Summary of Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Jul. 04, 2015	Apr. 04, 2015	Jan. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Jan. 02, 2016	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 596,866	$ 615,850	$ 568,226	$ 523,477	$ 646,661	$ 614,690	$ 509,143	$ 452,201	$ 2,304,419	$ 2,222,695	$ 2,059,964
Cost of products sold	371,723	384,219	362,102	338,977	418,698	394,758	328,010	297,029	1,457,021	1,438,495	1,344,672
Gross profit	225,143	231,631	206,124	184,500	227,963	219,932	181,133	155,172	847,398	784,200	715,292
Selling and administrative expenses	165,772	170,371	167,278	168,704	182,341	166,216	155,288	145,210	672,125	649,055	606,512
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	(195)	0	0	0	(977)	0	(1,346)	(8,400)	(195)	(10,723)	2,460
Restructuring related charges	(11,803)	(172)	560	(377)	(21,778)	(987)	(10,282)	28	(11,792)	(33,019)	(333)
Operating income	47,763	61,088	39,406	15,419	24,821	52,729	16,909	18,390	163,676	112,849	105,987
Interest income (expense) – net	(1,135)	(1,623)	(1,849)	(1,899)	(1,884)	(1,861)	(2,041)	(2,132)
Income (loss) before income taxes	46,628	59,465	37,557	13,520	22,937	50,868	14,868	16,258	157,170	104,931	96,707
Income taxes	14,397	18,619	13,680	5,068	15,959	17,372	5,203	5,242	51,764	43,776	33,338
Net income (loss)	32,231	40,846	23,877	8,452	6,978	33,496	9,665	11,016	105,406	61,155	63,369
Less: net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	0	(2)	(2)	(26)	(104)	(92)	(40)	(80)	(30)	(316)	(314)
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 32,231	$ 40,848	$ 23,879	$ 8,478	$ 7,082	$ 33,588	$ 9,705	$ 11,096	$ 105,436	$ 61,471	$ 63,683
Net income (loss) attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – basic	$ 0.73	$ 0.92	$ 0.54	$ 0.19	$ 0.16	$ 0.75	$ 0.22	$ 0.25	$ 2.38	$ 1.37	$ 1.41
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic	44,158,000	44,263,000	44,416,000	44,304,000	44,324,000	44,690,000	45,020,000	45,039,000	44,285,298	44,759,716	45,250,665
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – diluted	$ 0.71	$ 0.90	$ 0.52	$ 0.19	$ 0.16	$ 0.74	$ 0.21	$ 0.24	$ 2.32	$ 1.35	$ 1.39	$ 1.07	$ 1.01
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted	45,199,000	45,403,000	45,621,000	45,524,000	45,202,000	45,611,000	45,868,000	45,838,000	45,440,653	45,578,872	45,956,280
As a Percentage of Net Sales
Net sales, percent	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Gross profit, percent	37.70%	37.60%	36.30%	35.20%	35.30%	35.80%	35.60%	34.30%
Selling and administrative expenses, percent	27.80%	27.70%	29.40%	32.20%	28.20%	27.00%	30.50%	32.10%
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, percent					(0.20%)	0.00%	(0.30%)	(1.90%)
Restructuring related charges, percent	2.00%	0.00%	(0.10%)	0.10%	3.40%	0.20%	2.00%	0.00%
Operating income (loss), percent	8.00%	9.90%	6.90%	2.90%	3.80%	8.60%	3.30%	4.10%
Income taxes, percent	2.40%	3.00%	2.40%	1.00%	2.50%	2.80%	1.00%	1.20%
Net income (loss) attributable to HNI Corporation, percent	5.40%	6.60%	4.20%	1.60%	1.10%	5.50%	1.90%	2.50%