Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jul. 01, 2018	Apr. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Oct. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2017	Apr. 02, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Number of days in quarter	92 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	92 days	365 days	365 days
Revenues	$ 655,390	$ 655,774	$ 668,639	$ 605,565	$ 604,884	$ 621,745	$ 610,633	$ 551,381	$ 2,585,368	$ 2,388,643	$ 2,356,672
Gross profit	259,365	260,857	257,596	230,594	229,426	239,849	243,104	222,374	1,008,412	934,753	981,321
Operating income	73,234	131,278	56,506	44,203	59,915	61,116	62,776	51,597	305,221	235,404	232,083
Net income	43,491	85,858	28,792	2,570	30,436	945	35,891	25,581	160,711	92,853	127,646
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(35)	(23)	(77)	(48)	(83)	(82)	(86)	(106)	(183)	(357)	(357)
Net income attributable to Belden	43,526	85,881	28,869	2,618	30,519	1,027	35,977	25,687	160,894	93,210	128,003
Less: Preferred stock dividends	8,733	8,732	8,733	8,733	8,733	8,732	8,733	8,733	34,931	34,931	15,428
Net income (loss) attributable to Belden common stockholders	$ 34,793	$ 77,149	$ 20,136	$ (6,115)	$ 21,786	$ (7,705)	$ 27,244	$ 16,954	$ 125,963	$ 58,279	$ 112,575
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Belden common stockholders:	$ 0.87	$ 1.90	$ 0.49	$ (0.15)	$ 0.52	$ (0.18)	$ 0.64	$ 0.40	$ 3.10	$ 1.38	$ 2.67
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Belden stockholders:	$ 0.87	$ 1.80	$ 0.49	$ (0.15)	$ 0.51	$ (0.18)	$ 0.64	$ 0.40	$ 3.08	$ 1.37	$ 2.65