Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 43,904	$ 9,987
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of plant and equipment	(28,817)	(30,759)
Other	(1,527)	(1,624)
Net Proceeds from Sale of Bentley Prince Street	32,174	0
Cash Received from Insurance Company	10,000	0
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	11,830	(32,383)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of Senior Subordinated Notes	(11,477)	0
Other	0	(509)
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	293	2,610
CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	(15,460)	(1,820)
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	753	(634)
Net Change During the Period	41,027	(24,850)
Balance at Beginning of Period	50,624	69,236
Balance at End of Period	91,651	44,386
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	36,070
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of plant and equipment	(11,284)
Other	465
Net Proceeds from Sale of Bentley Prince Street	0
Cash Received from Insurance Company	0
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	(10,819)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of Senior Subordinated Notes	0
Other	(24,015)
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	0
Dividends paid	0
CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	(24,015)
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	192
Net Change During the Period	1,428
Balance at Beginning of Period	1,101
Balance at End of Period	2,529
NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,652
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of plant and equipment	(17,492)
Other	(39)
Net Proceeds from Sale of Bentley Prince Street	0
Cash Received from Insurance Company	10,000
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	(7,531)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of Senior Subordinated Notes	0
Other	4,705
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	0
Dividends paid	0
CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	4,705
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	561
Net Change During the Period	2,387
Balance at Beginning of Period	35,863
Balance at End of Period	38,250
INTERFACE, INC (PARENT CORPORATION)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	(12,466)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of plant and equipment	(41)
Other	(1,953)
Net Proceeds from Sale of Bentley Prince Street	32,174
Cash Received from Insurance Company	0
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	30,180
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of Senior Subordinated Notes	(11,477)
Other	34,958
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	293
Dividends paid	(4,276)
CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	19,498
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	0
Net Change During the Period	37,212
Balance at Beginning of Period	13,660
Balance at End of Period	50,872
CONSOLIDATION AND ELIMINATION ENTRIES
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	15,648
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of plant and equipment	0
Other	0
Net Proceeds from Sale of Bentley Prince Street	0
Cash Received from Insurance Company	0
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of Senior Subordinated Notes	0
Other	(15,648)
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	0
Dividends paid	0
CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	(15,648)
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	0
Net Change During the Period	0
Balance at Beginning of Period	0
Balance at End of Period	0
CONSOLIDATED TOTALS
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	43,904
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of plant and equipment	(28,817)
Other	(1,527)
Net Proceeds from Sale of Bentley Prince Street	32,174
Cash Received from Insurance Company	10,000
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	11,830
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of Senior Subordinated Notes	(11,477)
Other	0
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	293
Dividends paid	(4,276)
CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	(15,460)
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	753
Net Change During the Period	41,027
Balance at Beginning of Period	50,624
Balance at End of Period	$ 91,651