EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2016	Apr. 04, 2015
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (in dollars)	$ 13,457	$ 19,795
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities (in dollars)	100	200
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interest (in dollars)	500	100
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. excluding undistributed earnings (in dollars)	$ 12,900	$ 19,500
Basic
Weighted average common shares (in shares)	46.1	47.6
Effect of dilutive securities:
Non-participating employee stock options and performance awards (in shares)	0.3	0.5
Adjusted weighted average common shares (in shares)	46.4	48.1
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.41
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.41
Stock Options
Effect of dilutive securities:
Anti-dilutive stock options (in shares)	0.6	0.2