| Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep. 28, 2013 | Sep. 29, 2012 | Sep. 28, 2013 | Sep. 29, 2012 | |||||
| Net income | $ 433,761 | $ 381,318 | $ 842,452 | $ 751,970 | ||||
| Foreign currency translation | ||||||||
| Gains (losses) arising during the period | 99,395 | 40,466 | 60,374 | 10,238 | ||||
| Less income tax effect | (933) | (7,348) | (560) | (7,214) | ||||
| Defined benefit pension plans | ||||||||
| Amortization of net deferred actuarial losses | 21,333 | [1] | 17,617 | 64,021 | [1] | 52,856 | ||
| Amortization of prior service cost | 317 | [1] | 837 | 974 | [1] | 2,514 | ||
| Less income tax effect | (8,473) | (6,966) | (26,065) | (21,273) | ||||
| Derivative financial instruments | ||||||||
| Gains (losses) arising during the period | (54,432) | (15,829) | (2,032) | 2,846 | ||||
| Less income tax effect | 21,391 | 6,118 | 797 | (1,095) | ||||
| Reclassification to net income for (gains) losses realized | (6,571) | (8,500) | (15,707) | (5,365) | ||||
| Less income tax effect | 2,583 | 3,273 | 6,173 | 2,066 | ||||
| Marketable securities | ||||||||
| Gains (losses) arising during the period | 479 | (135) | 9 | (949) | ||||
| Less income tax effect | (188) | (59) | ||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) | 74,901 | 29,533 | 87,925 | 34,624 | ||||
| Comprehensive income | 508,662 | 410,851 | 930,377 | 786,594 | ||||
| Comprehensive (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (139) | |||||||
| Comprehensive income attributable to VF Corporation | $ 508,662 | $ 410,851 | $ 930,377 | $ 786,455 | ||||
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- Definition Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount after tax of (increase) decrease in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to noncontrolling interests. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount before tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount of tax expense (benefit), before reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount before tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss for prior service cost (credit) related to pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount after tax of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent entity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount of tax (expense) benefit, after reclassification adjustments, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss related to pension and other postretirement defined benefit plans. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount before tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income of accumulated gain (loss) realized from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's deferred hedging gain (loss). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount of tax expense (benefit) of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income of accumulated gain (loss) realized from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's deferred hedging gain (loss). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount before tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for actuarial gain (loss) related to pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount before tax of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount of tax expense (benefit), before reclassification adjustments, related to increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount before tax and reclassification adjustments of unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition Amount of tax expense (benefit) before reclassification adjustments of unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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- Definition The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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