CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 615,850	$ 614,690	$ 1,707,553	$ 1,576,034
Cost of sales	384,219	394,758	1,085,298	1,019,797
Gross profit	231,631	219,932	622,255	556,237
Selling and administrative expenses	170,365	166,201	506,336	466,693
(Gain)/loss on sale of assets	6	15	18	(9,725)
Restructuring and impairment	172	987	(12)	11,241
Operating income	61,088	52,729	115,913	88,028
Interest income	110	110	318	326
Interest expense	1,733	1,971	5,689	6,360
Income before income taxes	59,465	50,868	110,542	81,994
Income taxes	18,619	17,372	37,367	27,817
Net income	40,846	33,496	73,175	54,177
Less: Net (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(2)	(92)	(30)	(212)
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 40,848	$ 33,588	$ 73,205	$ 54,389
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.92	$ 0.75	$ 1.65	$ 1.21
Average number of common shares outstanding – basic	44,263,027	44,689,819	44,327,608	44,916,038
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.90	$ 0.74	$ 1.61	$ 1.19
Average number of common shares outstanding – diluted	45,402,537	45,611,099	45,516,521	45,758,502
Cash dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.265	$ 0.25	$ 0.78	$ 0.74
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax: three months 2015 $(151); 2014 $(197); nine months 2015 $168; 2014 $(216)	$ (1,637)	$ (825)	$ (922)	$ (427)
Comprehensive income	39,209	32,671	72,253	53,750
Less: Comprehensive (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2)	(92)	(30)	(212)
Comprehensive income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 39,211	$ 32,763	$ 72,283	$ 53,962