45,412,668,000	45,154,764,000	45,050,000	45,224,000	45,420,000	45,152,000	44,828,000	44,787,000	44,745,000	44,853,000	45,250,665	45,211,385	44,803,248
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share - diluted	$ 0.50	$ 0.61	$ 0.25	$ 0.03	$ 0.39	$ 0.53	$ 0.15	$ 0.00	$ 0.40	$ 0.55	$ 0.10	$ (0.04)	$ 1.39	$ 1.07	$ 1.01	$ 0.59	$ (0.14)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted	45,964,128,000	46,089,580,000	46,109,563,000	45,719,878,000	45,692,000	45,820,000	45,945,000	45,152,000	45,759,000	45,637,000	45,667,000	44,853,000	45,956,280	45,819,979	45,694,278
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	35.70%	35.30%	34.20%	33.40%	35.20%	34.70%	34.40%	33.00%	35.60%	35.60%	33.90%	34.00%
Selling and administrative expenses	28.70%	27.30%	30.30%	32.70%	29.40%	27.10%	31.50%	32.30%	29.40%	27.50%	31.50%	33.40%
Restructuring related charges	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.10%	0.00%	0.10%	0.20%	0.20%	0.10%	0.10%	0.40%
Operating income (loss)	7.00%	8.00%	3.90%	0.70%	5.70%	7.60%	2.80%	0.50%	6.00%	8.00%	2.40%	0.20%
Income taxes	2.50%	2.50%	1.20%	(0.10%)	2.00%	2.70%	0.80%	0.00%	1.80%	2.60%	0.60%	(0.20%)
Net income (loss) attributable to HNI Corporation	4.20%	5.00%	2.20%	0.30%	3.30%	4.40%	1.50%	0.00%	3.60%	4.90%	1.10%	(0.40%)