CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 100,706	$ 98,062
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold	70,091	71,276
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	13,641	17,676
Research and development expenses	5,626	6,252
Restructuring and impairment charges - Note M	503	177
Operating earnings	10,845	2,681
Other (expense)/income:
Interest expense	(613)	(906)
Interest income	564	413
Other	(1,771)	(507)
Total other expense	(1,820)	(1,000)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	9,025	1,681
Income tax expense/(benefit)	3,945	(1,306)
Earnings from continuing operations	5,080	2,987
Discontinued operations
Earnings from discontinued operations (net of tax of $0, net of tax $496)-Note C		581
Net earnings	$ 5,080	$ 3,568
Basic
Continuing operations	$ 0.15	$ 0.09
Discontinued operations		$ 0.02
Net earnings attributable to CTS Corporation	$ 0.15	$ 0.11
Diluted
Continuing operations	$ 0.15	$ 0.09
Discontinued operations		$ 0.01
Net earnings attributable to CTS Corporation	$ 0.15	$ 0.10
Cash dividends declared per share	$ 0.040	$ 0.035
Average common shares outstanding:
Basic	33,708	33,523
Diluted	34,280	34,176