Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of goodwill

	Mohawk			Dal-Tile		Unilin		Total
Balances as of December 31, 2010
Goodwill	$	199,132		1,186,913		1,310,774		2,696,819
Accumulated impairments losses	(199,132		)	(531,930	)	(596,363	)	(1,327,425	)
	—			654,983		714,411		1,369,394
Goodwill recognized during the year	—			—		19,066		19,066
Currency translation during the year	—			—		(13,285	)	(13,285	)
Balances as of December 31, 2011
Goodwill	199,132			1,186,913		1,316,555		2,702,600
Accumulated impairments losses	(199,132		)	(531,930	)	(596,363	)	(1,327,425	)
	—			654,983		720,192		1,375,175
Currency translation during the year	—			—		10,596		10,596
Balances as of December 31, 2012
Goodwill	199,132			1,186,913		1,327,151		2,713,196
Accumulated impairments losses	(199,132		)	(531,930	)	(596,363	)	(1,327,425	)
	$	—		654,983		730,788		1,385,771

Schedule of indefinite life assets not subject to amortization

	Tradenames
Indefinite life assets not subject to amortization:
Balance as of December 31, 2010	$	456,890
Currency translation during the year	(6,458		)
Balance as of December 31, 2011	450,432
Currency translation during the year	5,071
Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	455,503

Schedule of intangible assets subject to amortization

	Customer relationships			Patents		Other		Total
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
Balance as of December 31, 2010	$	106,432		112,520		1,285		220,237
Intangible assets recognized during the year	5,181			—		—		5,181
Amortization during the year	(47,460		)	(22,782	)	(122	)	(70,364	)
Currency translation during the year	805			(1,194	)	3		(386	)
Balance as of December 31, 2011	64,958			88,544		1,166		154,668
Amortization during the year	(38,595		)	(18,747	)	(121	)	(57,463	)
Currency translation during the year	(153		)	1,234		10		1,091
Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	26,210		71,031		1,055		98,296

Schedule of intangible assets amortization expense

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012		2011	2010
Amortization expense	$	57,463	70,364	69,513

Schedule of Expected Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

2013	$	22,715
2014	20,716
2015	18,421
2016	15,837
2017	14,207