Industry Segments (Reconciliation) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Net sales:
Net sales	$ 565.0	$ 573.5
Net sales, percentage change	(1.50%)
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit	67.3	66.0
Corporate expense, percentage change	2.00%
Interest and debt expense, net	(5.9)	(4.7)
Interest and debt expense, net, percentage change	25.50%
Other income, net	0.8	0.6
Other nonoperating income (expense), net percentage change	33.30%
Income before income taxes	62.2	61.9
Income before income taxes, percentage change	0.50%
Provision for income taxes	18.5	15.9
Provision for income taxes, percentage change	16.40%
Net income	43.7	46.0
Net income, percentage change	(5.00%)
Noncontrolling interest		(0.2)
Net income attributable to Teledyne	43.7	45.8
Net income attributable to Teledyne, percentage change	(4.60%)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit	77.5	77.1
Total segment operating profit, percentage change	0.50%
Instrumentation
Net sales:
Net sales	270.3	258.9
Net sales, percentage change	4.40%
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit	42.1	37.5
Total segment operating profit, percentage change	12.30%
Digital Imaging
Net sales:
Net sales	90.4	101.9
Net sales, percentage change	(11.30%)
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit	9.3	9.7
Total segment operating profit, percentage change	(4.10%)
Aerospace and Defense Electronics
Net sales:
Net sales	141.2	153.3
Net sales, percentage change	(7.90%)
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit	19.4	23.8
Total segment operating profit, percentage change	(18.50%)
Engineered Systems
Net sales:
Net sales	63.1	59.4
Net sales, percentage change	6.20%
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit	6.7	6.1
Total segment operating profit, percentage change	9.80%
Corporate and Other
Segment operating profit:
Corporate expense	$ (10.2)	$ (11.1)
Corporate expense, percentage change	(8.10%)