EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (in dollars)	$ 23,664	$ 20,825	$ 61,103	$ 56,784
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities (in dollars)	200	200	600	500
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interest (in dollars)	100	200	800	400
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. excluding undistributed earnings (in dollars)	$ 23,400	$ 20,400	$ 59,700	$ 55,900
Basic
Weighted average common shares (in shares)	46.3	46.9	46.2	47.4
Effect of dilutive securities:
Non-participating employee stock options and performance awards (in shares)	0.6	0.4	0.5	0.4
Adjusted weighted average common shares (in shares)	46.9	47.3	46.7	47.8
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ 0.44	$ 1.29	$ 1.18
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.43	$ 1.28	$ 1.17
Anti-dilutive stock options (in shares)	0.2	0.5	0.6	0.3