Guarantor Financial Information Guarantor Financial Information Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ 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
Net income	$ 42,144	$ (5,137)	$ (29,138)	$ 98,075	$ 106,944	$ 8,684	$ 10,328	$ 7,398	$ 105,944	$ 133,354	$ 107,224
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(87,474)	121,810	(5,593)
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									(2,730)	5,829	(1,016)
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax									(90,787)	126,543	(5,984)
Total comprehensive income									15,157	259,897	101,240
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									3,894	947	3,015
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									11,263	258,950	98,225
Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total derivatives									23	(18)
Total derivatives, net of tax									23	(18)	0
Corn Option [Member]
Total derivatives									(1,687)	(1,078)	625
Total derivatives, net of tax									(1,687)	(1,078)	625
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Total derivatives									1,081
Total derivatives, net of tax									1,081	0	0
Parent Company [Member]
Net income									105,944	133,354	107,224
Foreign currency translation adjustments									1,724	0	0
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									(4,184)	4,797	1,766
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax									(4,124)	3,701	2,391
Total comprehensive income									101,820	137,055	109,615
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									101,820	137,055	109,615
Parent Company [Member] | Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total derivatives									23	(18)
Parent Company [Member] | Corn Option [Member]
Total derivatives									(1,687)	(1,078)	625
Parent Company [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Total derivatives, net of tax									0
Guarantors [Member]
Net income									99,353	251,667	102,699
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(53,387)	0	0
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax									(53,387)	0	0
Total comprehensive income									45,966	251,667	102,699
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									45,966	251,667	102,699
Guarantors [Member] | Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total derivatives									0	0
Guarantors [Member] | Corn Option [Member]
Total derivatives									0	0	0
Guarantors [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Total derivatives, net of tax									0
Non-guarantors [Member]
Net income									171,590	186,913	120,648
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(35,811)	121,810	(5,593)
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									1,454	1,032	(2,782)
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax									(33,276)	122,842	(8,375)
Total comprehensive income									138,314	309,755	112,273
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									3,894	947	3,015
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									134,420	308,808	109,258
Non-guarantors [Member] | Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total derivatives									0	0
Non-guarantors [Member] | Corn Option [Member]
Total derivatives									0	0	0
Non-guarantors [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Total derivatives, net of tax									1,081
Eliminations [Member]
Net income									(270,943)	(438,580)	(223,347)
Foreign currency translation adjustments									0	0	0
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax									0	0	0
Total comprehensive income									(270,943)	(438,580)	(223,347)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									(270,943)	(438,580)	(223,347)
Eliminations [Member] | Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total derivatives									0	0
Eliminations [Member] | Corn Option [Member]
Total derivatives									0	$ 0	$ 0
Eliminations [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Total derivatives, net of tax									$ 0