Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016	Oct. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to Masonite	$ 29,478	$ 32,009	$ 79,927	$ 83,192
Less: income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(139)	(236)	(518)	(608)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Masonite	$ 29,617	$ 32,245	$ 80,445	$ 83,800
Shares used in computing basic earnings per share	29,086,174	30,416,648	29,579,076	30,496,404
Effect of dilutive securities:
Incremental shares issuable under share compensation plans and warrants	488,619	757,128	557,227	760,605
Shares used in computing diluted earnings per share	29,574,793	31,173,776	30,136,303	31,257,009
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Masonite:
Continuing operations attributable to Masonite	$ 1.02	$ 1.06	$ 2.72	$ 2.75
Discontinued operations attributable to Masonite, net of tax	(0.01)	(0.01)	(0.02)	(0.02)
Total Basic earnings per common share attributable to Masonite	1.01	1.05	2.70	2.73
Continuing operations attributable to Masonite	1.00	1.03	2.67	2.68
Discontinued operations attributable to Masonite, net of tax	0.00	0.00	(0.02)	(0.02)
Total Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Masonite	$ 1.00	$ 1.03	$ 2.65	$ 2.66
Anti-dilutive instruments excluded from diluted earnings per common share	52,228	0	52,228	0