Segment reporting (Summary of segment information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 29, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 segment		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,924,104		$ 1,961,536	$ 1,976,299	$ 1,486,815	$ 1,435,659		$ 1,473,493	$ 1,469,793	$ 1,409,035	$ 7,348,754	[1]	$ 5,787,980	[1]	$ 5,642,258	[1]
Intersegment sales											(106,660)		(90,807)		(84,496)
Operating income (loss)											546,931		379,508		315,542
Depreciation and amortization											308,871		280,293		297,734
Capital expenditures (excluding acquisitions)											366,550		208,294		275,573
Assets	8,494,177					6,303,684					8,494,177		6,303,684		6,206,228
Long-lived assets	4,437,835	[2]				3,078,623	[2]				4,437,835	[2]	3,078,623	[2]	3,087,329	[2]
Number of reporting segments											3
Carpet Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											2,986,096		2,912,055		2,927,674
Operating income (loss)											209,023		158,196		109,874
Depreciation and amortization											94,314		95,648		90,463
Capital expenditures (excluding acquisitions)											158,690		97,972		125,630
Assets	1,786,085					1,721,214					1,786,085		1,721,214		1,769,065
Ceramic Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											2,677,058		1,616,383		1,454,316
Operating income (loss)											209,825		120,951		101,298
Depreciation and amortization											97,126		41,176		42,723
Capital expenditures (excluding acquisitions)											110,750		49,426		66,419
Assets	3,787,785					1,731,258					3,787,785		1,731,258		1,732,818
Laminate and Wood Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											1,792,260		1,350,349		1,344,764
Operating income (loss)											159,365		126,409		127,147
Depreciation and amortization											105,907		132,183		151,884
Capital expenditures (excluding acquisitions)											88,293		56,605		78,615
Assets	2,716,759					2,672,389					2,716,759		2,672,389		2,533,070
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization											11,524		11,286		12,664
Capital expenditures (excluding acquisitions)											8,817		4,291		4,909
Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)											(31,282)		(26,048)		(22,777)
Assets	203,548					178,823					203,548		178,823		171,275
North America [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											5,512,182		4,798,804		4,619,771
Long-lived assets	2,332,296	[2]				1,968,561	[2]				2,332,296	[2]	1,968,561	[2]	1,996,517	[2]
Rest Of World [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											1,836,572		989,176		1,022,487
Long-lived assets	2,105,539	[2]				1,110,062	[2]				2,105,539	[2]	1,110,062	[2]	1,090,812	[2]
Soft Surface [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											2,756,627	[1]	2,696,462	[1]	2,722,113	[1]
Tile [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											2,744,289	[1]	1,676,971	[1]	1,513,210	[1]
Wood [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											$ 1,847,838	[1]	$ 1,414,547	[1]	$ 1,406,935	[1]

[1] The Soft surface product category includes carpets, rugs, carpet pad and resilient. The Tile product category includes ceramic tile, porcelain tile and natural stone. The Wood product category includes laminate, hardwood, roofing elements, insulation boards, MDF, chipboards, other wood-based products and licensing.

[2] Long-lived assets are composed of property, plant and equipment, net, and goodwill.