SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010	Oct. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 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	$ 150,674	$ 128,970	$ 422,381	$ 364,139
Operating Income	28,324	19,601	77,072	50,739
Income taxes	7,098	5,015	19,531	11,138
Net income	19,297	12,585	52,211	31,590
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	19,220	12,332	51,554	30,797
Income per share:
Basic	$ 0.82	$ 0.53	$ 2.20	$ 1.33
Diluted	$ 0.80	$ 0.52	$ 2.16	$ 1.31
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
Inventories	154,087		154,087		140,232
Deferred income taxes	14,349		14,349		13,182
Retained earnings	345,040		345,040		313,905	294,100
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Net income	19,297	12,585	52,211	31,590
Inventories			(5,796)	(2,953)
Income Taxes			7,436	1,539
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities			52,445	69,220
As Originally Reported
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income
Cost of sales		129,138		364,643
Operating Income		19,433		50,235
Income taxes		4,960		10,973
Net income		12,472		31,251
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.		12,219		30,458
Income per share:
Basic		$ 0.53		$ 1.32
Diluted		$ 0.52		$ 1.30
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
Inventories					126,007
Deferred income taxes					18,762
Retained earnings					305,260	285,500
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Net income		12,472		31,251
Inventories				(2,449)
Income Taxes				1,374
Effect of Change | FIFO [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income
Cost of sales		(168)		(504)
Operating Income		168		504
Income taxes		55		165
Net income		113		339
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.		113		339
Income per share:
Basic		$ 0.00		$ 0.01
Diluted		$ 0		$ 0.01
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
Inventories					14,225
Deferred income taxes					(5,580)
Retained earnings					8,645
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Net income		113		339
Inventories				(504)
Income Taxes				165
Effect of Change | LIFO
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income
Cost of sales	400		1,200
Operating Income	(400)		(1,200)
Income taxes	(100)		(300)
Net income	(300)		(900)
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	(300)		(900)
Income per share:
Basic	$ (0.01)		$ (0.03)
Diluted	$ (0.01)		$ (0.03)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
Inventories	(15,400)		(15,400)
Deferred income taxes	5,900		5,900
Retained earnings	(9,500)		(9,500)
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Net income	(300)		(900)
Inventories			1,200
Income Taxes			(300)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities			$ 0
Forecast Percentage of FIFO Inventory
Percentage of FIFO Inventory	96.00%		96.00%