Retirement Benefits (Plan Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	$ 246,606	$ 181,319
Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	9,872	16,451
Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	221,596	155,621
Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, beginning of year	9,247	8,162
Pension assets of acquired businesses	5,216	0
Purchases	4,443	2,279
Redemptions	(4,891)	(2,410)
Change in unrealized gains (losses)	1,123	1,216
Fair value, end of year	15,138	9,247
Equity
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	165,200	126,769
Equity | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	7,196	13,892
Equity | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	158,004	112,877
Equity | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	0	0
Graco Common Stock
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	7,196	13,892
Graco Common Stock | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	7,196	13,892
Graco Common Stock | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	0	0
Graco Common Stock | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	0	0
U.S. Large Cap
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	78,263	55,501
U.S. Large Cap | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	0	0
U.S. Large Cap | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	78,263	55,501
U.S. Large Cap | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	0	0
U.S. Small Cap
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	12,282	12,073
U.S. Small Cap | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	0	0
U.S. Small Cap | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	12,282	12,073
U.S. Small Cap | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	0	0
International
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	67,459	45,303
International | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	0	0
International | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	67,459	45,303
International | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	0	0
Fixed Income
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	63,592	42,744
Fixed Income | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	0	0
Fixed Income | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	63,592	42,744
Fixed Income | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	0	0
Real Estate and Other
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	17,814	11,806
Real Estate and Other | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	2,676	2,559
Real Estate and Other | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	0	0
Real Estate and Other | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value, end of year	$ 15,138	$ 9,247