Name:	sna_AcquiredFiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Customer relationship contractual term maximum.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_CustomerRelationshipContractualTermMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Customer relationship contractual term minimum.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sna_CustomerRelationshipContractualTermMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	sna_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets, lacking physical substance with a definite life, resulting from a business combination.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ 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)(3)

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

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, 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_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of accumulated impairment loss for an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a,h)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with an indefinite life, resulting from a business combination.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TrademarksMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis=sna_NonTaxDeductibleAcquisitionGoodwillMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis=sna_TaxDeductibleAcquisitionGoodwillMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Acquired Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 810.7us-gaap_Goodwill	$ 838.8us-gaap_Goodwill	$ 807.4us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill purchase accounting related to acquisition	13.2us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	24.8us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Accumulated impairment losses	0
Weighted-average amortization period (in years)	12 years
Aggregate amortization expense	24.7us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	25.5us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	26.5us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Estimated annual amortization expense for fiscal period 2015	24.3
Estimated annual amortization expense for fiscal period 2016	19.5
Estimated annual amortization expense for fiscal period 2017	16.1
Estimated annual amortization expense for fiscal period 2018	13.4
Estimated annual amortization expense for fiscal period 2019	12.8
Tax Deductible Acquisition Goodwill [Member]
Acquired Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill purchase accounting related to acquisition	13.2
Non Tax Deductible Acquisition Goodwill [Member]
Acquired Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill purchase accounting related to acquisition	24.8
Customer relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-average amortization period (in years)	15 years
Customer relationship contractual term, minimum (in years)	3 years
Customer relationship contractual term, maximum (in years)	5 years
Customer relationships [Member] \| Pro-Cut International, Inc [Member]
Acquired Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Customer relationship value	7.4
Customer relationships [Member] \| Challenger Lifts Inc [Member]
Acquired Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Customer relationship value	5.2	5.2
Trademarks [Member]
Acquired Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-average amortization period (in years)	6 years
Trademarks [Member] \| Pro-Cut International, Inc [Member]
Acquired Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Non-amortized trademark	13.8
Trademarks [Member] \| Challenger Lifts Inc [Member]
Acquired Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Non-amortized trademark	$ 3.2	$ 3.2