Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues (Notes 1 and 12)	$ 171,316	$ 149,193
Costs and Operating Expenses:
Cost of revenues	100,801	83,114
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	49,319	45,776
Research and development expenses	2,621	2,869
Restructuring costs (Note 13)	0	770
Total Costs and Operating Expenses	152,741	132,529
Operating Income	18,575	16,664
Interest Income	56	183
Interest Expense	(3,504)	(1,732)
Other Expense, Net (Note 7)	(99)	(246)
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes	15,028	14,869
Provision for Income Taxes (Note 4)	3,963	3,861
Net Income	11,065	11,008
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(165)	(150)
Net Income Attributable to Kadant	$ 10,900	$ 10,858
Earnings per Share Attributable to Kadant (Note 3):
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.98	$ 0.98
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.96
Weighted Average Shares (Note 3):
Basic (in shares)	11,133	11,042
Diluted (in shares)	11,385	11,342

The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities.

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

- Definition

Total costs of sales and operating expenses for the period.