CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 15,934	$ 13,580
Other comprehensive income, before tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	8,403	13,025
Employee benefit plan activity	743	742
Other comprehensive income	9,146	13,767
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(300)	(300)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	8,894	13,501
Comprehensive income	24,828	27,081
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	211	208
Comprehensive income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	$ 24,617	$ 26,873

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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