Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2023	Jul. 02, 2022	Jul. 01, 2023	Jul. 02, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue (Notes 1 and 10)	$ 245,053	$ 221,649	$ 474,811	$ 448,129
Costs and Operating Expenses:
Cost of revenue	138,503	125,611	266,215	253,880
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	59,990	55,319	118,552	114,487
Research and development expenses	3,408	3,251	6,778	6,329
Gain on sale and other costs, net (Note 2)	74	0	74	(20,008)
Total Costs and Operating Expenses	201,975	184,181	391,619	354,688
Operating Income	43,078	37,468	83,192	93,441
Interest Income	316	277	615	379
Interest Expense	(2,245)	(1,366)	(4,615)	(2,600)
Other Expense, Net	(21)	(19)	(42)	(41)
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes	41,128	36,360	79,150	91,179
Provision for Income Taxes (Note 4)	11,182	9,951	20,945	23,329
Net Income	29,946	26,409	58,205	67,850
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(212)	(239)	(396)	(488)
Net Income Attributable to Kadant	$ 29,734	$ 26,170	$ 57,809	$ 67,362
Earnings per Share Attributable to Kadant (Note 3)
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.54	$ 2.24	$ 4.94	$ 5.78
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.54	$ 2.24	$ 4.94	$ 5.77
Weighted Average Shares (Note 3)
Basic (in shares)	11,704	11,660	11,693	11,645
Diluted (in shares)	11,723	11,689	11,709	11,672