CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 02, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,124,909	$ 949,856	$ 924,923
Cost of sales	747,927	618,450	627,315
Gross profit	376,982	331,406	297,608
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	265,686	221,209	204,250
Restructuring (income)/expense	4,307	(598)	2,997
Operating income	106,989	110,795	90,361
Interest expense	(10,322)	(8,732)	(10,039)
Other income, net	6,895	993	6,863
Foreign exchange income/(expense)	1,025	1,057	(869)
Income before income taxes	104,587	104,113	86,316
Income tax expense	25,994	24,798	12,625
Net income	78,593	79,315	73,691
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(413)	(570)	(746)
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	$ 78,180	$ 78,745	$ 72,945
Income per share:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.67	$ 1.67	$ 1.52
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	1.65	1.65	1.50
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.4225	$ 0.3975	$ 0.3825