Debt instrument interest rate swap adjustment.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Treasury locks outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Treasury locks settled.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of common shares reserved for future issuance related to deferred compensation arrangements with individuals.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualCommonStockReservedForFutureIssuance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payments on the derivative asset.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5580258-113959

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5579245-113959

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Notional Amount

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519104

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAssetNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the fair value of derivatives recognized in the income statement.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4A

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5618551-113959

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (a),(c),(d),(e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

High end period remaining until maturity for the derivative contract, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeHigherRemainingMaturityRange1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The estimated net amount of unrealized gains or losses on foreign currency cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7668309&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12Months
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 830

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30690-110894

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 830

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 830

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30700-110894

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossRealized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

Amount the entity is obligated or for which it has the option to buy or sell the foreign currency contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Dec. 29, 2012
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Long-term debt related to interest rate swaps	$ 11.3		$ 11.3		$ 21.4
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	(0.9)	(0.2)	(3.4)	(0.9)
Maximum maturity date of fair value hedge (in years)			8 years
Derivative gain expected to reclassify from Accumulated OCI into earnings, in the next 12 months, net of tax	0.2		0.2
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Derivative Gain (Losses) recognized	8.0	7.9	2.1	5.0
Transaction Gain (Losses) on net exposures	(8.9)	(8.1)	(5.5)	(5.9)
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	(0.9)	(0.2)	(3.4)	(0.9)
Equity Forwards [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Equity forwards in place of common stock associated with its deferred compensation plans	110,800		110,800
Treasury Locks [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Treasury lock settled	0	0	0	0
Treasury locks outstanding	0		0		0
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding	202.6		202.6		199.0
Buy Contracts [Member] \| Euros [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding	93.5		93.5		90.0
Buy Contracts [Member] \| Swedish Kronor [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding	63.5		63.5		74.9
Buy Contracts [Member] \| British Pounds [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding	19.9		19.9		33.0
Buy Contracts [Member] \| Australian Dollars [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding	34.0		34.0		34.7
Buy Contracts [Member] \| Singapore Dollars [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding	14.0		14.0		12.0
Buy Contracts [Member] \| Hong Kong Dollars [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding	8.0		8.0		7.0
Buy Contracts [Member] \| South Korean Won [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding	4.8		4.8		5.1
Buy Contracts [Member] \| Chilean Pesos [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding					2.5
Buy Contracts [Member] \| Other Currencies [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding	5.9		5.9		3.5
Sell Contracts [Member] \| Other Currencies [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding	4.2		4.2		4.9
Sell Contracts [Member] \| Canadian Dollars [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding	23.8		23.8		41.6
Sell Contracts [Member] \| Japanese Yen [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding	13.0		13.0		11.1
Sell Contracts [Member] \| Turkish Lira [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding					2.6
Sell Contracts [Member] \| Argentine Pesos [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards outstanding					3.5
Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Notional amount of interest rate swaps outstanding and designated as fair value hedges	$ 100.0		$ 100.0		$ 100.0