Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Jan. 02, 2016	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
Net sales		$ 602,691	$ 605,150	$ 560,054
Cost of sales		340,171	334,394	322,341
Gross profit		262,520	270,756	237,713
Selling, general and administrative expense		155,531	158,646	149,183
Research and development expense		58,512	58,432	52,524
Loss on sale or other disposal of assets, net		1,088	1,913	4,725
Operating income		47,389	51,765	31,281
Loss on extinguishment of debt				(3,355)
Interest expense		(2,314)	(2,358)	(5,464)
Other expense, net		(2,009)	(1,727)	(1,026)
Income before income taxes		43,066	47,680	21,436
Income tax provision		11,945	12,510	5,698
Net income		31,121	35,170	15,738
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests			112	137
Net income attributable to Newport Corporation		31,121	35,058	15,601
Net income		31,121	35,170	15,738
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Foreign currency translation (losses) gains	[1]	(7,702)	(12,260)	2,159
Unrecognized net pension gains (losses), net of tax	[1]	709	(2,456)	849
Unrealized gains on investments and marketable securities, net of tax	[1]	281	353	208
Other comprehensive (loss) income	[1]	(6,712)	(14,363)	3,216
Comprehensive income		24,409	20,807	18,954
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests			112	23
Comprehensive income attributable to Newport Corporation		24,409	20,695	18,931
Comprehensive income		$ 24,409	$ 20,807	$ 18,954
Net income per share attributable to Newport Corporation:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.79	$ 0.88	$ 0.40
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.78	$ 0.87	$ 0.39
Shares used in the computation of net income per share:
Basic (in shares)		39,221	39,750	39,010
Diluted (in shares)		39,830	40,528	39,558

[1] Amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive income (loss) were not material for any of the periods presented.