Receivables - Aging of Finance and Contract Receivables (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 04, 2015	Jan. 03, 2015
Receivables [Abstract]
Finance receivables, 30-59 Days Past Due	$ 7.7	$ 9.8
Finance receivables, 60-90 Days Past Due	5.5	6.7
Finance receivables, Greater Than 90 Days Past Due	9.7	10.4
Finance receivables, Total Past Due	22.9	26.9
Finance receivables, Total Not Past Due	1,086.3sna_NotesAndLoansReceivableNotPastDue	1,058.7sna_NotesAndLoansReceivableNotPastDue
Finance receivables, Total	1,109.2sna_NotesAndLoansReceivable	1,085.6sna_NotesAndLoansReceivable
Finance receivables, Greater Than 90 Days Past Due and Accruing	7.1	7.7
Contract receivables, 30-59 Days Past Due	1.5	0.9
Contract receivables, 60-90 Days Past Due	0.9	0.7
Contract receivables, Greater Than 90 Days Past Due	1.7	1.1
Contract receivables, Total Past Due	4.1	2.7
Contract receivables, Total Not Past Due	314.7sna_ContractReceivableNotPastDue	317.3sna_ContractReceivableNotPastDue
Contract receivables, Total	318.8sna_ContractReceivable	320.0sna_ContractReceivable
Contract receivables, Greater Than 90 Days Past Due and Accruing	$ 0.2	$ 0.1

Contract receivable.

No definition available.

Name:	sna_ContractReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contract receivable not past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_ContractReceivableNotPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contract receivable recorded investment greater than 90 days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_ContractReceivableRecordedInvestmentGreaterThanNinetyDaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contract receivable recorded investment 90 days past due and still accruing.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_ContractReceivableRecordedInvestmentNinetyDaysPastDueAndStillAccruing
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contract receivable recorded investment past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_ContractReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contract receivable recorded investment sixty to ninety days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_ContractReceivableRecordedInvestmentSixtyToNinetyDaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contract receivable recorded investment thirty to fifty nine days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_ContractReceivableRecordedInvestmentThirtyToFiftyNineDaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Notes and loans receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_NotesAndLoansReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Notes and loans receivable not past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_NotesAndLoansReceivableNotPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Notes and loans receivable recorded investment greater than ninety days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_NotesAndLoansReceivableRecordedInvestmentGreaterThanNinetyDaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Notes and loans receivable recorded investment ninety days past due and still accruing.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_NotesAndLoansReceivableRecordedInvestmentNinetyDaysPastDueAndStillAccruing
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Notes and loans receivable recorded investment past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_NotesAndLoansReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Notes and loans receivable recorded investment sixty to ninety days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_NotesAndLoansReceivableRecordedInvestmentSixtyToNinetyDaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Notes and loans receivable recorded investment thirty to fifty nine days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_NotesAndLoansReceivableRecordedInvestmentThirtyToFiftyNineDaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReceivablesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration