Industrial revenue bonds capital leases and other fair value.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	mhk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Long term debt and capital lease obligations current fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	mhk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Long term debt and capital lease obligations non current fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	mhk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter, etc.).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents notes payable as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Long-Term Debt (Fair Value And Carrying Value Of Debt Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Apr. 12, 2010 5.75% Notes, Payable January 15, 2011 [Member]	Jan. 15, 2006 5.75% Notes, Payable January 15, 2011 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 5.75% Notes, Payable January 15, 2011 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 7.20% Senior Notes, Payable April 15, 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 6.125% Notes, Payable January 15, 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Five Year Senior Secured Credit Facility, Due July 8, 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair Value [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Fair Value [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Fair Value [Member] 5.75% Notes, Payable January 15, 2011 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair Value [Member] 7.20% Senior Notes, Payable April 15, 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Fair Value [Member] 7.20% Senior Notes, Payable April 15, 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair Value [Member] 6.125% Notes, Payable January 15, 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Fair Value [Member] 6.125% Notes, Payable January 15, 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair Value [Member] Five Year Senior Secured Credit Facility, Due July 8, 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying Value [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Carrying Value [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Carrying Value [Member] 5.75% Notes, Payable January 15, 2011 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying Value [Member] 7.20% Senior Notes, Payable April 15, 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Carrying Value [Member] 7.20% Senior Notes, Payable April 15, 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying Value [Member] 6.125% Notes, Payable January 15, 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Carrying Value [Member] 6.125% Notes, Payable January 15, 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying Value [Member] Five Year Senior Secured Credit Facility, Due July 8, 2016 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable									$ 296,459	$ 336,606	$ 422,400	$ 963,900	$ 963,000	$ 298,000			$ 298,248	$ 336,270	$ 400,000	$ 900,000	$ 900,000	$ 298,000
Industrial revenue bonds, capital leases and other							52,169	55,334							52,169	55,334
Total long-term debt							1,650,675	1,737,193							1,586,439	1,653,582
Less current portion							386,591	348,799							386,255	350,588
Long-term debt, less current portion							$ 1,264,084	$ 1,388,394							$ 1,200,184	$ 1,302,994
Interest rate percentage	5.75%	5.75%	5.75%	7.20%	6.125%
Notes payable, maturity date	Jan. 15, 2011	Jan. 15, 2016		Apr. 15, 2012	Jan. 15, 2016	Jul. 08, 2016