CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 03, 2016	Mar. 29, 2015
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Product sales	$ 384.4	$ 394.7
Service revenue	25.8	58.6
Total net sales	410.2	453.3
Cost of goods sold	277.6	292.9
Cost of service revenue	19.9	43.8
Total cost of sales	297.5	336.7
Production margin	112.7	116.6
Marketing and administrative expenses	46.7	47.4
Research and development expenses	5.9	5.9
Acquisition related transaction and integration costs	1.6	3.4
Restructuring and other charges	0.9	0.0
Income from operations	57.6	59.9
Interest expense, net	(14.1)	(15.4)
Other non-operating income (deductions), net	1.7	3.2
Total non-operating deductions, net	(12.4)	(12.2)
Income before provision for taxes and equity in earnings	45.2	47.7
Provision for taxes on income	10.7	12.1
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	0.3	0.4
Consolidated net income	34.8	36.0
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0.9	0.9
Net income attributable to Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI)	$ 33.9	$ 35.1
Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0.97	$ 1.01
Diluted earnings per share attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	0.97	1.01
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.05
Shares used in computation of earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	34.8	34.7
Diluted (in shares)	34.9	34.9