Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jul. 01, 2011	Mar. 02, 2012 Common Class A [Member]	Mar. 02, 2012 Common Class B [Member]	Mar. 02, 2012 Common Class C [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	DIXIE GROUP INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000029332
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Well-Known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float		$ 43,757,966
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			12,032,541	872,644	0