Industry Segments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 01, 2012
Net sales:
Net sales	$ 569.4	$ 494.0
Net sales, percentage change	15.30%
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit	58.9	55.5
Total segment operating profit, percentage change	5.20%
Corporate expense, percentage change	0.00%
Other expense, net	(0.5)	(0.4)
Other expense, net, percentage change	25.00%
Interest and debt expense, net	(5.4)	(4.0)
Interest and debt expense, net, percentage change	35.00%
Income before income taxes	53.0	51.1
Income before income taxes, percentage change	3.70%
Provision for income taxes	13.2	15.5
Provision for income taxes, percentage change	(14.80%)
Net income	39.8	35.6
Net income, percentage change	11.80%
Noncontrolling interest	0.6	0.1
Noncontrolling interest, percentage change	500.00%
Net income attributable to Teledyne	40.4	35.7
Net income attributable to Teledyne, percentage change	13.20%
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit	68.4	65.0
Instrumentation [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	221.2	160.6
Net sales, percentage change	37.70%
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit	35.0	31.6
Total segment operating profit, percentage change	10.80%
Digital Imaging [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	102.4	94.2
Net sales, percentage change	8.70%
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit	5.2	4.3
Total segment operating profit, percentage change	20.90%
Aerospace and Defense Electronics [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	174.6	164.8
Net sales, percentage change	5.90%
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit	21.8	22.9
Total segment operating profit, percentage change	(4.80%)
Engineered Systems [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	71.2	74.4
Net sales, percentage change	(4.30%)
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit	6.4	6.2
Total segment operating profit, percentage change	3.20%
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment operating profit:
Corporate expense	(9.5)	(9.5)
Other expense, net	(0.5)	(0.4)
Interest and debt expense, net	$ (5.4)	$ (4.0)