Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) - Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Oct. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2017	Apr. 02, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Oct. 02, 2016	Jul. 03, 2016	Apr. 03, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Number of days in quarter	91 days	91 days	91 days	92 days	90 days	91 days	91 days	94 days	365 days	366 days
Revenues	$ 604,884	$ 621,745	$ 610,633	$ 551,381	$ 612,435	$ 601,109	$ 601,631	$ 541,497	$ 2,388,643	$ 2,356,672	$ 2,309,222
Gross profit	229,592	239,824	242,509	222,114	261,784	245,962	248,213	225,035	934,039	980,994	918,173
Operating income	60,081	60,791	62,481	51,337	58,668	61,980	62,241	40,964	234,690	223,853	140,553
Net income	30,436	945	35,891	25,581	33,283	36,072	41,933	16,358	92,853	127,646	66,180
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(83)	(82)	(86)	(106)	(71)	(88)	(99)	(99)	(357)	(357)	(24)
Net income attributable to Belden	30,519	1,027	35,977	25,687	33,354	36,160	42,032	16,457	93,210	128,003	66,204
Less: Preferred stock dividends	8,733	8,732	8,733	8,733	8,733	6,695	0	0	34,931	15,428	0
Net income attributable to Belden common stockholders	$ 21,786	$ (7,705)	$ 27,244	$ 16,954	$ 24,621	$ 29,465	$ 42,032	$ 16,457	$ 58,279	$ 112,575	$ 66,204
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Belden common stockholders:	$ 0.52	$ (0.18)	$ 0.64	$ 0.40	$ 0.58	$ 0.70	$ 1.00	$ 0.39	$ 1.38	$ 2.67	$ 1.56
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Belden stockholders:	$ 0.51	$ (0.18)	$ 0.64	$ 0.40	$ 0.58	$ 0.69	$ 0.99	$ 0.39	$ 1.37	$ 2.65	$ 1.54