Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 02, 2016	Jan. 03, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 32,469	$ 34,683	$ 29,048
Other Comprehensive Items:
Foreign currency translation loss	(13,240)	(20,687)	(16,436)
Pension and other post-retirement liability adjustments, net (net of tax provision (benefit) of $125, $107, and $(792) in 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively)	256	172	(1,407)
Deferred gain (loss) on hedging instruments (net of tax (benefit) provision of $(67), $84, and $151 in 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively)	241	563	(159)
Other Comprehensive Items	(12,743)	(19,952)	(18,002)
Comprehensive Income	19,726	14,731	11,046
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(314)	(168)	(243)
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Kadant	$ 19,412	$ 14,563	$ 10,803