Net Income Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Oct. 02, 2020	Sep. 27, 2019	Oct. 02, 2020	Sep. 27, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Parent	[1]	$ 16,047	$ 2,901	$ 20,319	$ (18,636)
Weighted-average shares of Common stock outstanding - basic (in shares)		136,832,909	136,121,017	136,730,112	135,440,566
Net income (loss) per share, continuing operations, basic (in usd per share)		$ 0.12	$ 0.02	$ 0.15	$ (0.14)
Net effect of potentially dilutive securities - stock options, restricted stock units and tangible equity units		1,257,701	929,143	2,339,794	0
Weighted-average shares of Common stock outstanding - diluted (in shares)		138,090,610	137,050,160	139,069,906	135,440,566
Net income (loss) per share, continuing operations, diluted (in usd per share)		$ 0.12	$ 0.02	$ 0.15	$ (0.14)
Net income from continuing operations, tax		$ 800	$ 900	$ 2,200	$ 3,100

[1] Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Colfax Corporation for the respective periods is calculated using Net income (loss) from continuing operations less the continuing operations component of the income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of taxes, of $0.8 million and $2.2 million for the three and nine months ended October 2, 2020, and $0.9 million and $3.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2019, respectively.