Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity And Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified		Total		Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2009		$ 3,200,823		$ 33,459	$ 795	$ 1,227,856	$ 1,998,616	$ 296,917	$ (323,361)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009					79,518				(11,034)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures and Executive Share Swap					148				(3)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures and Executive Share Swap		1,422			2	1,685			(265)
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans, shares									4
Stock-based compensation expense		6,888				6,888
Tax deficit from stock-based compensation		(984)				(984)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest, net of adjustments				(5,726)
Noncontrolling earnings		4,464		4,464
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(3,244)	[1]	3,244			(3,244)
Comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(119,200)						(119,200)
Pension prior service cost and actuarial (loss) gain		380						380
Net earnings		185,471					185,471
Comprehensive income attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.		66,651
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2010		3,271,556		35,441	797	1,235,445	2,180,843	178,097	(323,626)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010					79,666				(11,037)
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans		2,622			1	2,543			78
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans, shares					149				3
Stock-based compensation expense		10,159				10,159
Tax deficit from stock-based compensation		(16)				(16)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest, net of adjustments				(4,764)
Retained distribution noncontrolling interest				(1,257)
Noncontrolling earnings		4,303		4,303
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	[1]	0
Comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(42,006)						(42,006)
Pension prior service cost and actuarial (loss) gain		(452)
Net earnings		173,922					173,922
Comprehensive income attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.		131,464
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011		3,415,785		33,723	798	1,248,131	2,354,765	135,639	(323,548)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011					79,815				(11,034)
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans		13,557			4	13,467			86
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans, shares					370				2
Stock-based compensation expense		14,082				14,082
Tax deficit from stock-based compensation		1,133				1,133
Distribution to noncontrolling interest, net of adjustments				(423)
Retained distribution noncontrolling interest				(635)
Payments to Noncontrolling Interests				(35,000)
Tax effect of purchase of noncontrolling interest		708		1,065		708
Noncontrolling earnings		635
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	[1]	0
Comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		25,685						25,685
Pension prior service cost and actuarial (loss) gain		(1,591)
Net earnings		250,258					250,258
Comprehensive income attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.		274,352
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012		$ 3,719,617		$ 0	$ 802	$ 1,277,521	$ 2,605,023	$ 159,733	$ (323,462)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012					80,185				(11,032)

[1] Amount represents the adjustment to fair value of a redeemable noncontrolling interest in a consolidated subsidiary of the Company.