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Employee Benefit Plans - Post-Retirement Welfare Benefits Plan (Details) - Post Retirement Welfare Benefits Plan | 12 Months Ended
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Jan. 02, 2016 USD ($)
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |
Maximum monthly contributions per employee | $ 358
Percentage paid by Kadant for Welfare Benefits Plan members with retirement date prior to January 1, 2005 | 75.00%
Percentage paid by Kadant for Welfare Benefits Plan members with retirement date after January 1, 2005 | 50.00%

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- Definition Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Monthly Contributions Per Employee, Amount + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Percentage paid by employer for postretirement welfare benefit plan for retirees with a retirement date, first period of plan. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | num:percentItemType
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Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Percentage paid by employer for postretirement welfare benefit plan for retirees with a retirement date, second period range. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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Period Type: |