Revenue Recognition - Revenue Disaggregation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 935.5
Financial services revenue	83.0	$ 76.8
Total revenues	1,018.5	$ 963.9
Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	258.8
Financial services revenue	0.0
Total revenues	331.6
Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	404.7
Financial services revenue	0.0
Total revenues	404.7
Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	272.0
Financial services revenue	0.0
Total revenues	337.0
Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	0.0
Financial services revenue	83.0
Total revenues	83.0
North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	631.7
North America | Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	107.5
North America | Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	338.9
North America | Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	185.3
North America | Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	0.0
Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	191.4
Europe | Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	82.9
Europe | Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	41.5
Europe | Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	67.0
Europe | Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	0.0
All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	112.4
All other | Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	68.4
All other | Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	24.3
All other | Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	19.7
All other | Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	0.0
Intersegment eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(137.8)
Total revenues	(137.8)
Intersegment eliminations | Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	72.8
Intersegment eliminations | Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	0.0
Intersegment eliminations | Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	65.0
Intersegment eliminations | Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	0.0
Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	935.5
Operating Segments | Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	331.6
Operating Segments | Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	404.7
Operating Segments | Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	337.0
Operating Segments | Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	0.0
Vehicle service professionals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	699.2
Vehicle service professionals | Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	22.5
Vehicle service professionals | Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	404.7
Vehicle service professionals | Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	272.0
Vehicle service professionals | Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	0.0
All other professionals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	236.3
All other professionals | Commercial & Industrial Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	236.3
All other professionals | Snap-on Tools Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	0.0
All other professionals | Repair Systems & Information Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	0.0
All other professionals | Financial Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	0.0
Product
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	930.4
Product and Service, Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 5.1