v2.4.1.9
Segment Information (Net Sales Operating Income and Income Before Taxes for Reportable Segments) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 28, 2015
Mar. 29, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Net sales $ 585,394us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 583,221us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Operating income 111,698us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 120,369us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Income (loss) before taxes 76,196us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments 142,467us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Outdoor    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Net sales 75,915us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_OutdoorMember
83,985us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_OutdoorMember
Operating income 23,834us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_OutdoorMember
23,683us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_OutdoorMember
Income (loss) before taxes 21,777us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_OutdoorMember
28,103us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_OutdoorMember
Fitness    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Net sales 130,994us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_FitnessMember
100,288us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_FitnessMember
Operating income 34,638us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_FitnessMember
33,512us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_FitnessMember
Income (loss) before taxes 28,349us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_FitnessMember
37,522us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_FitnessMember
Marine    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Net sales 64,297us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_MarineSystemsMember
60,002us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_MarineSystemsMember
Operating income 4,566us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_MarineSystemsMember
3,810us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_MarineSystemsMember
Income (loss) before taxes 2,711us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_MarineSystemsMember
6,645us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_MarineSystemsMember
Auto/Mobile    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Net sales 216,126us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_AutomotiveMobileMember
242,952us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_AutomotiveMobileMember
Operating income 22,480us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_AutomotiveMobileMember
30,564us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_AutomotiveMobileMember
Income (loss) before taxes (453)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_AutomotiveMobileMember
40,148us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_AutomotiveMobileMember
Aviation    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Net sales 98,062us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_AviationMember
95,994us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_AviationMember
Operating income 26,180us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_AviationMember
28,800us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_AviationMember
Income (loss) before taxes $ 23,812us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_AviationMember
$ 30,049us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= grmn_AviationMember