QUARTERLY DATA (Unaudited) - SCHEDULE OF QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 27, 2020	Jun. 28, 2020	Mar. 29, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jun. 26, 2020
Net sales	$ 2,185,244	$ 2,219,829	$ 1,707,329	$ 2,037,317	$ 2,068,125	$ 2,134,422	$ 1,767,217	$ 2,016,488	$ 8,149,719	$ 7,986,252	$ 7,791,069
Gross profit	962,071	1,080,024	792,552	866,622	911,912	943,318	874,744	892,504	3,701,269	3,622,478	3,575,325
Net income attributable to The Hershey Company	$ 291,387	$ 447,283	$ 268,901	$ 271,137	$ 207,187	$ 325,307	$ 312,840	$ 304,358	$ 1,278,708	$ 1,149,692	$ 1,177,562
Market price of common stock throughout the quarter (USD per share)												$ 125.85
Maximum
Market price of common stock throughout the quarter (USD per share)	$ 155.12	$ 149.59	$ 146.46	$ 160.95	$ 157.70	$ 161.40	$ 138.32	$ 114.83	$ 155.12	$ 157.70
Minimum
Market price of common stock throughout the quarter (USD per share)	137.46	126.75	125.85	111.43	140.29	134.25	113.84	104.30	137.46	140.29
Common stock
Net income per share - basic (USD per share)	1.44	2.21	1.33	1.33	1.02	1.59	1.54	1.49	6.30	5.64	$ 5.76
Net income per share - diluted (USD per share)	1.39	2.14	1.29	1.29	0.98	1.54	1.48	1.45	6.11	5.46	5.58
Dividends paid per share (USD per share)	0.804	0.804	0.773	0.773	0.773	0.773	0.722	0.722	3.154	2.990	2.756
Class B common stock
Net income per share - basic (USD per share)	1.31	2.00	1.21	1.21	0.93	1.45	1.39	1.36	5.72	5.12	5.24
Net income per share - diluted (USD per share)	1.30	2.00	1.20	1.21	0.92	1.44	1.38	1.36	5.71	5.10	5.22
Dividends paid per share (USD per share)	$ 0.731	$ 0.731	$ 0.702	$ 0.702	$ 0.702	$ 0.702	$ 0.656	$ 0.656	$ 2.866	$ 2.716	$ 2.504