Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2023	Jul. 02, 2022	Jul. 01, 2023	Jul. 02, 2022
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 29,946	$ 26,409	$ 58,205	$ 67,850
Other Comprehensive Items:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(400)	(19,364)	5,173	(21,648)
Post-retirement liability adjustments, net (net of tax of $(1), $11, $(3) and $13)	(2)	31	(8)	40
Deferred (loss) gain on cash flow hedges (net of tax of $(18), $46, $(32) and $114)	(59)	146	(98)	423
Other comprehensive items	(461)	(19,187)	5,067	(21,185)
Comprehensive Income	29,485	7,222	63,272	46,665
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(213)	(129)	(432)	(332)
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Kadant	$ 29,272	$ 7,093	$ 62,840	$ 46,333