Fair Value Measurements (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], USD $) In Thousands	Jul. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jul. 02, 2010
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Derivative assets	$ 145	$ 30	$ 7,882
Cash surrender value of life insurance	8,436	7,564	6,779
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Derivative liabilities	6,941	1,801	91
Level 1 [Member]
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Derivative assets	0	0	0
Cash surrender value of life insurance	0	0	0
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Derivative liabilities	0	0	0
Level 1 [Member] \| Time Deposits [Member]
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	0	0	0
Level 1 [Member] \| Mutual funds [Member]
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	0	0	0
Level 2 [Member]
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Derivative assets	586	1,801	8,612
Cash surrender value of life insurance	8,436	7,564	6,779
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Derivative liabilities	7,382	3,572	821
Level 2 [Member] \| Time Deposits [Member]
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	90,000	95,000	85,004
Level 2 [Member] \| Mutual funds [Member]
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	16,020	13,202	36,992
Level 3 [Member]
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Derivative assets	0	0	0
Cash surrender value of life insurance	0	0	0
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Derivative liabilities	0	0	0
Level 3 [Member] \| Time Deposits [Member]
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	0	0	0
Level 3 [Member] \| Mutual funds [Member]
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	0	0	0
Impact of Netting [Member]
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Derivative assets	(441)	(1,771)	(730)
Cash surrender value of life insurance	0	0	0
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Derivative liabilities	(441)	(1,771)	(730)
Impact of Netting [Member] \| Time Deposits [Member]
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	0	0	0
Impact of Netting [Member] \| Mutual funds [Member]
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	0	0	0
Time Deposits [Member]
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	90,000	95,000	85,004
Mutual funds [Member]
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	$ 16,020	$ 13,202	$ 36,992

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Company may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This element represents the portion of a balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents the amount that could be realized under a life insurance contract or contracts owned by the Company as of the date of the statement of financial position. Such Company-owned life insurance policies are commonly known as corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) or bank-owned life insurance (BOLI).

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- Definition

Fair values as of the balance sheet date of all assets resulting from contracts that meet the criteria of being accounted for as derivative instruments, net of the effects of master netting arrangements.

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- Definition

Derivative instrument obligations meeting the definition of a liability which the Company is a party to as of the balance sheet date.

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TIMBERLAND CO 10-Q