Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Schedule of goodwill) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss	$ 0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	3,601,851,000	$ 3,620,790,000
Accumulated impairments losses, beginning balance	(1,327,425,000)	(1,327,425,000)
Goodwill	2,471,459,000	2,274,426,000	$ 2,293,365,000
Goodwill recognized during the year		60,493,000	3,006,000
Currency translation during the year		136,540,000	(21,945,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	3,798,884,000	3,601,851,000	3,620,790,000
Accumulated impairments losses, ending balance	(1,327,425,000)	(1,327,425,000)	(1,327,425,000)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	2,471,459,000	2,274,426,000	2,293,365,000
Operating segments | Global Ceramic
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,482,226,000	1,472,757,000
Accumulated impairments losses, beginning balance	(531,930,000)	(531,930,000)
Goodwill	1,035,942,000	950,296,000	940,827,000
Goodwill recognized during the year		60,493,000	0
Currency translation during the year		25,153,000	9,469,000
Goodwill, ending balance	1,567,872,000	1,482,226,000	1,472,757,000
Accumulated impairments losses, ending balance	(531,930,000)	(531,930,000)	(531,930,000)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,035,942,000	950,296,000	940,827,000
Operating segments | Flooring NA
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	869,764,000	867,916,000
Accumulated impairments losses, beginning balance	(343,054,000)	(343,054,000)
Goodwill	526,710,000	526,710,000	524,862,000
Goodwill recognized during the year		0	1,848,000
Currency translation during the year		0	0
Goodwill, ending balance	869,764,000	869,764,000	867,916,000
Accumulated impairments losses, ending balance	(343,054,000)	(343,054,000)	(343,054,000)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	526,710,000	526,710,000	524,862,000
Operating segments | Flooring ROW
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,249,861,000	1,280,117,000
Accumulated impairments losses, beginning balance	(452,441,000)	(452,441,000)
Goodwill	908,807,000	797,420,000	827,676,000
Goodwill recognized during the year		0	1,158,000
Currency translation during the year		111,387,000	(31,414,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,361,248,000	1,249,861,000	1,280,117,000
Accumulated impairments losses, ending balance	(452,441,000)	(452,441,000)	(452,441,000)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 908,807,000	$ 797,420,000	$ 827,676,000