EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	$ 15,730	$ 13,457
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	100	100
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interest	100	500
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 15,500	$ 12,900
Basic
Weighted average common shares (in shares)	46.4	46.1
Effect of dilutive securities:
Non-participating employee stock options and performance awards (in shares)	0.6	0.3
Adjusted weighted average common shares (in shares)	47.0	46.4
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.28
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.28
Anti-dilutive stock options (in shares)	0.2	0.6