Revenue (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Jan. 02, 2021	Dec. 28, 2019	Dec. 29, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue recognized from deferred revenue during the period	$ 345.9	$ 311.8	$ 284.3
Unsatisfied performance obligations	3,900.0	3,600.0
Remaining performance obligation, amount from non-cancellable IP access agreements	$ 133.6	205.7
Percent of remaining performance obligations, current	55.00%
Revenue recognized from performance obligation satisfied in previous periods	$ 51.2	$ 40.4	$ 34.3

Percent of remaining performance obligation to be recognized in next twelve months.

No definition available.

Name:	cdns_PercentofRemainingPerformanceObligationsCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	cdns_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of transaction price for non-cancellable IP access agreements allocated to performance obligation that has not been recognized as revenue

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cdns_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationAmountNoncancellableIPAccessAgreements
Namespace Prefix:	cdns_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized that was previously included in balance of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration from customer has been received or is due.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130549-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from performance obligation satisfied or partially satisfied in previous reporting periods. Includes, but is not limited to, change in transaction price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL108322424-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerPerformanceObligationSatisfiedInPreviousPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of transaction price allocated to performance obligation that has not been recognized as revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130556-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant