Employee Benefit Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Minimum eligible service period (days)	90 days
Employee contributions	$ 827	$ 763
Employer contribution	1,888	1,825
Net amount recognized in other comprehensive income related to actuarial gains (losses)	1,591	452	(380)
Estimated future benefit payments for the Non-U.S. Plans in 2013	976
Estimated future benefit payments for the Non-U.S. Plans in 2014	984
Estimated future benefit payments for the Non-U.S. Plans in 2015	1,071
Estimated future benefit payments for the Non-U.S. Plans in 2016	1,102
Estimated future benefit payments for the Non-U.S. Plans in 2017	1,606
Estimated future benefit payments for the Non-U.S. Plans in total thereafter	10,241
Expected cash contributions to the Non-U.S. Plans in 2013	1,930
Mohawk [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Employee contributions	35,986	34,595	33,071
Employer contribution	$ 15,046	$ 14,541	$ 13,062
Up To 6% Matching [Member] | Dal-Tile And Unilin [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of employer contribution per $1.00 contributed by employee	0.50
Dollar amount of employee contribution for employer contribution ratio	1.00
Maximum percentage of employee salary company matches at disclosed ratio	6.00%