Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Operating Activities
Net Income Attributable to Kadant	$ 60,413	$ 31,092	$ 32,077
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	633	491	392
Income from discontinued operation	0	0	(3)
Income from continuing operations	61,046	31,583	32,466
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	23,568	19,375	14,326
Stock-based compensation expense	7,027	5,803	5,069
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	355	436	453
Loss (gain) on sale of property, plant, and equipment	110	42	(350)
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision	(4,240)	578	(613)
Other items, net	2,735	1,420	1,362
Contributions to U.S. pension plan	0	(1,080)	(1,080)
Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(7,016)	(10,907)	1,003
Unbilled revenues	(11,350)	1,310	3,407
Inventories	(6,577)	1,163	3,553
Other current assets	3,820	(130)	753
Accounts payable	5,419	(522)	(5,238)
Other current liabilities	(11,912)	16,093	(4,111)
Net cash provided by continuing operations	62,985	65,164	51,000
Net cash provided by discontinued operation	0	0	3
Net cash provided by operating activities	62,985	65,164	51,003
Investing Activities
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (Note 2)	0	(204,731)	(56,617)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(16,559)	(17,281)	(5,804)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	195	130	428
Net cash used in continuing operations for investing activities	(16,364)	(221,882)	(61,993)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt (Note 6)	50,055	232,019	51,046
Repayment of debt	(109,642)	(67,696)	(18,429)
Dividends paid	(9,644)	(9,011)	(8,038)
Tax withholding payments related to stock-based compensation	(3,886)	(2,206)	(2,572)
Payment of debt issuance costs (Note 6)	(934)	(1,257)	(27)
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest	(465)	(882)	0
Proceeds from issuance of Company common stock	813	0	2,350
Payment of contingent consideration	0	0	(1,091)
Other financing activities	(452)	(491)	216
Net cash (used in) provided by continuing operations for financing activities	(74,155)	150,476	23,455
Exchange Rate Effect on Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash from Continuing Operations	(3,195)	9,519	(5,827)
Decrease in Cash from Discontinued Operation	0	0	(5)
(Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash from Continuing Operations	(30,729)	3,277	6,633
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Year	76,846	73,569	66,936
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at End of Year	$ 46,117	$ 76,846	$ 73,569