Cover - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Feb. 15, 2024	Jul. 01, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	THE EASTERN COMPANY
Entity Central Index Key	0000031107
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-30
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Document Period End Date	Dec. 30, 2023
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		6,208,126
Entity Public Float			$ 88,742,320
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Fin Stmt Error Correction Flag	false
Entity File Number	001-35383
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	CT
Entity Tax Identification Number	06-0330020
Entity Address Address Line 1	3 Enterprise Drive
Entity Address Address Line 2	Suite 408
Entity Address City Or Town	Shelton
Entity Address State Or Province	CT
Entity Address Postal Zip Code	06484
City Area Code	203
Icfr Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Auditor Name	Fiondella, Milone & LaSaracina LLP
Auditor Location	Glastonbury, Connecticut
Auditor Firm Id	2230
Local Phone Number	729-2255
Security 12b Title	Common Stock, No Par Value
Trading Symbol	EML
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes