Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	10,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
Preferred stock, shares unissued	10,000,000swk_PreferredStockSharesUnissued	10,000,000swk_PreferredStockSharesUnissued
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 2.5	$ 2.5
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	300,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized	300,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	176,902,738us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued	176,902,738us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Cost of common stock in treasury, shares	19,777,288us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares	21,423,508us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares

Unissued shares of preferred stock.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of common stock.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 30

-Article 5

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- Definition

The maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The maximum number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.28)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29

-Article 5

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- Definition

Number of common and preferred shares that were previously issued and that were repurchased by the issuing entity and held in treasury on the financial statement date. This stock has no voting rights and receives no dividends.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.28,29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

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