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Guarantees - Details of Letters of Credit Outstanding (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Apr. 05, 2015
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]  
Guarantee Amount $ 2,403us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Bank Guarantees  
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]  
Guarantee Amount 1,241us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cgnx_BankGuaranteesMember
Guarantee due date Various from May 2015 to January 2017
Warranty Bonds  
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]  
Guarantee Amount 594us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cgnx_WarrantyBondsMember
Guarantee due date Various from May 2015 to December 2016
Performance Bonds  
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]  
Guarantee Amount $ 568us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceGuaranteeMember
Guarantee due date Various from June 2015 to December 2017