Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Apr. 01, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	Nature of Operations Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (the “Company”) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of quality casual footwear and apparel; performance outdoor and athletic footwear and apparel; children’s footwear, industrial work shoes, boots and apparel; and uniform shoes and boots. The Company’s portfolio of owned and licensed brands includes: Bates^®, Cat^®, Chaco^®, Harley-Davidson^®, Hush Puppies^®, HyTest^®, Keds^®, Merrell^®, Saucony^®, Sebago^®, Sperry^®, Stride Rite^® and Wolverine^®. Licensing and distribution arrangements with third parties extend the global reach of the Company’s brand portfolio. The Company also operates a consumer-direct division to market both its own brands and branded footwear and apparel from other manufacturers, as well as a leathers division that markets Wolverine Performance Leathers™.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for a complete presentation of the financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair presentation have been included in the accompanying financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s fiscal 2016 Form 10-K.
Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fiscal Year The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period that ends on the Saturday nearest to December 31. Fiscal years 2017 and 2016 both have 52 weeks. Prior to fiscal 2017, the Company reported its quarterly results of operations on the basis of 12-week periods for each of the first three fiscal quarters and a 16 or 17-week period for the fiscal fourth quarter. Beginning in fiscal 2017, the Company's fiscal year will be comprised of 13-week quarters for each of the first three fiscal quarters and a 13 or 14-week period for the fiscal fourth quarter. There is no change to the Company’s annual fiscal year reporting. References to the “quarter ended” or “fiscal quarter” refer to the 13-week period ended April 1, 2017 or the 12-week period ended March 26, 2016.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition Revenue is recognized on the sale of products manufactured or sourced by the Company when the related goods have been shipped, legal title has passed to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue generated through licensees and distributors involving products bearing the Company’s trademarks is recognized as earned according to stated contractual terms upon either the purchase or shipment of branded products by licensees and distributors. Retail store revenue is recognized at time of sale. The Company records provisions for estimated sales returns and allowances at the time of sale based on historical rates of returns and allowances and specific identification of outstanding returns not yet received from customers. However, estimates of actual returns and allowances in any future period are inherently uncertain and actual returns and allowances may differ from these estimates. If actual or expected future returns and allowances were significantly greater or less than established reserves, a reduction or increase to net revenue would be recorded in the period this determination was made.
Cost of Goods Sold	Cost of Goods Sold Cost of goods sold includes the actual product costs, including inbound freight charges and certain outbound freight charges, purchasing, sourcing, inspection and receiving costs. Warehousing costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Seasonality	Seasonality The Company’s business is subject to seasonal influences that can cause significant differences in revenue, earnings and cash flows from quarter to quarter; however, the differences have followed a consistent pattern in recent years. Prior to fiscal 2017, the Company’s fiscal year had 12 weeks in each of the first three fiscal quarters and, 16 weeks in the fourth fiscal quarter, which also impacted the the comparability from quarter to quarter.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (the “Company”) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of quality casual footwear and apparel; performance outdoor and athletic footwear and apparel; children’s footwear, industrial work shoes, boots and apparel; and uniform shoes and boots. The Company’s portfolio of owned and licensed brands includes: Bates^®, Cat^®, Chaco^®, Harley-Davidson^®, Hush Puppies^®, HyTest^®, Keds^®, Merrell^®, Saucony^®, Sebago^®, Sperry^®, Stride Rite^® and Wolverine^®. Licensing and distribution arrangements with third parties extend the global reach of the Company’s brand portfolio. The Company also operates a consumer-direct division to market both its own brands and branded footwear and apparel from other manufacturers, as well as a leathers division that markets Wolverine Performance Leathers™.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for a complete presentation of the financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair presentation have been included in the accompanying financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s fiscal 2016 Form 10-K.

Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period that ends on the Saturday nearest to December 31. Fiscal years 2017 and 2016 both have 52 weeks. Prior to fiscal 2017, the Company reported its quarterly results of operations on the basis of 12-week periods for each of the first three fiscal quarters and a 16 or 17-week period for the fiscal fourth quarter. Beginning in fiscal 2017, the Company's fiscal year will be comprised of 13-week quarters for each of the first three fiscal quarters and a 13 or 14-week period for the fiscal fourth quarter. There is no change to the Company’s annual fiscal year reporting. References to the “quarter ended” or “fiscal quarter” refer to the 13-week period ended April 1, 2017 or the 12-week period ended March 26, 2016.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized on the sale of products manufactured or sourced by the Company when the related goods have been shipped, legal title has passed to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue generated through licensees and distributors involving products bearing the Company’s trademarks is recognized as earned according to stated contractual terms upon either the purchase or shipment of branded products by licensees and distributors. Retail store revenue is recognized at time of sale.

The Company records provisions for estimated sales returns and allowances at the time of sale based on historical rates of returns and allowances and specific identification of outstanding returns not yet received from customers. However, estimates of actual returns and allowances in any future period are inherently uncertain and actual returns and allowances may differ from these estimates. If actual or expected future returns and allowances were significantly greater or less than established reserves, a reduction or increase to net revenue would be recorded in the period this determination was made.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold includes the actual product costs, including inbound freight charges and certain outbound freight charges, purchasing, sourcing, inspection and receiving costs. Warehousing costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Seasonality

The Company’s business is subject to seasonal influences that can cause significant differences in revenue, earnings and cash flows from quarter to quarter; however, the differences have followed a consistent pattern in recent years. Prior to fiscal 2017, the Company’s fiscal year had 12 weeks in each of the first three fiscal quarters and, 16 weeks in the fourth fiscal quarter, which also impacted the the comparability from quarter to quarter.