SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Details (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2010	Jul. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2010	Jan. 01, 2011	Jan. 02, 2010
Percentage of LIFO Inventory					11.00%
Percentage of FIFO Inventory					85.00%
Percentage of Weighted Average Cost Inventory	4.00%		4.00%
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income
Cost of sales	$ 146,904	$ 125,782	$ 271,708	$ 235,170
Operating Income	32,783	18,583	48,745	31,137
Income taxes	8,381	5,366	12,433	6,123
Net income	22,007	11,451	32,910	19,003
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	21,650	11,135	32,330	18,463
Income per share:
Basic	$ 0.92	$ 0.48	$ 1.38	$ 0.80
Diluted	$ 0.91	$ 0.47	$ 1.35	$ 0.79
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
Inventories	164,760		164,760		140,232
Deferred income taxes	13,524		13,524		13,182
Retained earnings	329,144		329,144		313,905	294,100
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Inventories			(11,282)	(5,035)
Income Taxes			6,721	(750)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities			5,866	22,137
As Originally Reported
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income
Cost of sales		125,950		235,506
Operating Income		18,415		30,801
Income taxes		5,311		6,013
Net income		11,338		18,777
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.		11,022		18,237
Income per share:
Basic		$ 0.47		$ 0.79
Diluted		$ 0.47		$ 0.78
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
Inventories					126,007
Deferred income taxes					18,762
Retained earnings					305,260	285,500
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Inventories				(4,699)
Income Taxes				(860)
Effect of Change | FIFO
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income
Cost of sales		(168)		(336)
Operating Income		168		336
Income taxes		55		110
Net income		113		226
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.		113		226
Income per share:
Basic		$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Diluted		$ 0.00		$ 0.01
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
Inventories					14,225
Deferred income taxes					(5,580)
Retained earnings					8,645
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Inventories				(336)
Income Taxes				110
Effect of Change | LIFO
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income
Cost of sales	400		800
Operating Income	(400)		(800)
Income taxes	(100)		(200)
Net income	(300)		(600)
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	(300)		(600)
Income per share:
Basic	$ (0.01)
Diluted			$ (0.02)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
Inventories	(15,000)		(15,000)
Deferred income taxes	5,800		5,800
Retained earnings	(9,200)		(9,200)
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Inventories			(800)
Income Taxes			(200)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities			$ 0
Forecast Percentage of FIFO Inventory
Percentage of FIFO Inventory	96.00%		96.00%