Segment reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) segment	Jul. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | segment			3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,577,014	$ 2,453,038	$ 4,989,216	$ 4,673,683
Operating income (loss)	326,307	355,825	594,706	630,609
Assets	12,894,039		12,894,039		$ 12,094,853
Global Ceramic segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	929,297	902,670	1,805,845	1,687,639
Flooring NA segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,057,570	1,040,299	2,007,928	1,979,796
Flooring ROW segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	590,147	510,069	1,175,443	1,006,248
Operating segments | Global Ceramic segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	929,297	902,670	1,805,845	1,687,639
Operating income (loss)	134,760	152,557	248,177	268,593
Assets	4,974,791		4,974,791		4,838,310
Operating segments | Flooring NA segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,057,570	1,040,299	2,007,928	1,979,795
Operating income (loss)	100,662	127,482	175,410	219,624
Assets	3,927,190		3,927,190		3,702,137
Operating segments | Flooring ROW segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	590,147	510,069	1,175,443	1,006,249
Operating income (loss)	100,166	86,052	189,226	162,147
Assets	3,701,419		3,701,419		3,245,424
Intersegment sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Corporate and intersegment eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(9,281)	$ (10,266)	(18,107)	$ (19,755)
Assets	$ 290,639		$ 290,639		$ 308,982