Income Per Share - Basis for Income Per Share Computations (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 242,556	$ 267,748	$ 198,841
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(203)	159	392
Income from continuing operations attributable to Belden common stockholders	242,759	267,589	198,449
Add: Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(3,685)	(136,384)
Add: Gain (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(9,241)	1,860
Net income attributable to Belden common stockholders	$ 242,759	$ 254,663	$ 63,925
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	42,237	43,845	44,802
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	622	692	559
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	42,859	44,537	45,361