CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Class B common stock	Preferred Stock	Common stock Common stock	Common stock Class B common stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Common stock	Retained Earnings Class B common stock	Treasury Common Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries
Beginning balance, stockholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 827,687			$ 0	$ 299,281	$ 60,620	$ 869,857	$ 6,115,961			$ (6,183,975)	$ (375,888)	$ 41,831
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to The Hershey Company	782,981							782,981
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(26,444)												(26,444)
Net income including noncontrolling interest	756,537
Other comprehensive income (loss)	62,982											62,142	840
Dividends (including dividend equivalents):
Common Stock		$ (387,466)	$ (140,394)						$ (387,466)	$ (140,394)
Stock-based compensation	49,243						49,243
Exercise of stock options and incentive-based transactions	63,288						5,878				57,410
Repurchase of common stock	(300,312)										(300,312)
Ending balance, stockholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2017	931,565			0	299,281	60,620	924,978	6,371,082			(6,426,877)	(313,746)	16,227
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to The Hershey Company	1,177,562							1,177,562
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,511)												(6,511)
Net income including noncontrolling interest	1,171,051
Other comprehensive income (loss)	3,451											4,622	(1,171)
Dividends (including dividend equivalents):
Common Stock		(412,491)	(151,789)						(412,491)	(151,789)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Convertible Securities	0				6	(6)
Stock-based compensation	49,656						49,656
Exercise of stock options and incentive-based transactions	63,323						7,571				55,752
Repurchase of common stock	(247,500)										(247,500)
Tax cuts and jobs act, reclassification from aoci to retained earnings, tax effect	0							47,656				(47,656)
Ending balance, stockholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2018	1,407,266			0	299,287	60,614	982,205	7,032,020			(6,618,625)	(356,780)	8,545
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to The Hershey Company	1,149,692							1,149,692
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,940)												(2,940)
Net income including noncontrolling interest	1,146,752
Other comprehensive income (loss)	32,981											32,814	167
Dividends (including dividend equivalents):
Common Stock		$ (445,618)	$ (164,627)						$ (445,618)	$ (164,627)
Stock-based compensation	50,732						50,732
Exercise of stock options and incentive-based transactions	240,806						109,273				131,533
Repurchase of common stock	(527,211)										(527,211)
Retirement of treasury common stock	0				(138,348)			(6,284,919)			6,423,267
Ending balance, stockholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2019	1,744,994			$ 0	$ 160,939	$ 60,614	$ 1,142,210	1,290,461			$ (591,036)	$ (323,966)	$ 5,772
Dividends (including dividend equivalents):
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle in period of adoption | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02	$ 3,913							$ 3,913