Debt Credit Facility (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 03, 2015 USD ($)
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, current borrowing capacity	$ 250,000
Credit facility, additional borrowing capacity available	150,000
Credit cacility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 400,000
Credit facility, maturity date	Sep. 19, 2019
Outstanding borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility	$ 0	$ 0
Credit facility, interest rate description	Interest accrues on borrowings under the credit facility at either LIBOR plus a margin between 1.25% and 2.0% per annum or at the base rate plus a margin between 0.25% and 1.0% per annum. The interest rate applied to borrowings is determined by Cadence’s consolidated leverage ratio as specified by the credit facility agreement. Interest is payable quarterly.
Credit facility, covenant description	The credit facility contains customary negative covenants that, among other things, restrict Cadence’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, make certain investments (including acquisitions), dispose of certain assets and make certain payments, including share repurchases and dividends. In addition, the credit facility contains financial covenants that require Cadence to maintain a leverage ratio not to exceed 2.75 to 1, and a minimum interest coverage ratio of 3 to 1.
Credit facility, covenant compliance	Cadence was in compliance with all financial covenants as of January 2, 2016 and January 3, 2015
Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, commitment fee percentage	0.35%
Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, commitment fee percentage	0.20%
Credit facility interest LIBOR and spread [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facilty, interest rate spread	2.00%
Credit facility interest LIBOR and spread [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facilty, interest rate spread	1.25%
Credit facility interest base rate and spread [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facilty, interest rate spread	1.00%
Credit facility interest base rate and spread [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facilty, interest rate spread	0.25%
Long-term Debt [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, covenant, interest coverage ratio	3
Credit facility, covenant, leverage ratio	2.75