Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,150,656	$ 1,990,658	$ 6,073,566	$ 5,852,000
Cost of sales	1,489,252	1,434,236	4,285,090	4,239,411
Gross profit	661,404	556,422	1,788,476	1,612,589
Selling, general and administrative expenses	372,670	342,729	1,200,152	1,045,913
Operating income	288,734	213,693	588,324	566,676
Interest expense	19,319	34,786	52,606	77,584
Other (income) expense, net	4,249	(2,374)	6,094	961
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	265,166	181,281	529,624	488,131
Income tax expense	49,463	30,021	104,643	102,957
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests	215,703	151,260	424,981	385,174
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	798	(6)	1,238	77
Net earnings attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.	$ 214,905	$ 151,266	$ 423,743	$ 385,097
Basic earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc. (in usd per share)	$ 2.91	$ 2.08	$ 5.77	$ 5.29
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-basic (in shares)	73,915	72,864	73,384	72,814
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc. (in usd per share)	$ 2.89	$ 2.06	$ 5.73	$ 5.25
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted (in shares)	74,438	73,376	73,907	73,332