Segment reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2019 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| segment	3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,442,490	$ 2,412,202
Operating income (loss)	165,330	268,399
Assets	13,605,075		$ 13,099,123
Global Ceramic segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	898,352	876,548
Flooring NA segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	921,980	950,358
Flooring ROW segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	622,158	585,296
Operating segments \| Global Ceramic segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	898,352	876,548
Operating income (loss)	84,335	113,417
Assets	5,503,807		5,194,030
Operating segments \| Flooring NA segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	921,980	950,358
Operating income (loss)	649	74,748
Assets	4,020,336		3,938,639
Operating segments \| Flooring ROW segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	622,158	585,296
Operating income (loss)	90,431	89,060
Assets	3,799,591		3,666,617
Intersegment sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0
Corporate and intersegment eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(10,085)	$ (8,826)
Assets	$ 281,341		$ 299,837

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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