Earnings Per Share - Distributed and Undistributed Earnings (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 01, 2012
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders:
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 0.11	$ (0.10)
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders:
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 0.11	$ (0.10)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Interface, Inc. common shareholders
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Interface, Inc. common shareholders
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Interface, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.11	$ (0.09)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Interface, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.11	$ (0.09)
Distributed Earnings [Member]
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders:
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 0.03	$ (0.02)
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders:
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 0.03	$ (0.02)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Interface, Inc. common shareholders
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Interface, Inc. common shareholders
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Undistributed Earnings [Member]
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders:
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 0.08	$ (0.08)
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders:
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 0.08	$ (0.08)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Interface, Inc. common shareholders
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Interface, Inc. common shareholders
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.00

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income (loss) from continuing operations per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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