Quarterly Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2018	Sep. 29, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2016	Oct. 01, 2016	Jul. 02, 2016	Apr. 02, 2016	Dec. 29, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 853,130	$ 812,576	$ 846,646	$ 875,374	$ 952,549	$ 936,262	$ 894,930	$ 878,510	$ 3,387,726	$ 3,662,251	$ 3,391,928
Segment operating income/(loss)	23,614	18,186	21,668	31,754	36,139	34,396	38,164	32,507	95,222	141,206	154,734
Income from operations before income taxes	50,183	(6,540)	(27,455)	101,787	21,934	14,980	18,070	9,216	117,975	64,200	122,539
Net income	42,144	(5,137)	(29,138)	98,075	106,944	8,684	10,328	7,398	105,944	133,354	107,224
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,496)	(900)	(1,282)	(770)	(1,215)	(923)	(1,179)	(1,569)	(4,448)	(4,886)	(4,911)
Net income attributable to Darling	$ 40,648	$ (6,037)	$ (30,420)	$ 97,305	$ 105,729	$ 7,761	$ 9,149	$ 5,829	$ 101,496	$ 128,468	$ 102,313
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ (0.04)	$ (0.18)	$ 0.59	$ 0.64	$ 0.05	$ 0.06	$ 0.04	$ 0.62	$ 0.78	$ 0.62
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ (0.04)	$ (0.18)	$ 0.58	$ 0.63	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.04	$ 0.60	$ 0.77	$ 0.62
Provisional income tax Benefit									$ 75,000
Cost of sales and operating expenses									$ 2,647,083	$ 2,875,443	$ 2,635,333