Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	Nature of Operations Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (the “Company”) is a leading designer, marketer and licensor of a broad range of quality casual footwear and apparel; performance outdoor and athletic footwear and apparel; children’s footwear; industrial work shoes, boots and apparel; and uniform shoes and boots. The Company’s portfolio of owned and licensed brands includes: Bates^®, Cat^®, Chaco^®, Harley-Davidson^®, Hush Puppies^®, HyTest^®, Keds^®, Merrell^®, Saucony^®, Sperry^®, Stride Rite^® and Wolverine^®. Licensing and distribution arrangements with third parties extend the global reach of the Company’s brand portfolio. The Company also operates a consumer-direct division to market both its own brands and branded footwear and apparel from other manufacturers, as well as a leathers division that markets Wolverine Performance Leathers™.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for a complete presentation of the financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair presentation have been included in the accompanying financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s fiscal 2017 Form 10-K. As described in Note 2, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) 2017-07 at the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2018. As part of the adoption, the prior period non-service cost components of pension expense have been reclassified to other expense to conform with the new presentation. In addition, as described in Note 15, the Company realigned certain components within its operating segments. All prior period disclosures have been restated to reflect the new reportable operating segments.
Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fiscal Year The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period that ends on the Saturday nearest to December 31. Fiscal years 2018 and 2017 both have 52 weeks. The Company reports its quarterly results of operations on the basis of 13-week quarters for each of the first three fiscal quarters and a 13 or 14-week period for the fiscal fourth quarter.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition Effective December 31, 2017, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, using the modified retrospective method. Under the modified retrospective method, the impact of applying the standard is recognized as a cumulative effect on retained earnings. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, equity or cash flows as of the adoption date or for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. For additional information, refer to Note 6.
Cost of Goods Sold	Cost of Goods Sold Cost of goods sold includes the actual product costs, including inbound freight charges and certain outbound freight charges, purchasing, sourcing, inspection and receiving costs. Warehousing costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Seasonality	Seasonality The Company’s business is subject to seasonal influences that can cause significant differences in revenue, earnings and cash flows from quarter to quarter; however, the differences have followed a consistent pattern in recent years.