NET INCOME PER SHARE - Numerator and Denominator used in the Computation of Net Income Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Jul. 04, 2015	Apr. 04, 2015	Jan. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Jan. 02, 2016	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013
NET INCOME PER SHARE
Net income attributable to Newport Corporation	$ 9,584	$ 7,103	$ 5,770	$ 8,664	$ 8,750	$ 9,470	$ 8,952	$ 7,886	$ 31,121	$ 35,058	$ 15,601
Shares:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic									39,221	39,750	39,010
Dilutive potential common shares, using treasury stock method									609	778	548
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted									39,830	40,528	39,558
Net income per share attributable to Newport Corporation:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.24	$ 0.22	$ 0.20	$ 0.79	$ 0.88	$ 0.40
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.18	$ 0.14	$ 0.21	$ 0.22	$ 0.23	$ 0.22	$ 0.19	$ 0.78	$ 0.87	$ 0.39