Restructuring and Other Charges (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2012	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 01, 2012	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 01, 2012 North America	Jul. 01, 2012 North America	Jul. 03, 2011 North America	Jul. 01, 2012 EMEA	Jul. 03, 2011 EMEA	Jul. 01, 2012 EMEA	Jul. 03, 2011 EMEA	Jul. 03, 2011 Asia	Jul. 03, 2011 Asia	Jul. 01, 2012 2010 Actions	Jul. 03, 2011 2010 Actions	Jul. 01, 2012 2010 Actions	Jul. 03, 2011 2010 Actions	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 Actions	Jul. 03, 2011 2011 Actions	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 Actions	Jul. 03, 2011 2011 Actions	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 Actions Danfoss Socla S.A.S	Apr. 01, 2012 2011 Actions Danfoss Socla S.A.S	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 Actions Danfoss Socla S.A.S	Dec. 31, 2011 2011 Actions Danfoss Socla S.A.S	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 Actions EMEA Danfoss Socla S.A.S	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 Actions Asia Danfoss Socla S.A.S	Jul. 01, 2012 Other Actions	Jul. 01, 2012 Other Actions	Jul. 01, 2012 Facilities consolidation 2011 Actions EMEA	Jul. 01, 2012 Facilities consolidation 2012 Actions North America unit
Restructuring and other charges
Original estimate of expected costs																								$ 6.4							$ 2.8
Net after-tax charge																														1.8	1.8
Net restructuring costs and other charges					0.4	0.8	0.1	0.8	5.3	2.1	6.3	0.2	0.2
Net pre-tax restructuring charges	1.1	5.2	2.3	6.3										0.1	1.8	0.1	2.7	0.1	3.4	0.6	3.6							0.9	1.6
Other charges related to impairments	0.1	0.3	0.6	0.3
Total restructuring and other charges	1.2	5.5	2.9	6.6																		0.1	0.5							2.6
Total estimated cost (pre-tax)																								4.4		4.2	0.2
Costs incurred through date																								3.7		3.5	0.2
Costs incurred																						(0.1)	(0.5)		(3.1)
Remaining costs																								$ 0.7		$ 0.7
Number of manufacturing sites closed																															2