Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2013	Jun. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2013
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 7,989	$ 5,832	$ 13,169	$ 11,152
Other Comprehensive Items:
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	579	(381)	(178)	(3,489)
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Liability Adjustments (net of tax)	33	120	110	257
Deferred (Loss) Gain on Hedging Instruments (net of tax)	(99)	94	(7)	289
Other Comprehensive Items	513	(167)	(75)	(2,943)
Comprehensive Income	8,502	5,665	13,094	8,209
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(118)	(97)	(251)	(85)
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Kadant	$ 8,384	$ 5,568	$ 12,843	$ 8,124

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to noncontrolling interests. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss related to pension and other postretirement defined benefit plans.

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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