CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 856.9	$ 809.6	$ 2,539.6	$ 2,466.4
Cost of Sales	629.9	577.9	1,874.0	1,794.4
Gross Profit	227.0	231.7	665.6	672.0
Operating Expenses	133.0	141.9	413.8	421.5
Income From Operations	94.0	89.8	251.8	250.5
Interest Expense	13.5	14.4	42.6	44.2
Interest Income	0.7	1.1	2.7	3.4
Income Before Taxes	81.2	76.5	211.9	209.7
Provision For Income Taxes	17.6	15.4	46.4	47.5
Net Income	63.6	61.1	165.5	162.2
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1.4	1.5	4.0	4.4
Net Income Attributable to Regal Beloit Corporation	$ 62.2	$ 59.6	$ 161.5	$ 157.8
Earnings Per Share Attributable to Regal Beloit Corporation:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.40	$ 1.33	$ 3.62	$ 3.53
Assuming Dilution (in dollars per share)	1.39	1.32	3.59	3.51
Cash Dividends Declared Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.24	$ 0.76	$ 0.71
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	44.4	44.8	44.7	44.7
Assuming Dilution (in shares)	44.8	45.0	45.0	45.0