Business combination, recognized identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, short term debt.

No definition available.

Name:	hni_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedShortTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	hni_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of identifiable intangible assets recognized as of the acquisition date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6910749&loc=d3e4845-128472

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 37

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25498275&loc=d3e2207-128464

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of subsidiary's or equity method investee's stock owned by parent immediately after all stock transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeCumulativePercentageOwnershipAfterAllTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=hni_BpErgoLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=hni_DansonsIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=hni_VermontCastingsGroupMemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Business Combinations (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
Business Combinations (Details) (USD $)	Oct. 01, 2014	Aug. 13, 2012	Jan. 03, 2015	Aug. 29, 2012	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price allocation on goodwill			279,310,000us-gaap_Goodwill		$ 286,655,000us-gaap_Goodwill	$ 288,348,000us-gaap_Goodwill
Vermont Castings Group [Member] [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash paid for acquisition	62,200,000
Purchase price allocation on intangible assets, other than goodwill	23,300,000
Purchase price allocation on goodwill	15,700,000
Vermont Castings Group [Member] [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Useful life	5 years
Vermont Castings Group [Member] [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Useful life	15 years
BP Ergo Limited [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition of common stock, percentage		97.80%	99.50%
Cash paid for acquisition		25,500,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Short Term Debt		4,100,000
Purchase price allocation on intangible assets, other than goodwill		9,800,000
Purchase price allocation on goodwill		15,900,000
BP Ergo Limited [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Useful life		10 years
Dansons, Inc. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash paid for acquisition				1,500,000
Purchase price allocation on intangible assets, other than goodwill				$ 1,400,000
Useful life				8 years