Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($)		1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2015	May. 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 28, 2014	Jan. 27, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014	Oct. 31, 2011
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Payments for repurchase of common stock							$ 142,000,000	$ 146,600,000
Line of credit facility, current borrowing capacity			$ 750,000,000
Treasury stock (in shares)					2,259,409		2,259,409			1,042,281
Stock options excluded in computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)					0	0	0	0
Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share
Net income attributable to Teledyne					$ 48,300,000	$ 55,600,000	$ 140,300,000	$ 157,500,000
Basic earnings per share:
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)					35,300,000	37,200,000	35,400,000	37,400,000
Basic earnings per common share (in USD per share)					$ 1.37	$ 1.49	$ 3.96	$ 4.21
Diluted earnings per share:
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)					35,300,000	37,200,000	35,400,000	37,400,000
Dilutive effect of exercise of options outstanding (in shares)					800,000	600,000	800,000	700,000
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)					36,100,000	37,800,000	36,200,000	38,100,000
Diluted earnings per common share (in USD per share)					$ 1.34	$ 1.47	$ 3.88	$ 4.13
Accelerated share repurchase agreement
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount to be repurchased (up to) (in shares)	1,500,000			1,030,000		1,030,000		1,030,000	2,500,000		2,500,000
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount	$ 142,000,000.0		$ 142,000,000.0	$ 101,600,000.0		$ 101,600,000.0		$ 101,600,000.0
Treasury stock acquired, average cost (per share)	$ 94.68			$ 98.62
Treasury stock acquired (in shares)		78,522	1,425,000	927,000
Payments for repurchase of common stock			$ 134,900,000	$ 91,400,000
Percentage of shares repurchased				90.00%
Percentage of shares repurchased			95.00%
Accelerated share repurchase agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Payments for repurchase of common stock			$ 120,000,000