Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Schedule of goodwill) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss	$ 0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	3,620,790,000	$ 2,931,777,000
Accumulated impairments losses, beginning balance	(1,327,425,000)	(1,327,425,000)
Goodwill	2,274,426,000	2,293,365,000	$ 1,604,352,000
Goodwill recognized during the year	3,006,000	775,154,000
Currency translation during the year	(21,945,000)	(86,141,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	3,601,851,000	3,620,790,000
Accumulated impairments losses, ending balance	(1,327,425,000)	(1,327,425,000)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	2,274,426,000	2,293,365,000	1,604,352,000
Operating segments | Global Ceramic
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,472,757,000	1,395,132,000
Accumulated impairments losses, beginning balance	(531,930,000)	(531,930,000)
Goodwill	950,296,000	940,827,000	863,202,000
Goodwill recognized during the year	0	99,848,000
Currency translation during the year	9,469,000	(22,223,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,482,226,000	1,472,757,000
Accumulated impairments losses, ending balance	(531,930,000)	(531,930,000)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	950,296,000	940,827,000	863,202,000
Operating segments | Flooring NA
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	867,916,000	538,515,000
Accumulated impairments losses, beginning balance	(343,054,000)	(343,054,000)
Goodwill	526,710,000	524,862,000	195,461,000
Goodwill recognized during the year	1,848,000	329,401,000
Currency translation during the year	0	0
Goodwill, ending balance	869,764,000	867,916,000
Accumulated impairments losses, ending balance	(343,054,000)	(343,054,000)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	526,710,000	524,862,000	195,461,000
Operating segments | Flooring ROW
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,280,117,000	998,130,000
Accumulated impairments losses, beginning balance	(452,441,000)	(452,441,000)
Goodwill	797,420,000	827,676,000	545,689,000
Goodwill recognized during the year	1,158,000	345,905,000
Currency translation during the year	(31,414,000)	(63,918,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,249,861,000	1,280,117,000
Accumulated impairments losses, ending balance	(452,441,000)	(452,441,000)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 797,420,000	$ 827,676,000	$ 545,689,000