Income (loss) per Share - Basis for Income Per Share Computations (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2022	Oct. 03, 2021	Oct. 02, 2022	Oct. 03, 2021
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 103,687	$ 43,964	$ 206,425	$ 118,375
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	27	53	111	336
Income from continuing operations attributable to Belden stockholders	103,660	43,911	206,314	118,039
Add: Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(2,647)	(3,685)	(4,345)
Add: Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax	(5,366)	0	(9,933)	0
Net income attributable to Belden stockholders	$ 98,294	$ 41,264	$ 192,696	$ 113,694
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	43,466	44,851	44,181	44,762
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	597	574	629	480
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	44,063	45,425	44,810	45,242