Retirement Plans (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 02, 2016
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Savings Plan, company matching contributions	$ 500,000	$ 500,000
Savings Plan, shares of Cenveo's common stock (shares)	342,329
Interest cost	$ 14,196,000	14,061,000
Contributions to multi-employer plans	600,000	600,000
Multi-employer plans, expense	800,000	5,000,000
Supplemental Employee Retirement and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Interest cost	700,000	700,000
Actuarial losses expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit costs	200,000
Pensions [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Interest cost	13,495,000	$ 13,341,000
Actuarial losses expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit costs	10,200,000
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%
Estimated future employer contributions in the next fiscal year	$ 7,100,000
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Interest cost	$ 58,000	$ 63,000