Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2012
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis Of Presentation Policy	The consolidated balance sheet of Graco Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 28, 2012 and the related statements of earnings for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2012 and September 30, 2011, and cash flows for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2012 and September 30, 2011 have been prepared by the Company and have not been audited. In the opinion of management, these consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position of Graco Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 28, 2012, and the results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. Therefore, these statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that will be realized for the full fiscal year.
Accrued warranty and service liabilities policy	A liability is established for estimated future warranty and service claims that relate to current and prior period sales. The Company estimates warranty costs based on historical claim experience and other factors including evaluating specific product warranty issues.
Derivatives policy	The Company accounts for all derivatives, including those embedded in other contracts, as either assets or liabilities and measures those financial instruments at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on their intended use and designation. As part of its risk management program, the Company may periodically use forward exchange contracts and interest rate swaps to manage known market exposures. Terms of derivative instruments are structured to match the terms of the risk being managed and are generally held to maturity. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. All other contracts that contain provisions meeting the definition of a derivative also meet the requirements of, and have been designated as, normal purchases or sales. The Company's policy is to not enter into contracts with terms that cannot be designated as normal purchases or sales. The Company periodically evaluates its monetary asset and liability positions denominated in foreign currencies. The Company enters into forward contracts or options, or borrows in various currencies, in order to hedge its net monetary positions. These instruments are recorded at current market values and the gains and losses are included in other expense (income), net. The notional amount of contracts outstanding as of September 28, 2012 totaled $26 million. The Company believes it uses strong financial counterparts in these transactions and that the resulting credit risk under these hedging strategies is not significant. The Company uses significant other observable inputs to value the derivative instruments used to hedge interest rate volatility and net monetary positions, including reference to market prices and financial models that incorporate relevant market assumptions.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2012

Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

The consolidated balance sheet of Graco Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 28, 2012 and the related statements of earnings for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2012 and September 30, 2011, and cash flows for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2012 and September 30, 2011 have been prepared by the Company and have not been audited. In the opinion of management, these consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position of Graco Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 28, 2012, and the results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. Therefore, these statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that will be realized for the full fiscal year.

Accrued warranty and service liabilities policy

A liability is established for estimated future warranty and service claims that relate to current and prior period sales. The Company estimates warranty costs based on historical claim experience and other factors including evaluating specific product warranty issues.

Derivatives policy

The Company accounts for all derivatives, including those embedded in other contracts, as either assets or liabilities and measures those financial instruments at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on their intended use and designation.

As part of its risk management program, the Company may periodically use forward exchange contracts and interest rate swaps to manage known market exposures. Terms of derivative instruments are structured to match the terms of the risk being managed and are generally held to maturity. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. All other contracts that contain provisions meeting the definition of a derivative also meet the requirements of, and have been designated as, normal purchases or sales. The Company's policy is to not enter into contracts with terms that cannot be designated as normal purchases or sales.

The Company periodically evaluates its monetary asset and liability positions denominated in foreign currencies. The Company enters into forward contracts or options, or borrows in various currencies, in order to hedge its net monetary positions. These instruments are recorded at current market values and the gains and losses are included in other expense (income), net. The notional amount of contracts outstanding as of September 28, 2012 totaled $26 million. The Company believes it uses strong financial counterparts in these transactions and that the resulting credit risk under these hedging strategies is not significant.

The Company uses significant other observable inputs to value the derivative instruments used to hedge interest rate volatility and net monetary positions, including reference to market prices and financial models that incorporate relevant market assumptions.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for derivatives used in hedging relationships, which may include how gains or losses are recognized and presented in the financial statements, and amortization policies for deferred amounts.

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