Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Schedule Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Jan. 01, 2012
Environmental reserves includes reversal [Abstract]
Amount of Environmental reserves includes reversal	$ 2.3

Amount of environmental reserves includes reversal.

No definition available.

Name:	tdy_AmountOfEnvironmentalReservesIncludesReversal
Namespace Prefix:	tdy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration