Intangible and Other Assets - Other Intangible Assets by Major Class (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 29, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value, Total	$ 312.8	$ 299.7
Non-amortized trademarks	51.0	48.5
Total other intangible assets	363.8	348.2
Accumulated Amortization, Total	(171.6)	(161.0)
Total other intangible assets, accumulated amortization	(171.6)	(161.0)
Customer relationship value [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value, Total	139.4	135.3
Accumulated Amortization, Total	(57.8)	(54.1)
Developed Technology [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value, Total	19.0	19.4
Accumulated Amortization, Total	(18.6)	(18.8)
Internally Developed Software [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value, Total	116.4	107.2
Accumulated Amortization, Total	(72.8)	(66.1)
Patents [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value, Total	28.2	28.1
Accumulated Amortization, Total	(19.6)	(19.4)
Trademark value [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value, Total	2.6	2.6
Accumulated Amortization, Total	(1.5)	(1.4)
Other [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value, Total	7.2	7.1
Accumulated Amortization, Total	$ (1.3)	$ (1.2)

Intangible assets, accumulated amortization (excluding goodwill).

No definition available.

Name:	sna_IntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortizationExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Definition

Carrying amount (original costs adjusted for previously recognized amortization and impairment) as of the balance sheet date for the rights acquired through registration of a trademark to gain or protect exclusive use of a business name, symbol or other device or style for a projected indefinite period of benefit.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedTrademarks
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before accumulated amortization of intangible assets, excluding goodwill.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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