Variable Interest Entity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 01, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Current assets	$ 735,628	$ 578,737
Property, plant and equipment, net	557,773	542,088
Long-term deferred income taxes	9,385	9,478
Other assets, net	21,871	16,816
Current liabilities	(235,598)	(231,178)
Other long-term liabilities	(37,501)	(43,739)
Net assets of the VIE consolidated by Masonite	(656,238)	(646,884)
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Current assets	12,223	6,633
Property, plant and equipment, net	11,941	13,673
Long-term deferred income taxes	6,286	6,505
Other assets, net	3,153	1,789
Current liabilities	(2,255)	(2,044)
Other long-term liabilities	(2,247)	(2,115)
Non-controlling interest	(5,823)	(4,664)
Net assets of the VIE consolidated by Masonite	$ 23,278	$ 19,777