UPDATES TO SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Revenue Recognition, Policy	The Company has presented revenue and cost of sales separately for products, service and subscriptions. Product revenue includes primarily hardware, software licenses, parts and accessories; service revenue includes primarily hardware and software maintenance and support, training and professional services; subscription revenue includes software as a service (SaaS).
Revision of Prior Year Financial Data, Policy	As disclosed in the Company’s fiscal 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company identified an error in its previously reported financial statements with regard to a portion of its goodwill balance arising from deferred tax liabilities in foreign jurisdictions that had not been properly translated to U.S. dollars. As a result, both goodwill and the cumulative translation adjustment included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets were overstated and the resulting foreign currency translation adjustment component of Other comprehensive income (loss) was incorrect. There was no impact on net income or cash flows. The Company evaluated the impact of the error, both quantitatively and qualitatively, and concluded that the differences were not material individually or in the aggregate to any of the prior reporting periods. The impact had no effect on net income or cash flows, but in light of the significance of the cumulative amount of the error on comprehensive income for the third quarter and the full fiscal year 2015, the Company revised previously issued financial information, including the first quarter of fiscal 2015 contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, to correct for the foreign currency translation figures. See Note 13 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that replaces the current revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The new standard requires companies to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The revised effective date for the Company under the new standard will be the beginning of fiscal 2018, with early adoption permitted as of fiscal 2017, the original effective date. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach for the adoption of the standard. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In February 2015, the FASB issued amendments to the consolidation guidance. The amendments under the new guidance modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities and eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. The Company adopted the amendments beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In July 2015, the FASB issued amendments to simplify the measurement of inventory. Under the amendments, inventory will be measured at the “lower of cost and net realizable value” and options that currently exist for “market value” will be eliminated. The guidance defines net realizable value as the “estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation”. No other changes were made to the current guidance on inventory measurement. The amendments are effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2017, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In September 2015, the FASB issued new guidance related to business combinations. The new guidance requires that any adjustments to provisional amounts in a business combination be recorded in the period such adjustments are determined, rather than retrospectively adjusting previously reported amounts. The Company adopted the amendments beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In January 2016, the FASB issued final guidance that will require entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income unless the investments qualify for the new practicability exception. The amendments are effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2018, although early adoption is permitted and should be applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption, with certain exceptions. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that requires a lessee to recognize assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet. Previous GAAP did not require lease assets and liabilities to be recognized for most leases. Additionally, companies are permitted to make an accounting policy election to not recognize lease assets and liabilities for leases with a term of 12 months or less. For both finance leases and operating leases, the lease liability should be initially measured at the present value of the lease payments. The recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee will not significantly change under this new guidance. This new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2019, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued amendments to its guidance on the accounting for derivatives and hedging. The new guidance clarifies the requirements for assessing whether contingent call or put options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2017, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to equity investments and joint ventures. This standard eliminates the requirement that when an existing cost method investment qualifies for use of the equity method, an investor must restate its historical financial statements, as if the equity method had been used during all previous periods. Under the new guidance, at the point an investment qualifies for the equity method, any unrealized gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income will be recognized through earnings. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2017, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued final guidance that will change how companies account for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. Several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions are affected, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, application of the forfeiture rate and classification on the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2017, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Share-based Compensation Policy	Stock compensation expense is recognized based on the fair value of the portion of share-based payment awards that is expected to vest during the period and is net of estimated forfeitures.
Business Combinations Policy	The Company determined the total consideration paid for each of its acquisitions as well as the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition. For certain acquisitions completed in the last three quarters of fiscal 2015 and the first quarter of fiscal 2016, the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are preliminary and may be adjusted as the Company obtains additional information, primarily related to adjustments for the true up of acquired net working capital in accordance with certain purchase agreements, and estimated values of certain net tangible assets and liabilities including tax balances, pending the completion of final studies and analyses. If there are adjustments made for these items, the fair value of intangible assets and goodwill could be impacted. Thus the provisional measurements of fair value are subject to change. Such changes could be significant. The Company expects to finalize the valuation of the net tangible and intangible assets as soon as practicable, but not later than one-year from the acquisition date. The fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed were determined under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. The excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The fair value of intangible assets acquired is generally determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis. Acquisition costs directly related to the acquisitions, including the changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities, of $1.7 million and $2.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2016 and 2015, respectively, were expensed as incurred and were included in General and administrative expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
Derivatives Asset and Liabilities Policy	Derivative assets and liabilities primarily represent forward currency exchange contracts. The Company typically enters into these contracts to minimize the short-term impact of foreign currency exchange rates on certain trade and inter-company receivables and payables. Derivative assets and liabilities are included in Other current assets and Other current liabilities on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Product Warranties Policy	The Company accrues for warranty costs as part of its cost of sales based on associated material product costs, technical support, labor costs, and costs incurred by third parties performing work on the Company’s behalf. The Company’s expected future costs are primarily estimated based upon historical trends in the volume of product returns within the warranty period and the costs to repair or replace the equipment. When products sold include warranty provisions, they are covered by a warranty for periods ranging generally from 1 year to 2 years. While the Company engages in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of component suppliers, its warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. Should actual product failure rates, material usage, or service delivery costs differ from the estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty accrual and related costs may be required.
Earnings Per Share, Policy	Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing Net income attributable to Trimble Navigation Limited by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing Net income attributable to Trimble Navigation Limited by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive securities had been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding stock options, shares to be purchased under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan and restricted stock units. The dilutive effect of potentially dilutive securities is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, an increase in the fair market value of the Company’s common stock can result in a greater dilutive effect from potentially dilutive securities.
Income Tax, Policy	The Company's practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company's unrecognized tax benefit liabilities include interest and penalties as of the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2016 and fiscal year end 2015, of $7.7 million and $6.7 million, respectively, which were recorded in Other non-current liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.