Variable Interest Entity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Current assets	$ 617,482	$ 721,870
Property, plant and equipment, net	585,225	573,559
Long-term deferred income taxes	27,715	29,899
Other assets, net	25,789	22,687
Current liabilities	(227,200)	(222,125)
Other long-term liabilities	(35,415)	(35,754)
Net assets of the VIE consolidated by Masonite	(706,561)	(722,629)
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Current assets	9,075	7,213
Property, plant and equipment, net	10,731	11,344
Long-term deferred income taxes	6,550	5,472
Other assets, net	3,442	3,386
Current liabilities	(2,419)	(2,326)
Other long-term liabilities	(1,782)	(1,699)
Non-controlling interest	(4,015)	(4,029)
Net assets of the VIE consolidated by Masonite	$ 21,582	$ 19,361