CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 479,456	$ 505,069
Cost of sales	309,842	328,150
Gross profit	169,614	176,919
Selling and administrative expenses	165,937	171,895
Restructuring charges	0	1,338
Operating income	3,677	3,686
Interest income	356	113
Interest expense	2,467	2,337
Income before income taxes	1,566	1,462
Income tax expense (benefit)	546	(999)
Net income	1,020	2,461
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(2)	(49)
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 1,022	$ 2,510
Average number of common shares outstanding – basic (in shares)	43,533,527	43,359,971
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0.06
Average number of common shares outstanding – diluted (in shares)	44,088,784	44,134,142
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0.06
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$ 963	$ 1
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, net of tax	90	(79)
Change in pension and post-retirement liability, net of tax	(1,185)	0
Change in derivative financial instruments, net of tax	(309)
Change in derivative financial instruments, net of tax		1,027
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(441)	949
Comprehensive income	579	3,410
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(2)	(49)
Comprehensive income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 581	$ 3,459