Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Guarantor Financial Statements - [Details] (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2012	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 01, 2012	Jul. 03, 2011
Condensed consolidating statement of operations [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 254,607	$ 267,640	$ 487,367	$ 513,042
Cost of Sales	170,012	172,865	326,569	331,339
Gross profit on sales	84,595	94,775	160,798	181,703
Selling, general and administrative expenses	62,562	68,638	121,930	134,038
Restructuring and asset impairment charge			16,316
Operating Income (loss)	22,033	26,137	22,552	47,665
Interest/Other expense	6,139	6,783	12,792	13,439
Income (loss) before taxes on income and equity in income of subsidiaries	15,620	19,183	9,049	34,177
Income tax expense	5,362	6,369	4,725	11,539
Net income (loss)	10,258	12,814	4,324	22,638
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES [Member]
Condensed consolidating statement of operations [Abstract]
Net sales	167,714		310,498
Cost of Sales	121,595		227,938
Gross profit on sales	46,119		82,560
Selling, general and administrative expenses	29,477		56,296
Restructuring and asset impairment charge			1,143
Operating Income (loss)	16,642		25,121
Interest/Other expense	11,007		18,242
Income (loss) before taxes on income and equity in income of subsidiaries	5,635		6,879
Income tax expense	1,934		2,055
Net income (loss)	3,701		4,824
NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES [Member]
Condensed consolidating statement of operations [Abstract]
Net sales	117,526		238,181
Cost of Sales	79,050		159,943
Gross profit on sales	38,476		78,238
Selling, general and administrative expenses	27,063		54,668
Restructuring and asset impairment charge			15,173
Operating Income (loss)	11,413		8,397
Interest/Other expense	2,870		6,603
Income (loss) before taxes on income and equity in income of subsidiaries	8,543		1,794
Income tax expense	2,933		2,278
Net income (loss)	5,610		(484)
INTERFACE, INC (PARENT CORPORATION) [Member]
Condensed consolidating statement of operations [Abstract]
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,022		10,966
Operating Income (loss)	(6,022)		(10,966)
Interest/Other expense	(7,464)		(11,342)
Income (loss) before taxes on income and equity in income of subsidiaries	1,442		376
Income tax expense	495		392
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	9,311		4,340
Net income (loss)	10,258		4,324
CONSOLIDATION AND ELIMINATION ENTRIES [Member]
Condensed consolidating statement of operations [Abstract]
Net sales	(30,633)		(61,312)
Cost of Sales	(30,633)		(61,312)
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(9,311)		(4,340)
Net income (loss)	(9,311)		(4,340)
CONSOLIDATED TOTALS [Member]
Condensed consolidating statement of operations [Abstract]
Net sales	254,607		487,367
Cost of Sales	170,012		326,569
Gross profit on sales	84,595		160,798
Selling, general and administrative expenses	62,562		121,930
Restructuring and asset impairment charge			16,316
Operating Income (loss)	22,033		22,552
Interest/Other expense	6,413		13,503
Income (loss) before taxes on income and equity in income of subsidiaries	15,620		9,049
Income tax expense	5,362		4,725
Net income (loss)	$ 10,258		$ 4,324