Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Apr. 04, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance beginning of period	$ 808,491us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill acquired during the year	18,680us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Measurement period adjustments to goodwill acquired in prior year	(222)
Exchange effect	(7,675)
Balance end of period	819,274us-gaap_Goodwill
Commercial Foodservice Equipment Group [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance beginning of period	450,890
Goodwill acquired during the year	18,680
Measurement period adjustments to goodwill acquired in prior year	(10)
Exchange effect	(4,284)
Balance end of period	465,276
Food Processing
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance beginning of period	134,512
Goodwill acquired during the year	0
Measurement period adjustments to goodwill acquired in prior year	63
Exchange effect	(3,391)
Balance end of period	131,184
Residential Kitchen [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance beginning of period	223,089
Goodwill acquired during the year	0
Measurement period adjustments to goodwill acquired in prior year	(275)
Exchange effect	0
Balance end of period	$ 222,814

Goodwill Translation Accounting Adjustments

No definition available.

Name:	midd_GoodwillTranslationAccountingAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	midd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) from adjustments after acquisition date under purchase accounting of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 16

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34752592&loc=d3e961-128460

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=midd_CommercialFoodserviceEquipmentGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=midd_FoodProcessingGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=midd_ResidentialKitchenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: