CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2021	Dec. 28, 2019	Dec. 29, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,955,363	$ 2,246,947	$ 2,257,895
Cost of sales	1,234,243	1,413,185	1,422,857
Gross profit	721,120	833,762	835,038
Selling and administrative expenses	620,927	680,049	691,140
Restructuring and impairment charges	38,818	2,371	15,725
Operating income	61,375	151,342	128,173
Interest expense, net	6,990	8,628	9,448
Income before income taxes	54,385	142,714	118,725
Income tax expense	12,466	32,211	25,399
Net income	41,919	110,503	93,326
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	2	(2)	(51)
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 41,917	$ 110,505	$ 93,377
Average number of common shares outstanding – basic (in shares)	42,689,000	43,101,000	43,639,000
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.98	$ 2.56	$ 2.14
Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	42,956,000	43,495,000	44,328,000
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation per common share – diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.98	$ 2.54	$ 2.11
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$ 1,841	$ 61	$ (3,004)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, net of tax	265	251	(24)
Change in pension and post-retirement liability, net of tax	(920)	(2,833)	2,701
Change in derivative financial instruments, net of tax	(2,266)	(1,953)
Change in derivative financial instruments, net of tax			339
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(1,080)	(4,474)	12
Comprehensive income	40,839	106,029	93,338
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	2	(2)	(51)
Comprehensive income attributable to HNI Corporation	$ 40,837	$ 106,031	$ 93,389