CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,257,895	$ 2,175,882	$ 2,203,489
Cost of sales	1,422,857	1,391,894	1,368,476
Gross profit	835,038	783,988	835,013
Selling and administrative expenses	691,140	671,831	667,744
(Gain) loss on sale, disposal, and license of assets	0	(1,949)	22,572
Restructuring and impairment charges	15,725	37,416	11,005
Operating income	128,173	76,690	133,692
Interest income	579	297	305
Interest expense	10,027	6,375	5,086
Total	118,725	70,612	128,911
Income tax expense (benefit)	25,399	(19,286)	43,273
Net income	93,326	89,898	85,638
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(51)	103	61
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 93,377	$ 89,795	$ 85,577
Average number of common shares outstanding – basic (shares)	43,639,003	43,839,004	44,413,941
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.14	$ 2.05	$ 1.93
Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (shares)	44,327,602	44,839,813	45,502,219
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.11	$ 2.00	$ 1.88
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$ (3,004)	$ 1,219	$ (1,510)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, net of tax	(24)	(27)	(103)
Change in pension and post-retirement liability, net of tax	2,701	(463)	339
Change in derivative financial instruments, net of tax	339	660	1,460
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	12	1,389	186
Comprehensive income	93,338	91,287	85,824
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(51)	103	61
Comprehensive income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 93,389	$ 91,184	$ 85,763