Summary of Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Summary of Accounting Policies (Policies)	Oct. 03, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of consolidation and presentation	Principles of consolidation and presentation The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Snap-on Incorporated and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, “Snap-on” or “the company”). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with, and have been prepared in conformity with, the accounting principles reflected in the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Snap-on’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2015 (“2014 year end”). Snap-on’s 2015 fiscal year ends on January 2, 2016, and will contain 52 weeks of operating results. Snap-on’s 2014 fiscal year contained 53 weeks of operating results; the additional week occurred in the fourth quarter. Snap-on’s 2015 fiscal third quarter ended on October 3, 2015; the 2014 fiscal third quarter ended on September 27, 2014. The company’s 2015 and 2014 fiscal third quarters each contained 13 weeks of operating results. Snap-on accounts for investments in unconsolidated affiliates where Snap-on has a greater than 20% but less than 50% ownership interest under the equity method of accounting. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates of $13.6 million as of October 3, 2015, and $13.3 million as of January 3, 2015, are included in “Other assets” on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. In the normal course of business, the company may purchase products or services from unconsolidated affiliates; purchases from unconsolidated affiliates were $2.7 million and $3.5 million in the respective third quarters of 2015 and 2014, and $10.4 million and $10.9 million in the respective first nine months of 2015 and 2014. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements do not include the accounts of the company’s independent franchisees. Snap-on’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair presentation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine month periods ended October 3, 2015, and September 27, 2014, have been made. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Financial Instruments	Financial Instruments The fair value of the company’s derivative financial instruments is generally determined using quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities. The carrying value of the company’s non-derivative financial instruments either approximates fair value, due to their short-term nature, or the amount disclosed for fair value is based upon a discounted cash flow analysis or quoted market values. See Note 9 for further information on financial instruments.
New Accounting Standards	New Accounting Standards In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The ASU is based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to fulfill a contract. In August 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of this standard by one year; early adoption is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The ASU will become effective for Snap-on at the beginning of its 2018 fiscal year. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach for the adoption of the standard. The company is currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.