Common Stock Repurchase	12 Months Ended
Dec. 29, 2017
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure	COMMON STOCK REPURCHASE In November 2014, the Company's Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program ("2014 Stock Repurchase Program"), authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $300.0 million of Trimble’s common stock. In August 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program ("2015 Stock Repurchase Program"), authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $400.0 million of Trimble’s common stock, replacing the 2014 Stock Repurchase Program. In September 2015, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement, or ASR, with an investment bank for $75.0 million. In November 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program ("2017 Stock Repurchase Program"), authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $600.0 million of Trimble’s common stock. The share repurchase authorization does not have an expiration date and replaces the 2015 Stock Repurchase Program, which was completed. Under the share repurchase program, the Company may repurchase shares from time to time in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions, accelerated share buyback programs, tender offers, or by other means. The timing and amount of repurchase transactions will be determined by the Company’s management based on its evaluation of market conditions, share price, legal requirements and other factors. The program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time without prior notice. At the end of fiscal 2017, the 2017 Stock Repurchase Program had remaining authorized funds of $442.2 million. During fiscal 2017, the Company repurchased approximately 7.4 million shares of common stock in open market purchases, at an average price of $39.18 per share, for a total of $288.3 million under the 2017 and 2015 Stock Repurchase Programs. During fiscal 2016, the Company repurchased approximately 4.9 million shares of common stock in open market purchases, at an average price of $24.39 per share, for a total of $119.5 million under the 2015 Stock Repurchase Program. During fiscal 2015, the Company repurchased approximately 7.5 million shares of common stock in open market purchases, at an average price of $21.29 per share, for a total of $159.4 million. This total includes $75.1 million and $84.3 million of open market purchases completed under the 2015 and 2014 Stock Repurchase Programs, respectively. The ASR was completed in December 2015 and resulted in the aggregate repurchase of approximately 3.7 million shares of common stock with a volume weighted average price of $20.11 per share. Stock repurchases are reflected as a decrease to common stock based on par value and additional-paid-capital based on the average book value per share for all outstanding shares calculated at the time of each individual repurchase transaction. The excess of the purchase price over this average for each repurchase was charged to retained earnings. As a result of the 2017 repurchases, retained earnings was reduced by $246.0 million in fiscal 2017. Common stock repurchases under the program were recorded based upon the trade date for accounting purposes.

COMMON STOCK REPURCHASE

In November 2014, the Company's Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program ("2014 Stock Repurchase Program"), authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $300.0 million of Trimble’s common stock. In August 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program ("2015 Stock Repurchase Program"), authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $400.0 million of Trimble’s common stock, replacing the 2014 Stock Repurchase Program. In September 2015, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement, or ASR, with an investment bank for $75.0 million. In November 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program ("2017 Stock Repurchase Program"), authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $600.0 million of Trimble’s common stock. The share repurchase authorization does not have an expiration date and replaces the 2015 Stock Repurchase Program, which was completed.

Under the share repurchase program, the Company may repurchase shares from time to time in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions, accelerated share buyback programs, tender offers, or by other means. The timing and amount of repurchase transactions will be determined by the Company’s management based on its evaluation of market conditions, share price, legal requirements and other factors. The program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time without prior notice. At the end of fiscal 2017, the 2017 Stock Repurchase Program had remaining authorized funds of $442.2 million.

During fiscal 2017, the Company repurchased approximately 7.4 million shares of common stock in open market purchases, at an average price of $39.18 per share, for a total of $288.3 million under the 2017 and 2015 Stock Repurchase Programs.

During fiscal 2016, the Company repurchased approximately 4.9 million shares of common stock in open market purchases, at an average price of $24.39 per share, for a total of $119.5 million under the 2015 Stock Repurchase Program.

During fiscal 2015, the Company repurchased approximately 7.5 million shares of common stock in open market purchases, at an average price of $21.29 per share, for a total of $159.4 million. This total includes $75.1 million and $84.3 million of open market purchases completed under the 2015 and 2014 Stock Repurchase Programs, respectively. The ASR was completed in December 2015 and resulted in the aggregate repurchase of approximately 3.7 million shares of common stock with a volume weighted average price of $20.11 per share.

Stock repurchases are reflected as a decrease to common stock based on par value and additional-paid-capital based on the average book value per share for all outstanding shares calculated at the time of each individual repurchase transaction. The excess of the purchase price over this average for each repurchase was charged to retained earnings. As a result of the 2017 repurchases, retained earnings was reduced by $246.0 million in fiscal 2017. Common stock repurchases under the program were recorded based upon the trade date for accounting purposes.