CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 29, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 146,296	$ 97,829	$ 374,372	$ 285,879
Cost of revenue	87,589	56,617	216,082	166,279
Gross profit	58,707	41,212	158,290	119,600
Operating expenses:
Research and development and engineering	11,659	7,961	29,878	24,029
Selling, general and administrative	27,724	20,972	74,666	62,357
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	3,217	2,066	9,413	6,153
Restructuring, acquisition and divestiture related costs (gain)	3,834	(835)	6,232	5,828
Total operating expenses	46,434	30,164	120,189	98,367
Operating income from continuing operations	12,273	11,048	38,101	21,233
Interest income (expense), net	(2,111)	(1,081)	(4,874)	(3,471)
Foreign exchange transaction gains (losses), net	(661)	188	(176)	978
Other income (expense), net	(4)	686	104	1,699
Gain on acquisition of business			26,409
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	9,497	10,841	59,564	20,439
Income tax provision	1,131	3,371	6,934	6,192
Income from continuing operations	8,366	7,470	52,630	14,247
Consolidated net income	8,366	7,470	52,630	14,247
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(834)		(1,444)
Net income attributable to Novanta Inc.	$ 7,532	$ 7,470	$ 51,186	$ 14,247
Earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations (Note 5):
Basic	$ 0.00	$ 0.22	$ 1.15	$ 0.41
Diluted	0.00	0.21	1.13	0.41
Earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Novanta Inc. (Note 5):
Basic	0.00	0.22	1.15	0.41
Diluted	$ 0.00	$ 0.21	$ 1.13	$ 0.41
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic	34,833	34,677	34,809	34,689
Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted	34,833	34,928	35,235	34,889