Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,448,510	$ 2,294,139	$ 7,122,193	$ 6,776,521
Cost of sales	1,665,209	1,567,580	4,879,403	4,654,695
Gross profit	783,301	726,559	2,242,790	2,121,826
Selling, general and administrative expenses	403,203	348,252	1,232,083	1,147,155
Operating income	380,098	378,307	1,010,707	974,671
Interest expense	7,259	9,410	23,854	32,062
Other expense, net	1,285	3,839	1,455	1,461
Earnings before income taxes	371,554	365,058	985,398	941,148
Income tax expense	100,532	94,231	251,572	242,090
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests	271,022	270,827	733,826	699,058
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	997	949	2,566	2,444
Net earnings attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.	$ 270,025	$ 269,878	$ 731,260	$ 696,614
Basic earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.
Basic earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc. (in usd per share)	$ 3.63	$ 3.64	$ 9.84	$ 9.40
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-basic (in shares)	74,338	74,154	74,330	74,084
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc. (in usd per share)	$ 3.61	$ 3.62	$ 9.77	$ 9.34
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted (in shares)	74,841	74,613	74,830	74,551