Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.	$ 270,025	$ 269,878	$ 731,260	$ 696,614
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(46)	(53)	(46)	(53)
Net earnings available to common stockholders	$ 269,979	$ 269,825	$ 731,214	$ 696,561
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-basic and diluted:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-basic (in shares)	74,338	74,154	74,330	74,084
Add weighted-average dilutive potential common shares-options to purchase common shares and RSUs, net (in shares)	503	459	500	467
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted (in shares)	74,841	74,613	74,830	74,551
Earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 3.63	$ 3.64	$ 9.84	$ 9.40
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 3.61	$ 3.62	$ 9.77	$ 9.34

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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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The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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Amount, after deduction of tax, noncontrolling interests, dividends on preferred stock and participating securities; of income (loss) available to common shareholders.

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Amount of decrease to net income for accretion of temporary equity to its redemption value to derive net income apportioned to common stockholders.

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The sum of dilutive potential common shares or units used in the calculation of the diluted per-share or per-unit computation.

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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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Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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