CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jul. 02, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jul. 02, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 305,349	$ 252,081	$ 525,601	$ 470,511
Cost of sales	202,596	161,403	347,032	305,597
Gross profit	102,753	90,678	178,569	164,914
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	68,298	57,954	125,289	110,299
Restructuring expense	251	45	566	865
Operating income	34,204	32,679	52,714	53,750
Interest expense	(2,244)	(2,221)	(5,758)	(4,648)
Other income, net	5,573	1,373	6,240	1,341
Foreign exchange income/(expense)	(372)	315	103	238
Income before income taxes	37,161	32,146	53,299	50,681
Income tax expense	6,917	7,959	7,121	12,914
Net income	30,244	24,187	46,178	37,767
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(335)	(205)	(539)	(328)
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	$ 29,909	$ 23,982	$ 45,639	$ 37,439
Income per share:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.51	$ 0.97	$ 0.79
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.64	0.50	0.97	0.78
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.1075000	$ 0.1000	$ 0.2075	$ 0.1975