Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 547.4	$ 496.4	$ 1,559.9	$ 1,467.4
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales	349.0	331.3	1,020.1	975.0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	138.1	108.3	364.3	319.0
Total costs and expenses	487.1	439.6	1,384.4	1,294.0
Income before other income/(expense) and income taxes	60.3	56.8	175.5	173.4
Other income/(expense), net	1.2	(3.8)	2.2	(2.5)
Interest and debt expense, net	(4.5)	(3.7)	(12.6)	(12.4)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	57.0	49.3	165.1	158.5
Provision for income taxes	13.9	15.2	46.8	53.1
Net income from continuing operations including noncontrolling interest	43.1	34.1	118.3	105.4
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes				(0.7)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of income taxes				113.8
Net income	43.1	34.1	118.3	218.5
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.4)		(0.4)	(0.1)
Net income attributable to Teledyne	42.7	34.1	117.9	218.4
Net income attributable to Teledyne	42.7	34.1	117.9	218.4
Net income from continuing operations	$ 42.7	$ 34.1	$ 117.9	$ 105.3
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in USD per share)	$ 1.16	$ 0.93	$ 3.22	$ 2.88
Loss from discontinued operations (in USD per share)				$ (0.02)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations (in USD per share)				$ 3.11
Basic earnings per common share (in USD per share)	$ 1.16	$ 0.93	$ 3.22	$ 5.97
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	36.7	36.7	36.6	36.6
Diluted earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in USD per share)	$ 1.14	$ 0.91	$ 3.16	$ 2.82
Loss from discontinued operations (in USD per share)				$ (0.02)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations (in USD per share)				$ 3.05
Diluted earnings per common share (in USD per share)	$ 1.14	$ 0.91	$ 3.16	$ 5.85
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	37.4	37.4	37.3	37.3