<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="tfx-20210225.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000096943</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-02-25</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-02-25</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV80L2ZyYWc6MDM0ODgyYmI0ZjNlNDA1MzhiYzM3MDg5MmJiZDNiYmIvdGFibGU6NTM2NDZlZmRkM2VmNDM3MGIxMjM3Yzc0MDcwM2I3ZDYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1MzY0NmVmZGQzZWY0MzcwYjEyMzdjNzQwNzAzYjdkNl8yLTEtMS0xLTA_2c2678bb-4258-4b1f-8b10-d7d8df162414">0000096943</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV80L2ZyYWc6MDM0ODgyYmI0ZjNlNDA1MzhiYzM3MDg5MmJiZDNiYmIvdGFibGU6NTM2NDZlZmRkM2VmNDM3MGIxMjM3Yzc0MDcwM2I3ZDYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1MzY0NmVmZGQzZWY0MzcwYjEyMzdjNzQwNzAzYjdkNl8zLTEtMS0xLTA_b6ea2410-0d06-4934-9579-f3e7d41b2533">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo0OTY2MmFhOTNlYmQ0ODdmYWFhMGRlOGE1YmZhYmFjOF82MzI2_cdfe23ea-b983-4193-b454-a4cc9813264f">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6YThjYjlmZGQwOTYxNDU4Zjg1NGZlYjI3ZGQ0MzQzOWIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphOGNiOWZkZDA5NjE0NThmODU0ZmViMjdkZDQzNDM5Yl8wLTEtMS0xLTA_f3015f3c-1403-40f8-8072-88766b89732b">2021-02-25</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo0OTY2MmFhOTNlYmQ0ODdmYWFhMGRlOGE1YmZhYmFjOF82MzE5_26367595-73e0-4b54-a3b9-1fe7f7972ca7">TELEFLEX INCORPORATED</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6YTNjNjI5ZDgwMTk0NDI0ZTg0YWU0NDNlODgyMTg1ZGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphM2M2MjlkODAxOTQ0MjRlODRhZTQ0M2U4ODIxODVkY18wLTAtMS0xLTA_63896453-e55a-4190-b6be-0b2e283b1ac4">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6YTNjNjI5ZDgwMTk0NDI0ZTg0YWU0NDNlODgyMTg1ZGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphM2M2MjlkODAxOTQ0MjRlODRhZTQ0M2U4ODIxODVkY18wLTEtMS0xLTA_40adb58f-f7b4-4651-8ce8-13f4e401aa32">1-5353</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6YTNjNjI5ZDgwMTk0NDI0ZTg0YWU0NDNlODgyMTg1ZGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphM2M2MjlkODAxOTQ0MjRlODRhZTQ0M2U4ODIxODVkY18wLTItMS0xLTA_e79c3677-f447-47dd-a9d4-209403db4588">23-1147939</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6MWQ2N2UzZDAyMmI4NGE3OTllOGZkMmFhNmE5NmVlYTIvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxZDY3ZTNkMDIyYjg0YTc5OWU4ZmQyYWE2YTk2ZWVhMl8wLTAtMS0xLTA_d0dda0b3-ea09-4bb8-afdf-b1cabd880731">550 E. Swedesford Rd., Suite 400</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6MWQ2N2UzZDAyMmI4NGE3OTllOGZkMmFhNmE5NmVlYTIvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxZDY3ZTNkMDIyYjg0YTc5OWU4ZmQyYWE2YTk2ZWVhMl8wLTEtMS0xLTA_515e83e8-6854-44d1-aa24-ec7d0d816cc4">Wayne,</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6MWQ2N2UzZDAyMmI4NGE3OTllOGZkMmFhNmE5NmVlYTIvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxZDY3ZTNkMDIyYjg0YTc5OWU4ZmQyYWE2YTk2ZWVhMl8wLTItMS0xLTA_046a7cc0-524b-4988-9ebf-d2ec8559eadf">PA</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6MWQ2N2UzZDAyMmI4NGE3OTllOGZkMmFhNmE5NmVlYTIvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxZDY3ZTNkMDIyYjg0YTc5OWU4ZmQyYWE2YTk2ZWVhMl8wLTQtMS0xLTA_380b7391-13d9-4221-93b8-d47e94976171">19087</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6MWQ2N2UzZDAyMmI4NGE3OTllOGZkMmFhNmE5NmVlYTIvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxZDY3ZTNkMDIyYjg0YTc5OWU4ZmQyYWE2YTk2ZWVhMl8zLTItMS0xLTA_427ac9f6-0f94-4f30-b564-5bf5df956032">(610)</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6MWQ2N2UzZDAyMmI4NGE3OTllOGZkMmFhNmE5NmVlYTIvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxZDY3ZTNkMDIyYjg0YTc5OWU4ZmQyYWE2YTk2ZWVhMl8zLTMtMS0xLTA_446ee1db-0083-4700-8e35-25b380f03a9e">225-6800</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6MDA0ZjljMDRkMzYzNGE1N2FlOTY3NzdjNGU0ODgzOTMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowMDRmOWMwNGQzNjM0YTU3YWU5Njc3N2M0ZTQ4ODM5M18yLTEtMS0xLTA_b58abca0-eae1-419d-af30-af643323226f">Common Stock, par value $1 per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6MDA0ZjljMDRkMzYzNGE1N2FlOTY3NzdjNGU0ODgzOTMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowMDRmOWMwNGQzNjM0YTU3YWU5Njc3N2M0ZTQ4ODM5M18yLTItMS0xLTA_478fd02a-8ae1-4e29-9188-8aa7ff27f104">TFX</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGFibGU6MDA0ZjljMDRkMzYzNGE1N2FlOTY3NzdjNGU0ODgzOTMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowMDRmOWMwNGQzNjM0YTU3YWU5Njc3N2M0ZTQ4ODM5M18yLTMtMS0xLTA_e5afdc31-c63a-4e05-b708-506384b44038">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo0OTY2MmFhOTNlYmQ0ODdmYWFhMGRlOGE1YmZhYmFjOF82MzIw_715b3c23-fa36-4775-b853-f482da8e234c">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo0OTY2MmFhOTNlYmQ0ODdmYWFhMGRlOGE1YmZhYmFjOF82MzIx_09a5ef71-de5a-46db-aea1-17a3eb8d3c73">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo0OTY2MmFhOTNlYmQ0ODdmYWFhMGRlOGE1YmZhYmFjOF82MzIy_fc2c3eeb-b98b-4711-b6f0-147075950c85">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo0OTY2MmFhOTNlYmQ0ODdmYWFhMGRlOGE1YmZhYmFjOF82MzIz_361de23d-2afb-4487-b7ee-3d454faed076">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="iebc5f262b3c24ad589489f3c263f9621_D20210225-20210225"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjNmMDE5NjkxMzUzYTQ4Y2RiNTIwMDIyZTdmZjBjODc1L3NlYzozZjAxOTY5MTM1M2E0OGNkYjUyMDAyMmU3ZmYwYzg3NV8xL2ZyYWc6NDk2NjJhYTkzZWJkNDg3ZmFhYTBkZThhNWJmYWJhYzgvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo0OTY2MmFhOTNlYmQ0ODdmYWFhMGRlOGE1YmZhYmFjOF82MzI0_fb8d131f-e037-4df7-93d9-2bbcd9116263">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
