Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Document Documentand Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 02, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	MIDD
Entity Registrant Name	MIDDLEBY CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000769520
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-02
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	57,306,082
Entity Public Float		$ 6,303,148,519