Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 2,394.0	$ 2,338.6	$ 2,127.3
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales	1,487.1	1,500.0	1,379.1
Selling, general and administrative expenses	612.4	598.3	505.1
Total costs and expenses	2,099.5	2,098.3	1,884.2
Operating income	294.5	240.3	243.1
Interest and debt expense, net	(19.0)	(20.4)	(17.8)
Other income, net	6.6	4.1	2.9
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	282.1	224.0	228.2
Provision for income taxes	66.5	39.5	65.4
Net income from continuing operations including noncontrolling interest	215.6	184.5	162.8
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	0	2.3
Net income	215.6	184.5	165.1
Noncontrolling interest	2.1	0.5	(1.0)
Net income attributable to Teledyne	217.7	185.0	164.1
Net income from continuing operations	217.7	185.0	161.8
Net income attributable to Teledyne	$ 217.7	$ 185.0	$ 164.1
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in USD per share)	$ 5.87	$ 4.96	$ 4.41
Discontinued operations (in USD per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.06
Basic earnings per common share (in USD per share)	$ 5.87	$ 4.96	$ 4.47
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	37.1	37.3	36.7
Diluted earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in USD per share)	$ 5.75	$ 4.87	$ 4.33
Discontinued operations (in USD per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.06
Diluted earnings per common share (in USD per share)	$ 5.75	$ 4.87	$ 4.39
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	37.9	38.0	37.4