Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 7,440,059	$ 7,067,009
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans	(4,448)	(8,986)
Stock-based compensation expense	5,789	7,948
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(305)
Noncontrolling earnings	(10)	31
Currency translation adjustment on non-controlling interests		188
Currency translation adjustment	13,962	71,494
Prior pension and post-retirement benefit service cost and actuarial gain / loss	108	(135)
Net earnings attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.	121,585	208,766
Ending balance	7,577,045	7,346,009
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0	29,463
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest		305
Noncontrolling earnings		444
Currency translation adjustment on non-controlling interests		711
Ending balance	0	30,924
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 797	$ 818
Beginning balance (in shares)	79,656	81,771
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans	$ 1	$ 1
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans (in shares)	115	112
Ending balance	$ 798	$ 819
Ending balance (in shares)	79,771	81,883
Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 1,852,173	$ 1,828,131
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans	(4,478)	(9,004)
Stock-based compensation expense	5,789	7,948
Ending balance	1,853,484	1,827,075
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	6,588,197	6,004,506
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(305)
Net earnings attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.	121,585	208,766
Ending balance	6,709,782	6,212,966
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(791,608)	(558,527)
Currency translation adjustment	13,953	71,494
Prior pension and post-retirement benefit service cost and actuarial gain / loss	108	(135)
Ending balance	(777,547)	(487,168)
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (215,745)	$ (215,766)
Beginning balance (in shares)	(7,349)	(7,350)
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans	$ 29	$ 17
Ending balance	$ (215,716)	$ (215,749)
Ending balance (in shares)	(7,349)	(7,350)
Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 6,245	$ 7,847
Noncontrolling earnings	(10)	31
Currency translation adjustment on non-controlling interests		188
Currency translation adjustment	9
Ending balance	$ 6,244	$ 8,066