Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Retirement and Savings Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail)

v2.4.0.6
Retirement and Savings Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 29, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Jan. 01, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Percentage of domestic plan 93.00%    
Project benefit obligation amortized over five years minimum 20.00%    
Number of years amortized 5    
Projected benefit obligations amortized over the expected average remaining service of active participants minimum 10.00%    
Projected benefit obligations amortized over the expected average remaining service of active participants maximum 20.00%    
Plan assets or projected benefit obligations unamortized, maximum percentage 10.00%    
Deferred actuarial losses to be amortized to pension expenses $ 85,300,000    
Estimated amortization of prior service cost, next period 1,100,000    
VF contribution 112,892,000 10,232,000  
Estimated future benefit payments, 2013 75,800,000    
Estimated future benefit payments, 2014 80,400,000    
Estimated future benefit payments, 2015 83,300,000    
Estimated future benefit payments, 2016 86,300,000    
Estimated future benefit payments, 2017 89,400,000    
Estimated future benefit payments, 2018-2022 501,100,000    
VF's current liability to participants of the deferred compensation plans 28,224,000 25,613,000  
Fixed Income Investments
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Target asset allocation of domestic defined benefit plan 45.00%    
Return Seeking Assets
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Target asset allocation of domestic defined benefit plan 55.00%    
Discretionary Contribution
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
VF contribution 100,000,000    
VF contribution, next fiscal year 100,000,000    
Other Pension Plans, Defined Benefit
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
VF contribution, next fiscal year 19,900,000    
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Defined contribution plans expense 18,700,000 16,900,000 14,600,000
Deferred Compensation Plans
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Deferred compensation plans expense 4,700,000 4,300,000 3,900,000
Deferred compensation liability, current and noncurrent 232,300,000    
VF's current liability to participants of the deferred compensation plans 28,200,000    
VF's liability to participants of the deferred compensation plans, expected to be paid beyond one year 204,100,000    
Fair value of investments 217,200,000    
Expected to be liquidated to fund payments to participants recorded in other current assets 26,000,000    
Expected to be liquidated to fund payments to participants recorded in other assets $ 191,200,000