Revenue Recognition - Revenue Disaggregation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2020	Mar. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 846.6	$ 916.4
Net sales	938.1	1,007.3
Intersegment eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	(138.2)	(138.9)
Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	990.4	1,060.6
Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	299.9	322.5
Commercial & Industrial Group | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	299.9	322.5
Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	375.9	410.2
Snap-on Tools Group | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	375.9	410.2
Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	314.6	327.9
Repair Systems & Information Group | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	314.6	327.9
Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	85.9	85.6
Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	5.6	5.3
Excluding Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	852.2	921.7
Excluding Financial Services | Vehicle service professionals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	644.6	692.2
Excluding Financial Services | All other professionals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	207.6	229.5
Excluding Financial Services | Intersegment eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	(138.2)	(138.9)
Excluding Financial Services | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	852.2	921.7
Excluding Financial Services | Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	227.0	249.5
Excluding Financial Services | Commercial & Industrial Group | Vehicle service professionals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	19.4	20.0
Excluding Financial Services | Commercial & Industrial Group | All other professionals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	207.6	229.5
Excluding Financial Services | Commercial & Industrial Group | Intersegment eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	72.9	73.0
Excluding Financial Services | Commercial & Industrial Group | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	299.9	322.5
Excluding Financial Services | Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	375.9	410.2
Excluding Financial Services | Snap-on Tools Group | Vehicle service professionals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	375.9	410.2
Excluding Financial Services | Snap-on Tools Group | All other professionals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Excluding Financial Services | Snap-on Tools Group | Intersegment eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Excluding Financial Services | Snap-on Tools Group | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	375.9	410.2
Excluding Financial Services | Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	249.3	262.0
Excluding Financial Services | Repair Systems & Information Group | Vehicle service professionals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	249.3	262.0
Excluding Financial Services | Repair Systems & Information Group | All other professionals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Excluding Financial Services | Repair Systems & Information Group | Intersegment eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	65.3	65.9
Excluding Financial Services | Repair Systems & Information Group | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	314.6	327.9
Excluding Financial Services | Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Excluding Financial Services | Financial Services | Vehicle service professionals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Excluding Financial Services | Financial Services | All other professionals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Excluding Financial Services | Financial Services | Intersegment eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Excluding Financial Services | Financial Services | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Excluding Financial Services | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	613.1	645.6
Excluding Financial Services | North America | Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	108.9	108.9
Excluding Financial Services | North America | Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	326.9	351.6
Excluding Financial Services | North America | Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	177.3	185.1
Excluding Financial Services | North America | Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Excluding Financial Services | Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	154.8	173.8
Excluding Financial Services | Europe | Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	67.1	77.4
Excluding Financial Services | Europe | Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	31.1	36.9
Excluding Financial Services | Europe | Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	56.6	59.5
Excluding Financial Services | Europe | Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Excluding Financial Services | All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	84.3	102.3
Excluding Financial Services | All other | Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	51.0	63.2
Excluding Financial Services | All other | Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	17.9	21.7
Excluding Financial Services | All other | Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	15.4	17.4
Excluding Financial Services | All other | Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Financial Service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	85.9	85.6
Financial Service | Intersegment eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Financial Service | Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Financial Service | Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Financial Service | Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0.0	0.0
Financial Service | Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 85.9	$ 85.6