Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total Equity Attributable to Masonite	Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
Opening Balance, Shares at Jan. 01, 2017		29,774,784
Opening Balance, Value at Jan. 01, 2017	$ 659,776	$ 650,007	$ 234,926	$ (89,063)	$ (148,986)	$ 646,884	$ 12,892
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	156,981			151,739		151,739	5,242
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	39,586				38,834	38,834	752
Dividends to non-controlling interests	(5,613)					0	(5,613)
Share based compensation expense	11,644		11,644			11,644
Common shares issued for delivery of share based awards, Shares		372,826
Common shares issued for delivery of share based awards, Value	0	$ 12,290	(12,290)			0
Common shares withheld to cover income taxes payable due to delivery of share based awards	(7,466)		(7,466)			(7,466)
Common shares issued under employee stock purchase plan		16,368
Common shares issued under employee stock purchase plan, value	882	$ 1,168	(286)			882
Common shares repurchased and retired, Shares		(1,794,101)
Common shares repurchased and retired, Value	$ (119,888)	$ (39,062)		(80,826)		(119,888)
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2017	28,369,877	28,369,877
Ending Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 735,902	$ 624,403	226,528	(18,150)	(110,152)	722,629	13,273
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	21,783			20,826		20,826	957
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	5,974				6,217	6,217	(243)
Dividends to non-controlling interests	(975)					0	(975)
Share based compensation expense	3,065		3,065			3,065
Common shares issued for delivery of share based awards, Shares		166,248
Common shares issued for delivery of share based awards, Value	0	$ 9,864	(9,864)			0
Common shares withheld to cover income taxes payable due to delivery of share based awards	(2,422)		(2,422)			(2,422)
Common shares issued under employee stock purchase plan		7,386
Common shares issued under employee stock purchase plan, value	437	$ 516	(79)			437
Common shares repurchased and retired, Shares		(691,783)
Common shares repurchased and retired, Value	$ (44,191)	$ (15,229)		(28,962)		(44,191)
Ending Balance, Shares at Apr. 01, 2018	27,851,728	27,851,728
Ending Balance, Value at Apr. 01, 2018	$ 719,573	$ 619,554	$ 217,228	$ (26,286)	$ (103,935)	$ 706,561	$ 13,012