Retirement Plans (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2016	Dec. 27, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Savings Plan, company matching contributions	$ 500,000	$ 500,000	$ 300,000
Savings Plan, shares of Cenveo's common stock (shares)	2,210,499
Interest cost	$ 14,061,000	14,870,000	13,716,000
Contributions to multi-employer plans	600,000	400,000	1,100,000
Multi-employer plans, expense	5,000,000	1,300,000	500,000
Supplemental Employee Retirement and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Interest cost	700,000	800,000	$ 800,000
Actuarial losses expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit costs	200,000
Pensions [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Interest cost	13,341,000	$ 14,027,000
Actuarial losses expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit costs	9,700,000
Prior service cost expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit costs	$ 0
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets (percent)	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Estimated future employer contributions in the next fiscal year	$ 100,000
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Interest cost	$ 63,000	$ 88,000