EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 04, 2015	Mar. 29, 2014
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (in dollars)	$ 19,795,000	$ 16,957,000
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities (in dollars)	200,000	300,000
Undistributed earnings allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interest	81,000
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. excluding undistributed earnings (in dollars)	19,500,000	16,700,000
Basic
Weighted average common shares (in shares)	47.6	47.7
Effect of dilutive securities:
Non-participating employee incentive stock options and performance awards (in shares)	0.5	0.6
Adjusted weighted average common shares (in shares)	48.1	48.3
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.35
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.35
Stock Options
Effect of dilutive securities:
Anti-dilutive stock options (in shares)	0.2	0
Impo Motor Pompa Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.
Numerator:
Undistributed earnings allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interest	$ 100,000	$ 0