EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (in dollars)	$ 20,825	$ 22,673	$ 56,784	$ 66,704
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities (in dollars)	200	200	500	700
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. excluding undistributed earnings (in dollars)	$ 20,400	$ 22,100	$ 55,900	$ 65,400
Basic
Weighted average common shares (in shares)	46.9	47.6	47.4	47.7
Effect of dilutive securities:
Non-participating employee incentive stock options and performance awards (in shares)	0.4	0.5	0.4	0.5
Adjusted weighted average common shares (in shares)	47.3	48.1	47.8	48.2
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 0.46	$ 1.18	$ 1.37
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.46	$ 1.17	$ 1.36
Stock Options
Effect of dilutive securities:
Anti-dilutive stock options (in shares)	0.5	0.1	0.3	0.1
Impo Motor Pompa Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.
Numerator:
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interest (in dollars)	$ 200	$ 400	$ 400	$ 600