Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016	Jul. 03, 2016	Apr. 03, 2016	Jan. 03, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Jun. 28, 2015	Mar. 29, 2015	Jan. 01, 2017	Jan. 03, 2016	Dec. 28, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 552.9	$ 526.8	$ 539.7	$ 530.5	$ 600.0	$ 555.4	$ 577.7	$ 565.0	$ 2,149.9	$ 2,298.1	$ 2,394.0
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales	340.0	317.0	336.2	324.8	378.4	345.8	357.7	345.9	1,318.0	1,427.8	1,487.1
Selling, general and administrative expenses	142.4	141.0	149.9	144.8	145.6	140.1	151.1	151.8	578.1	588.6	612.4
Total costs and expenses	482.4	458.0	486.1	469.6	524.0	485.9	508.8	497.7	1,896.1	2,016.4	2,099.5
Operating income	70.5	68.8	53.6	60.9	76.0	69.5	68.9	67.3	253.8	281.7	294.5
Interest and debt expense, net	(6.0)	(5.6)	(5.9)	(5.7)	(6.0)	(6.0)	(6.0)	(5.9)	(23.2)	(23.9)	(19.0)
Other income, net	(4.4)	(0.8)	17.2	(1.3)	(1.7)	(2.1)	3.4	0.8	10.7	0.4	6.6
Income before income taxes	60.1	62.4	64.9	53.9	68.3	61.4	66.3	62.2	241.3	258.2	282.1
Provision for income taxes	7.1	10.4	18.0	14.9	12.8	13.1	18.3	18.5	50.4	62.7	66.5
Net income					55.5	48.3	48.0	43.7	190.9	195.5	215.6
Noncontrolling interest					0.0	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.3	2.1
Amounts attributable to Teledyne:
Net income attributable to Teledyne	$ 53.0	$ 52.0	$ 46.9	$ 39.0	$ 55.5	$ 48.3	$ 48.3	$ 43.7	$ 190.9	$ 195.8	$ 217.7
Basic earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per common share (in USD per share)	$ 1.52	$ 1.50	$ 1.36	$ 1.13	$ 1.59	$ 1.37	$ 1.37	$ 1.22	$ 5.52	$ 5.55	$ 5.87
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)									34.6	35.3	37.1
Diluted earnings per common share:
Diluted earnings per common share (in USD per share)	$ 1.48	$ 1.46	$ 1.33	$ 1.11	$ 1.57	$ 1.34	$ 1.34	$ 1.20	$ 5.37	$ 5.44	$ 5.75
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)									35.5	36.0	37.9