CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2016	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,304,419	$ 2,222,695	$ 2,059,964
Cost of products sold	1,457,021	1,438,495	1,344,672
Gross profit	847,398	784,200	715,292
Selling and administrative expenses	672,125	649,055	606,512
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	(195)	(10,723)	2,460
Restructuring and impairment charges	11,792	33,019	333
Operating income	163,676	112,849	105,987
Interest income	395	418	626
Interest expense	6,901	8,336	9,906
Income before income taxes	157,170	104,931	96,707
Income taxes	51,764	43,776	33,338
Net income	105,406	61,155	63,369
Less: Net (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(30)	(316)	(314)
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 105,436	$ 61,471	$ 63,683
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – basic	$ 2.38	$ 1.37	$ 1.41
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic	44,285,298	44,759,716	45,250,665
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – diluted	$ 2.32	$ 1.35	$ 1.39
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	45,440,653	45,578,872	45,956,280
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$ (1,901)	$ (691)	$ (2,562)
Change in unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities (net of tax)	(39)	(44)	(124)
Change in pension and postretirement liabilty (net of tax)	1,256	(4,622)	2,151
Change in derivative financial instruments (net of tax)	873	(983)	187
Other comprehensive income(loss) net of tax	189	(6,340)	(348)
Comprehensive income	105,595	54,815	63,021
Less: Comprehensive (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(30)	(316)	(314)
Comprehensive income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 105,625	$ 55,131	$ 63,335