Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,294,139	$ 2,150,656	$ 6,776,521	$ 6,073,566
Cost of sales	1,567,580	1,489,252	4,654,695	4,285,090
Gross profit	726,559	661,404	2,121,826	1,788,476
Selling, general and administrative expenses	348,252	372,670	1,147,155	1,200,152
Operating income	378,307	288,734	974,671	588,324
Interest expense	9,410	19,319	32,062	52,606
Other expense, net	3,839	4,249	1,461	6,094
Earnings before income taxes	365,058	265,166	941,148	529,624
Income tax expense	94,231	49,463	242,090	104,643
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests	270,827	215,703	699,058	424,981
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	949	798	2,444	1,238
Net earnings attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.	$ 269,878	$ 214,905	$ 696,614	$ 423,743
Basic earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.
Basic earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc. (in usd per share)	$ 3.64	$ 2.91	$ 9.40	$ 5.77
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-basic (in shares)	74,154	73,915	74,084	73,384
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc. (in usd per share)	$ 3.62	$ 2.89	$ 9.34	$ 5.73
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted (in shares)	74,613	74,438	74,551	73,907