UPDATES TO SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Use of Estimates, Policy	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for allowances for doubtful accounts, sales returns reserve, allowances for inventory valuation, warranty costs, investments, goodwill impairment, intangibles impairment, purchased intangibles, stock-based compensation, and income taxes among others. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that may impact the company in the future, actual results may be different from the estimates.
Revenue Recognition, Policy	The Company has presented revenue and cost of sales separately for products, service and subscriptions. Product revenue includes primarily hardware, software licenses, parts and accessories; service revenue includes primarily hardware and software maintenance and support, training and professional services; subscription revenue includes software as a service (SaaS).
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that replaces the current revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The new standard requires companies to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Since the issuance of the revised standard, the FASB has issued several updates to the guidance for which the Company is monitoring and reviewing in contemplation of adoption. The effective date for the Company under the new standard will be the beginning of fiscal 2018, with early adoption permitted as of fiscal 2017. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach for the adoption of the standard. The Company expects to adopt this accounting standard update in the first quarter of fiscal 2018, and is currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In February 2015, the FASB issued amendments to the consolidation guidance. The amendments under the new guidance modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities and eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. The Company adopted the amendments beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In July 2015, the FASB issued amendments to simplify the measurement of inventory. Under the amendments, inventory will be measured at the “lower of cost and net realizable value” and options that currently exist for “market value” will be eliminated. The guidance defines net realizable value as the “estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation”. No other changes were made to the current guidance on inventory measurement. The amendments are effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2017, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In September 2015, the FASB issued new guidance related to business combinations. The new guidance requires that any adjustments to provisional amounts in a business combination be recorded in the period such adjustments are determined, rather than retrospectively adjusting previously reported amounts. The Company adopted the amendments beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In January 2016, the FASB issued final guidance that will require entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income unless the investments qualify for the new practicability exception. The amendments are effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2018, although early adoption is permitted and should be applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption, with certain exceptions. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that requires a lessee to recognize assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet. Previous GAAP did not require lease assets and liabilities to be recognized for most leases. Additionally, companies are permitted to make an accounting policy election to not recognize lease assets and liabilities for leases with a term of 12 months or less. For both finance leases and operating leases, the lease liability should be initially measured at the present value of the lease payments. The recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee will not significantly change under this new guidance. This new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2019, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued amendments to its guidance on the accounting for derivatives and hedging. The new guidance clarifies the requirements for assessing whether contingent call or put options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2017, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to equity investments and joint ventures. This standard eliminates the requirement that when an existing cost method investment qualifies for use of the equity method, an investor must restate its historical financial statements, as if the equity method had been used during all previous periods. Under the new guidance, at the point an investment qualifies for the equity method, any unrealized gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income will be recognized through earnings. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2017, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued final guidance that will change how companies account for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. Several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions are affected, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, application of the forfeiture rate and classification on the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2017, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that requires credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented based on the net amount expected to be collected, not based on incurred losses. Further, credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities should be recorded through an allowance for credit losses limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. The new standard is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2020. Early adoption for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018 is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In August 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to statement of cash flows. This guidance amended the existing accounting standards for the statement of cash flows and provided guidance on eight classification issues related to the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. For issues that are impracticable to apply retrospectively, the amendments may be applied prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. The Company is currently evaluating the timing and the impact of these amendments on its statement of cash flows. In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to income taxes. This standard requires the recognition of the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs. The guidance will be effective for the Company in its first quarter of fiscal 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In October 2016, the FASB issued amendments to its guidance on the accounting for related parties, which amends the consolidation guidance issued in February 2015 regarding the treatment of indirect interests held through related parties that are under common control. The standard will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments, Policy	Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments The Company invests in debt securities, including those of the U.S. government, corporate debt securities and commercial paper and municipal securities. The Company classifies all investments that are considered readily convertible to known amounts of cash and have stated maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase as cash equivalents, and those with stated maturities of greater than three months as short-term investments based on the nature of the investments and their availability for use in current operations. The Company determines the appropriate classification of its investments at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation at each balance sheet date. The Company has classified and accounted for its investments as available-for-sale. These investments are carried at fair value, and any unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), except for unrealized losses determined to be other-than-temporary, which would be recorded within other income (expense), net. Realized gains or losses on the sale of marketable securities are determined on a specific identification method, and such gains and losses are recorded as a component of other income (expense), net.
Share-based Compensation Policy	Stock compensation expense is recognized based on the fair value of the portion of share-based payment awards that is expected to vest during the period and is net of estimated forfeitures.
Business Combinations Policy	The Company determined the total consideration paid for each of its acquisitions as well as the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition. For certain acquisitions completed in the last quarter of fiscal 2015 and the first three quarters of fiscal 2016, the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are preliminary and may be adjusted as the Company obtains additional information, primarily related to adjustments for the true up of acquired net working capital in accordance with certain purchase agreements, and estimated values of certain net tangible assets and liabilities including tax balances, pending the completion of final studies and analyses. If there are adjustments made for these items, the fair value of intangible assets and goodwill could be impacted. Thus the provisional measurements of fair value are subject to change. Such changes could be significant. The Company expects to finalize the valuation of the net tangible and intangible assets as soon as practicable, but not later than one-year from the acquisition date. The fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed were determined under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. The excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The fair value of intangible assets acquired is generally determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis. Acquisition costs directly related to the acquisitions, along with the changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities, of $0.9 million and $3.4 million for the third quarter and the first three quarters of fiscal 2016, respectively, and $2.7 million and $9.8 million for the corresponding periods of fiscal 2015, respectively, were expensed as incurred and were included in General and administrative expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
Derivatives Asset and Liabilities Policy	Derivative assets and liabilities primarily represent forward currency exchange contracts. The Company typically enters into these contracts to minimize the short-term impact of foreign currency exchange rates on certain trade and inter-company receivables and payables. Derivative assets and liabilities are included in Other current assets and Other current liabilities on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Product Warranties Policy	The Company accrues for warranty costs as part of its cost of sales based on associated material product costs, technical support, labor costs, and costs incurred by third parties performing work on the Company’s behalf. The Company’s expected future costs are primarily estimated based upon historical trends in the volume of product returns within the warranty period and the costs to repair or replace the equipment. When products sold include warranty provisions, they are covered by a warranty for periods ranging generally from 1 year to 2 years. While the Company engages in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of component suppliers, its warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. Should actual product failure rates, material usage, or service delivery costs differ from the estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty accrual and related costs may be required.
Earnings Per Share, Policy	Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing Net income attributable to Trimble Navigation Limited by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing Net income attributable to Trimble Navigation Limited by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive securities had been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding stock options, shares to be purchased under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan and restricted stock units. The dilutive effect of potentially dilutive securities is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, an increase in the fair market value of the Company’s common stock can result in a greater dilutive effect from potentially dilutive securities.
Income Tax, Policy	The Company's practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company's unrecognized tax benefit liabilities include interest and penalties as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2016 and fiscal year end 2015, of $8.6 million and $6.7 million, respectively, which were recorded in Other non-current liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.