Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Jul. 04, 2015	Apr. 04, 2015	Jan. 03, 2015	Oct. 04, 2014	Jul. 05, 2014	Apr. 05, 2014	Jan. 02, 2016	Jan. 03, 2015	Jan. 04, 2014
Supplemental Statement Of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Beginning balance				$ (36,026)				$ (5,898)	$ (36,026)	$ (5,898)	$ (20,592)
Net income (loss)	$ (6,063)	$ 561	$ 2,870	(8,945)	$ (7,640)	$ (860)	$ 3,236	(8,608)	(11,576)	(13,872)	(40,618)
Foreign currency translation, net of tax									(759)	(481)	(161)
Unrealized income (loss) from pension plan, net of tax									410	(17,651)	13,910
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures									5	18	6
Issuance of performance shares									5	10	6
Issuance of stock related to the rights offerings, net of expenses											38,613
Compensation related to share-based grants									2,051	2,896	6,117
Impact of net settled shares for vested grants									(459)	(963)	(3,193)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements										(16)	16
Other									453	(69)	(2)
Net transactions with Parent									0	0	0
Ending balance	(45,896)				(36,026)				(45,896)	(36,026)	(5,898)
BlueLinx Holdings
Supplemental Statement Of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Beginning balance				(36,026)				(5,898)	(36,026)	(5,898)	(20,592)
Net income (loss)									(12,634)	(13,872)	(40,618)
Foreign currency translation, net of tax									(759)	(481)	(161)
Unrealized income (loss) from pension plan, net of tax									410	(17,651)	13,910
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures									5	18	6
Issuance of performance shares									5	10	6
Issuance of stock related to the rights offerings, net of expenses											38,613
Compensation related to share-based grants									2,051	2,896	6,117
Impact of net settled shares for vested grants									(459)	(963)	(3,193)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements										(16)	16
Other									1,511	(69)	(2)
Net transactions with Parent									0	0	0
Ending balance	(45,896)				(36,026)				(45,896)	(36,026)	(5,898)
BlueLinx Corporation and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Statement Of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Beginning balance				8,674				49,039	8,674	49,039	40,603
Net income (loss)									(19,423)	(23,534)	(49,205)
Foreign currency translation, net of tax									(759)	(481)	(161)
Unrealized income (loss) from pension plan, net of tax									410	(17,651)	13,910
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures									0	0	6
Issuance of performance shares									0	0	6
Issuance of stock related to the rights offerings, net of expenses											0
Compensation related to share-based grants									0	0	0
Impact of net settled shares for vested grants									0	0	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements										0	0
Other									0	0	0
Net transactions with Parent									1,092	1,301	43,880
Ending balance	(10,006)				8,674				(10,006)	8,674	49,039
LLC Subsidiaries
Supplemental Statement Of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Beginning balance				(86,938)				(96,774)	(86,938)	(96,774)	(107,656)
Net income (loss)									10,181	15,000	14,343
Foreign currency translation, net of tax									0	0	0
Unrealized income (loss) from pension plan, net of tax									0	0	0
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures									0	0	0
Issuance of performance shares									0	0	0
Issuance of stock related to the rights offerings, net of expenses											0
Compensation related to share-based grants									0	0	0
Impact of net settled shares for vested grants									0	0	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements										0	0
Other									0	0	0
Net transactions with Parent									(1,024)	(5,164)	(3,461)
Ending balance	(77,781)				(86,938)				(77,781)	(86,938)	(96,774)
Eliminations
Supplemental Statement Of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Beginning balance				$ 78,264				$ 47,735	78,264	47,735	67,053
Net income (loss)									10,300	8,534	34,862
Foreign currency translation, net of tax									759	481	161
Unrealized income (loss) from pension plan, net of tax									(410)	17,651	(13,910)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures									0	0	(6)
Issuance of performance shares									0	0	(6)
Issuance of stock related to the rights offerings, net of expenses											0
Compensation related to share-based grants									0	0	0
Impact of net settled shares for vested grants									0	0	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements										0	0
Other									(1,058)	0	0
Net transactions with Parent									(68)	3,863	(40,419)
Ending balance	$ 87,787				$ 78,264				$ 87,787	$ 78,264	$ 47,735