Goodwill and Other Intangibles Resulting from Business Acquisitions (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions	6 Months Ended
Jul. 02, 2011
Future amortization expense for finite lived intangible assets
Future amortization expense on finite-lived intangible assets, 2011	$ 33.7
Future amortization expense on finite-lived intangible assets, 2012	33.5
Future amortization expense on finite-lived intangible assets, 2013	31.7
Future amortization expense on finite-lived intangible assets, 2014	28.0
Future amortization expense on finite-lived intangible assets, 2015	$ 24.6

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the current fiscal year.

Name:	avy_AmortizationExpenseCurrentFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	avy
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsFutureAmortizationExpenseAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during year four of the five succeeding fiscal years.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(3)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during year one of the five succeeding fiscal years.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearOne
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during year three of the five succeeding fiscal years.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during year two of the five succeeding fiscal years.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration