Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 7,577,045	$ 7,346,009	$ 7,440,059	$ 7,067,009
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans	(20)	1,345	(4,468)	(7,641)
Stock-based compensation expense	5,788	13,645	11,577	21,593
Repurchases of common stock	(8,963)	0	(8,963)	0
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	(305)
Noncontrolling earnings	214	178	204	209
Currency translation adjustment on non-controlling interests	0	(364)	0	(176)
Currency translation adjustment	45,127	(184,323)	59,089	(112,829)
Prior pension and post-retirement benefit service cost and actuarial gain / loss	(41)	358	67	223
Net earnings attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.	202,441	196,586	324,026	405,352
Ending balance	7,821,591	7,373,434	7,821,591	7,373,434
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0	30,924	0	29,463
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest			0	305
Noncontrolling earnings		781	0	1,226
Currency translation adjustment on non-controlling interests		(1,662)	0	(951)
Ending balance	0	30,043	0	30,043
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 798	$ 819	$ 797	$ 818
Beginning balance (in shares)	79,771	81,883	79,656	81,771
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans		$ 1	$ 1	$ 2
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans (in shares)	7	69	122	181
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(66)	0	(66)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (1)	$ 0	$ (1)
Ending balance	$ 797	$ 820	$ 797	$ 820
Ending balance (in shares)	79,712	81,952	79,712	81,952
Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 1,853,484	$ 1,827,075	$ 1,852,173	$ 1,828,131
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans	(24)	1,340	(4,502)	(7,664)
Stock-based compensation expense	5,788	13,645	11,577	21,593
Ending balance	1,859,248	1,842,060	1,859,248	1,842,060
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	6,709,782	6,212,966	6,588,197	6,004,506
Repurchases of common stock	(8,962)	0	(8,962)
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest			0	(305)
Net earnings attributable to Mohawk Industries, Inc.	202,441	196,586	324,026	405,352
Ending balance	6,903,261	6,409,552	6,903,261	6,409,552
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(777,547)	(487,168)	(791,608)	(558,527)
Currency translation adjustment	45,067	(184,323)	59,020	(112,829)
Prior pension and post-retirement benefit service cost and actuarial gain / loss	(41)	358	67	223
Ending balance	(732,521)	(671,133)	(732,521)	(671,133)
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (215,716)	$ (215,749)	$ (215,745)	$ (215,766)
Beginning balance (in shares)	(7,349)	(7,350)	(7,349)	(7,350)
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans	$ 4	$ 4	$ 33	$ 21
Shares issued under employee and director stock plans (in shares)	1	0	1
Ending balance	$ (215,712)	$ (215,745)	$ (215,712)	$ (215,745)
Ending balance (in shares)	(7,348)	(7,350)	(7,348)	(7,350)
Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 6,244	$ 8,066	$ 6,245	$ 7,847
Noncontrolling earnings	214	178	204	209
Currency translation adjustment on non-controlling interests		(364)	0	(176)
Currency translation adjustment	60	0	69
Ending balance	$ 6,518	$ 7,880	$ 6,518	$ 7,880