CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jul. 01, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jul. 01, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 119,102	$ 97,734	$ 228,076	$ 188,050
Cost of revenue	65,613	56,238	128,493	109,662
Gross profit	53,489	41,496	99,583	78,388
Operating expenses:
Research and development and engineering	9,004	8,016	18,219	16,068
Selling, general and administrative	23,941	20,198	46,942	41,385
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	3,347	1,979	6,196	4,087
Restructuring, acquisition and divestiture related costs	1,581	3,705	2,398	6,663
Total operating expenses	37,873	33,898	73,755	68,203
Operating income from continuing operations	15,616	7,598	25,828	10,185
Interest income (expense), net	(1,435)	(1,205)	(2,763)	(2,390)
Foreign exchange transaction gains (losses), net	486	707	485	790
Other income (expense), net	12	270	108	1,013
Gain on acquisition of business			26,409
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	14,679	7,370	50,067	9,598
Income tax provision	4,689	2,499	5,803	2,821
Income from continuing operations	9,990	4,871	44,264	6,777
Consolidated net income	9,990	4,871	44,264	6,777
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(588)		(610)
Net income attributable to Novanta Inc.	$ 9,402	$ 4,871	$ 43,654	$ 6,777
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Basic	$ 0.16	$ 0.14	$ 1.15	$ 0.20
Diluted	0.16	0.14	1.13	0.19
Earnings per common share attributable to Novanta Inc.:
Basic	0.16	0.14	1.15	0.20
Diluted	$ 0.16	$ 0.14	$ 1.13	$ 0.19
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic	34,827	34,734	34,796	34,696
Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted	35,463	34,887	35,294	34,870