Guarantor Financial Information Guarantor Financial Information Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jul. 01, 2017	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Oct. 01, 2016	Jul. 02, 2016	Apr. 02, 2016	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 02, 2016
Net income	$ 106,944	$ 8,684	$ 10,328	$ 7,398	$ 41,680	$ 28,890	$ 33,991	$ 2,663	$ 133,354	$ 107,224	$ 85,279
Foreign currency translation adjustments									121,810	(5,593)	(162,436)
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									5,829	(1,016)	4,202
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									126,543	(5,984)	(156,467)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)									259,897	101,240	(71,188)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									947	3,015	9,139
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									258,950	98,225	(80,327)
Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									(18)		0
Corn Option [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									(1,078)	625	1,767
Parent Company [Member]
Net income									133,354	107,224	85,279
Foreign currency translation adjustments									0	0	0
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									4,797	1,766	83
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									3,701	2,391	1,850
Total comprehensive income/(loss)									137,055	109,615	87,129
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									137,055	109,615	87,129
Parent Company [Member] | Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									(18)		0
Parent Company [Member] | Corn Option [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									(1,078)	625	1,767
Guarantors [Member]
Net income									251,667	102,699	101,828
Foreign currency translation adjustments									0	0	0
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									0	0	109
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									0	0	109
Total comprehensive income/(loss)									251,667	102,699	101,937
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									251,667	102,699	101,937
Guarantors [Member] | Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									0		0
Guarantors [Member] | Corn Option [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									0	0	0
Non-guarantors [Member]
Net income									186,913	120,648	96,543
Foreign currency translation adjustments									121,810	(5,593)	(162,436)
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									1,032	(2,782)	4,010
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									122,842	(8,375)	(158,426)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)									309,755	112,273	(61,883)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									947	3,015	9,139
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									308,808	109,258	(71,022)
Non-guarantors [Member] | Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									0		0
Non-guarantors [Member] | Corn Option [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									0	0	0
Eliminations [Member]
Net income									(438,580)	(223,347)	(198,371)
Foreign currency translation adjustments									0	0	0
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									0	0	0
Total comprehensive income/(loss)									(438,580)	(223,347)	(198,371)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									(438,580)	(223,347)	(198,371)
Eliminations [Member] | Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									0		0
Eliminations [Member] | Corn Option [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0