Note 8 - Other Expense (Income), Net (Details Textual) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016	Oct. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment, Excluding Oil and Gas Property and Timber Property	$ 127,000		$ 2,664,000	$ 33,630,000
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax	$ (147,000)		$ (751,000)
Other Nonoperating Income		$ 31,595,000		34,166,000
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Other Income [Member] | Sypris Electronics [Member]
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal				31,240,000
Toluca [Member]
Sale Leaseback Transaction, Current Period Gain Recognized				2,370,000
Toluca [Member] | Other Income [Member]
Sale Leaseback Transaction, Current Period Gain Recognized				$ 2,370,000