Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 515,727	$ 744,571	$ 864,855
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Restructuring	103,695	90,341	58,991
Depreciation and amortization	607,507	576,452	521,765
Deferred income taxes	22,324	(107,842)	88,456
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment	6,296	1,608	(205)
Stock-based compensation expense	19,697	23,620	31,382
Impairment of net investment in a manufacturer and distributor of ceramic tile in China	0	59,906	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Receivables, net	(54,977)	81,953	13,856
Inventories	357,516	7,212	(255,391)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	255,466	(52,065)	(69,847)
Other assets and prepaid expenses	(55,084)	3,625	(79,482)
Other liabilities	(8,328)	(10,620)	6,964
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,769,839	1,418,761	1,181,344
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(425,557)	(545,462)	(794,110)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(81,082)	(568,960)
Purchases of short-term investments	(1,187,891)	(581,500)	(664,133)
Redemption of short-term investments	658,650	592,000	695,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(954,798)	(616,044)	(1,332,203)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on Senior Credit Facilities	(633,134)	(488,978)	(813,182)
Proceeds from Senior Credit Facilities	617,883	448,587	809,287
Payments on commercial paper	(4,890,991)	(15,168,820)	(16,756,404)
Proceeds from commercial paper	4,195,353	14,540,177	16,988,398
Proceeds from Floating Rate Notes	0	331,325	353,649
Payment on Floating Rate Notes	0	(331,325)	0
Proceeds from Senior Notes issuance	1,062,240	0	0
Repayments on Senior Notes	(326,904)	0	0
Proceeds from Term Loan Facility	500,000	0	0
Repayment on Term Loan Facility	(500,000)	0	0
Payments of other debt and financing costs	(4,799)	(4,294)	(69,569)
Debt issuance costs	(11,413)	(3,028)	(890)
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling and noncontrolling interest	0	0	(34,944)
Purchase of Mohawk common stock	(188,625)	(100,080)	(274,144)
Change in outstanding checks in excess of cash	(4,256)	(4,664)	5,753
Shares redeemed for taxes	(3,539)	(8,777)	(9,925)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(188,185)	(789,877)	198,029
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	6,984	2,895	(13,004)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	633,840	15,735	34,166
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	134,785	119,050	84,884
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 768,625	$ 134,785	$ 119,050