Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues:
Product	$ 386,902	$ 333,262	$ 1,187,638	$ 1,004,378
Service	64,237	44,517	185,262	112,288
Subscription	53,624	39,654	151,690	92,229
Total revenues	504,763	417,433	1,524,590	1,208,895
Cost of sales:
Product	185,102	163,774	577,281	494,899
Service	23,615	19,823	67,592	50,525
Subscription	17,450	11,956	47,859	27,730
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	15,728	10,321	42,145	23,918
Total cost of sales	241,895	205,874	734,877	597,072
Gross margin	262,868	211,559	789,713	611,823
Operating expenses
Research and development	61,181	49,928	185,721	139,452
Sales and marketing	76,481	70,662	230,094	195,359
General and administrative	45,723	44,088	142,595	114,717
Restructuring charges	301	647	1,894	1,775
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	15,712	13,786	47,170	32,830
Total operating expenses	199,398	179,111	607,474	484,133
Consolidated operating income	63,470	32,448	182,239	127,690
Non-operating income, net
Interest expense, net	(3,925)	(2,942)	(11,561)	(4,184)
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss), net	174	(4,022)	(1,843)	2,780
Income from equity method investments, net	6,453	4,789	19,708	10,970
Other income (expense), net	650	(388)	1,897	(892)
Total non-operating income (expense), net	3,352	(2,563)	8,201	8,674
Income before taxes	66,822	29,885	190,440	136,364
Income tax provision	13,022	2,689	33,403	16,118
Net income	53,800	27,196	157,037	120,246
Less: Net gain (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	436	(775)	(837)	(1,106)
Net income attributable to Trimble Navigation Ltd.	$ 53,364	$ 27,971	$ 157,874	$ 121,352
Basic earnings per share	$ 0.42	$ 0.23	$ 1.26	$ 0.99
Shares used in calculating basic earnings per share	125,871	122,969	125,202	122,485
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.42	$ 0.22	$ 1.23	$ 0.96
Shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share	128,379	125,894	128,144	125,980