Earnings Per Share (Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 03, 2016	Mar. 29, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Teledyne	$ 38.4	$ 43.7
Basic earnings per share:
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	34.4	35.7
Basic earnings per common share (in USD per share)	$ 1.12	$ 1.22
Diluted earnings per share:
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	34.4	35.7
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	0.5	0.8
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	34.9	36.5
Diluted earnings per common share (in USD per share)	$ 1.10	$ 1.20