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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Other (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Jan. 03, 2015
Dec. 28, 2013
Dec. 29, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Additional Textual) [Abstract]      
Maximum period for collection of receivables 5 years    
Reserve for inventory inventory in excess of 12-month demand    
Additions to capitalized computer software for internal use $ 2,100,000cdns_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareForInternalUseAdditions $ 4,700,000cdns_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareForInternalUseAdditions $ 7,700,000cdns_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareForInternalUseAdditions
Depreciation and amortization, property plant and equipment 49,200,000us-gaap_Depreciation 49,500,000us-gaap_Depreciation 55,000,000us-gaap_Depreciation
Period for revenue recognition for perpetual licenses maintenance 12 months    
Loss on reissuance of treasury stock (66,148,000)cdns_IssuanceOfCommonStockAndReissuanceOfTreasuryStockUnderEquityIncentivePlansNetOfForfeituresValue (42,657,000)cdns_IssuanceOfCommonStockAndReissuanceOfTreasuryStockUnderEquityIncentivePlansNetOfForfeituresValue (32,687,000)cdns_IssuanceOfCommonStockAndReissuanceOfTreasuryStockUnderEquityIncentivePlansNetOfForfeituresValue
Percentage of likelihood of tax benefit being realized upon effective settlement of audit 50.00%cdns_PercentageOfLikelihoodOfTaxBenefitBeingRealizedUponEffectiveSettlementOfAudit    
Advertising expense 6,600,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 7,400,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 7,200,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Retained Earnings [Member]      
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Additional Textual) [Abstract]      
Loss on reissuance of treasury stock $ 0cdns_IssuanceOfCommonStockAndReissuanceOfTreasuryStockUnderEquityIncentivePlansNetOfForfeituresValue
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
$ 0cdns_IssuanceOfCommonStockAndReissuanceOfTreasuryStockUnderEquityIncentivePlansNetOfForfeituresValue
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
$ 6,252,000cdns_IssuanceOfCommonStockAndReissuanceOfTreasuryStockUnderEquityIncentivePlansNetOfForfeituresValue
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Software Products [Member]      
Pro Forma Revenue [Line Items]      
General Term of Software Arrangement Minimum 2 years    
General Term of Software Arrangement Maximum 3 years