Receivables - Schedule of Finance and Contract Receivables on Nonaccrual Status (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Receivables [Abstract]
Finance receivables	$ 12.1	$ 12.6
Contract receivables	$ 2.7	$ 1.7

Notes and loans receivable recorded investment non-accrual status.

No definition available.

Name:	sna_NotesAndLoansReceivableRecordedInvestmentNonAccrualStatus
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant