CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Net income	$ 70,852us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 82,698us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 83,738us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Other comprehensive income/(loss), before tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(36,243)	(15,987)	1,835
Employee benefit plan activity:
Prior service cost arising during period	0	0	(819)
Net gain/(loss) arising during period	(30,395)	25,624	(17,665)
Amortization arising during period	4,385	4,568	2,567
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(62,253)	14,205	(14,082)
Income tax (expense)/benefit related to items of other comprehensive income/(loss)	8,593us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax	(12,113)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax	6,200us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	(53,660)	2,092	(7,882)
Comprehensive income	17,192	84,790	75,856
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	570	415	874
Comprehensive income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	$ 16,622us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	$ 84,375us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	$ 74,982us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Amortization, Before Tax

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount before tax of cost (credit) of benefit changes attributable to plan participants' prior service resulting from a plan amendment or plan initiation that has not been recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit).

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Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

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Amount of tax expense (benefit) allocated to other comprehensive income (loss).

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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