Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010	Oct. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 736,885	$ 590,801	$ 2,081,325	$ 1,682,300
Cost of Sales	557,259	446,137	1,586,219	1,263,217
Gross Profit	179,626	144,664	495,106	419,083
Operating Expenses	101,482	74,781	298,033	219,636
Income From Operations	78,144	69,883	197,073	199,447
Interest Expense	10,482	4,817	20,387	14,358
Interest Income	450	645	1,186	1,800
Income Before Taxes	68,112	65,711	177,872	186,889
Provision For Income Taxes	20,618	19,831	53,570	58,366
Net Income	47,494	45,880	124,302	128,523
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,823	1,226	5,464	4,387
Net Income Attributable to Regal Beloit Corporation	$ 45,671	$ 44,654	$ 118,838	$ 124,136
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:
Basic	$ 1.14	$ 1.16	$ 3.04	$ 3.26
Assuming Dilution	$ 1.13	$ 1.14	$ 3.00	$ 3.19
Cash Dividends Declared	$ 0.18	$ 0.17	$ 0.53	$ 0.50
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding:
Basic	39,931,610	38,581,166	39,075,118	38,112,515
Assuming Dilution	40,421,659	39,023,135	39,648,485	38,875,978