Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Retirement And Savings Benefit Plans (Narrative) (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Retirement And Savings Benefit Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Jan. 01, 2011
Jan. 02, 2010
Domestic plan assets as a percent of total plan assets 93.00%    
Plan assets or projected benefit obligations unamortized, minimum percentage 20.00%    
Projected benefit obligations amortized over the expected average remaining service of active participants minimum 10.00%    
Projected benefit obligations are amortized over the expected average remaining service of active participants maximum 20.00%    
Project benefit obligations amortized over five years minimum 10.00%    
Number of years amortized 5    
Deferred actuarial losses to be amortized to pension expense $ 70,500,000    
Estimated amortization of prior service cost, next period 3,200,000    
VF contributions 10,232,000 113,460,000  
Estimated future benefit payments, 2012 71,000,000    
Estimated future benefit payments, 2013 73,300,000    
Estimated future benefit payments, 2014 77,600,000    
Estimated future benefit payments, 2015 80,700,000    
Estimated future benefit payments, 2016 83,800,000    
Estimated future benefit payments, 2017-2021 471,700,000    
VF's current liability to participants of the deferred compensation plans 25,613,000 23,000,000  
Discretionary Contribution [Member]
      
VF contributions   100,000,000 200,000,000
Other Pension Plans [Member]
      
VF contributions 13,600,000    
Deferred Compensation Plans [Member]
      
Deferred compensation plans expense 4,300,000 3,900,000 3,900,000
Deferred compensation liability, current and noncurrent 222,000,000    
VF's current liability to participants of the deferred compensation plans 25,600,000    
VF's liability to participants of the deferred compensation plans, expected to be paid beyond one year 196,400,000    
Fair value of mutual fund and life insurance investments 205,400,000    
Expected to be liquidated to fund payments to participants recorded in other current assets 24,000,000    
Expected to be liquidated to fund payments to participants recorded in other assets 181,400,000    
Other Retirement And Savings Plans [Member]
      
Defined contribution plans expense $ 16,900,000 $ 14,600,000 $ 13,300,000