CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2019	Dec. 29, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,246,947	$ 2,257,895	$ 2,175,882
Cost of sales	1,413,185	1,422,857	1,391,894
Gross profit	833,762	835,038	783,988
Selling and administrative expenses	680,049	691,140	671,831
Gain on sale, disposal, and license of assets, net	0	0	(1,949)
Restructuring and impairment charges	2,371	15,725	37,416
Operating income	151,342	128,173	76,690
Interest expense, net	8,628	9,448	6,078
Income before income taxes	142,714	118,725	70,612
Income tax expense (benefit)	32,211	25,399	(19,286)
Net income	110,503	93,326	89,898
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(2)	(51)	103
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 110,505	$ 93,377	$ 89,795
Average number of common shares outstanding – basic (shares)	43,101,000	43,639,000	43,839,000
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.56	$ 2.14	$ 2.05
Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (shares)	43,495,000	44,328,000	44,840,000
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.54	$ 2.11	$ 2.00
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$ (61)	$ 3,004	$ (1,219)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, net of tax	(251)	24	27
Change in pension and post-retirement liability, net of tax	(2,833)	2,701	(463)
Change in derivative financial instruments, net of tax	(1,953)
Change in derivative financial instruments, net of tax		(339)	(660)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(4,474)	12	1,389
Comprehensive income	106,029	93,338	91,287
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(2)	(51)	103
Comprehensive income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 106,031	$ 93,389	$ 91,184