Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 8,071,563	$ 7,803,446	$ 7,348,754
Cost of sales	5,660,877	5,649,254	5,427,945
Gross profit	2,410,686	2,154,192	1,920,809
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,573,120	1,381,396	1,373,878
Operating income	837,566	772,796	546,931
Interest expense	71,086	98,207	92,246
Other expense	17,619	10,698	9,114
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	748,861	663,891	445,571
Income tax expense	131,875	131,637	78,385
Earnings from continuing operations	616,986	532,254	367,186
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit of $1,050	0	0	(17,895)
Net earnings including noncontrolling interest	616,986	532,254	349,291
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,684	289	505
Net earnings attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.	$ 615,302	$ 531,965	$ 348,786
Basic earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.
Income from continuing operations (usd per share)	$ 8.37	$ 7.30	$ 5.11
Loss from discontinued operations (usd per share)	$ (0.00)	(0.00)	(0.25)
Basic earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc. (in USD per share)		$ 7.30	$ 4.86
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	73,516	72,837	71,773
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.
Income from continuing operations (usd per share)	$ 8.31	$ 7.25	$ 5.07
Loss from discontinued operations (usd per share)	$ 0.00	0.00	(0.25)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc. (usd per share)		$ 7.25	$ 4.82
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted	74,043	73,363	72,301