Intangible and Other Assets - Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 807.4
Currency translation	5.3
Acquisition	24.7
Ending Balance	837.4
Commercial & Industrial Group [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	306.9
Currency translation	5.0
Acquisition
Ending Balance	311.9
Snap-on Tools Group [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	12.5
Currency translation
Acquisition
Ending Balance	12.5
Repair Systems & Information Group [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	488.0
Currency translation	0.3
Acquisition	24.7
Ending Balance	$ 513.0

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

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- Definition

Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

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- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments and purchase accounting adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

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