Earnings Per Share (EPS) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Basic EPS [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations attributable to MTI	$ 21.9	$ 37.6	$ 17.6	$ 16.3	$ 23.6	$ 22.6	$ 22.7	$ 20.3	$ 90.3	$ 86.1	$ 76.6
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to MTI	0.1	0.2	1.8	0	0	0	(5.1)	(0.7)	2.1	(5.8)	(2.5)
Net income attributable to Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI)	21.3us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	37.0us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	18.5us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	15.6us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	22.6us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	21.9us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	17.1us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	18.7us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	92.4us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	80.3us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	74.1us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)									34,500,000	34,700,000	35,300,000
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61	$ 1.07	$ 0.48	$ 0.45	$ 0.66	$ 0.63	$ 0.63	$ 0.56	$ 2.62	$ 2.48	$ 2.17
Basic loss per share from discontinued operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0	$ 0.05	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (0.14)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.06	$ (0.17)	$ (0.07)
Basic earnings per share attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.07us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.53us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.45us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.66us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.63us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.49us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.54us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 2.68us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 2.31us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 2.10us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted EPS [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations attributable to MTI	21.9	37.6	17.6	16.3	23.6	22.6	22.7	20.3	90.3	86.1	76.6
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to MTI	0.1	0.2	1.8	0	0	0	(5.1)	(0.7)	2.1	(5.8)	(2.5)
Net income attributable to Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI)	$ 21.3us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 37.0us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 18.5us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 15.6us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 22.6us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 21.9us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 17.1us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 18.7us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 92.4us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 80.3us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 74.1us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)									34,500,000	34,700,000	35,300,000
Dilutive effect of stock options and stock units (in shares)									300,000	300,000	200,000
Weighted average shares outstanding, adjusted (in shares)									34,800,000	35,000,000	35,500,000
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61	$ 1.06	$ 0.48	$ 0.45	$ 0.65	$ 0.63	$ 0.63	$ 0.55	$ 2.59	$ 2.46	$ 2.16
Diluted loss per share from discontinued operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.05	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (0.14)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.06	$ (0.16)	$ (0.07)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.06us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.53us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.45us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.65us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.63us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.49us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.53us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 2.65us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 2.30us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 2.09us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive securities not included in the weighted average commons shares outstanding calculation (in shares)									12,888	0	2,404

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