Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2020	Oct. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 26, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-38366
Entity Registrant Name	Gates Industrial Corporation plc
Entity Incorporation, Country Code	X0
Entity Tax Identification Number	98-1395184
Entity Address, Street Address	1144 Fifteenth Street
Entity Address, City	Denver
Entity Address, State	CO
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	80202
City Area Code	303
Local Phone Number	744-1911
Title of each class	Ordinary Shares, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol(s)	GTES
Name of each exchange on which registered	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		290,790,001
Entity Central Index Key	0001718512
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-02
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false