EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Jul. 04, 2015	Apr. 04, 2015	Jan. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Jan. 02, 2016	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (in dollars)	$ 16,200	$ 20,800	$ 16,100	$ 19,800	$ 3,000	$ 22,700	$ 27,100	$ 17,000	$ 72,945	$ 69,806	$ 81,958
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities (in dollars)									700	700	1,000
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. excluding undistributed earnings (in dollars)									$ 71,400	$ 68,200	$ 80,800
Basic
Weighted average common shares (in shares)									47.1	47.7	47.5
Effect of dilutive securities:
Non-participating employee incentive stock options and performance awards (in shares)									0.5	0.5	0.6
Adjusted weighted average common shares (in shares)									47.6	48.2	48.1
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.34	$ 0.44	$ 0.33	$ 0.41	$ 0.06	$ 0.46	$ 0.56	$ 0.35	$ 1.52	$ 1.43	$ 1.70
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.43	$ 0.33	$ 0.41	$ 0.06	$ 0.46	$ 0.55	$ 0.35	$ 1.50	$ 1.41	$ 1.68
Stock Options
Effect of dilutive securities:
Anti-dilutive stock options (in shares)									0.3	0.1	0.1
Impo Motor Pompa Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.
Numerator:
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interest (in dollars)									$ 800	$ 900	$ 200