Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2022	Apr. 03, 2021
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 41,441	$ 16,796
Other Comprehensive Items:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(2,284)	(4,750)
Post-retirement liability adjustments, net (net of tax provision of $2 and $10)	9	28
Deferred gain on cash flow hedges (net of tax provision of $68 and $19)	277	113
Other comprehensive items	(1,998)	(4,609)
Comprehensive Income	39,443	12,187
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(203)	(174)
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Kadant	$ 39,240	$ 12,013