Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Apr. 02, 2016	Apr. 04, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.	$ 171,548	$ 22,346
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net earnings available to common stockholders	$ 171,548	$ 22,346
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-basic (in shares)	73,976	72,988
Add weighted-average dilutive potential common shares-options to purchase common shares and RSUs, net (in shares)	514	542
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted (in shares)	74,490	73,530
Earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 2.32	$ 0.31
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 2.30	$ 0.30

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the parent. Also defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items but after deduction of those portions of income or loss from continuing operations that are allocable to noncontrolling interests.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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Value of accretion of temporary equity to its redemption value during the period.

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The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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