Segment reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 28, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 26, 2020 USD ($) segment	Sep. 28, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | segment			3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,574,870	$ 2,519,185	$ 6,910,433	$ 7,546,160
Operating income (loss)	262,744	240,220	353,268	672,410
Assets	13,784,214		13,784,214		$ 13,386,680
Global Ceramic segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	911,303	916,422	2,513,088	2,772,805
Flooring NA segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	982,292	1,001,908	2,630,710	2,907,327
Flooring ROW segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	681,275	600,855	1,766,635	1,866,028
Operating segments | Global Ceramic segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	911,303	916,422	2,513,088	2,772,805
Operating income (loss)	73,998	83,305	88,166	283,571
Assets	5,111,492		5,111,492		5,419,896
Operating segments | Flooring NA segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	982,292	1,001,908	2,630,710	2,907,327
Operating income (loss)	74,313	82,768	65,035	148,010
Assets	3,626,339		3,626,339		3,823,654
Operating segments | Flooring ROW segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	681,275	600,855	1,766,635	1,866,028
Operating income (loss)	129,135	82,988	234,429	272,071
Assets	3,928,243		3,928,243		3,925,246
Corporate and intersegment eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(14,702)	$ (8,841)	(34,362)	$ (31,242)
Assets	$ 1,118,140		$ 1,118,140		$ 217,884