Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Shareholders' Investment - Changes in Total Shareholders' Investment (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jul. 01, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jul. 01, 2012
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.18		$ 0.34
Total Michael Baker Corporation Shareholders' Investment [Member]
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share			$ 0.34
Non-controlling Interests [Member]
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share			$ 0.34