Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income) (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 27, 2020	Mar. 28, 2020	Jun. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2019	Jun. 27, 2020	Jun. 29, 2019
Net income	$ 66,495	$ 86,091	$ 31,044	$ 19,640	$ 152,586	$ 50,684
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	20,139	(65,236)	16,326	(4,886)	(45,097)	11,440
Pension adjustments	647		859		1,295	1,717
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	19,329		20,791		(43,404)	14,826
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	85,824		51,835		109,182	65,510
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	416		3,315		908	6,702
Comprehensive income attributable to Darling	85,408		48,520		108,274	58,808
Parent [Member]
Net income	66,495		31,044		152,586	50,684
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	(1,364)		(326)		(713)	181
Pension adjustments	518		766		1,036	1,533
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	958		462		2,263	1,736
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	67,453		31,506		154,849	52,420
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Darling	67,453		31,506		154,849	52,420
Guarantors [Member]
Net income	21,063		16,819		41,175	35,340
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	0		0		(128,994)	0
Pension adjustments	0		0		0	0
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	0		0		(128,994)	0
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	21,063		16,819		(87,819)	35,340
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Darling	21,063		16,819		(87,819)	35,340
Non-guarantors [Member]
Net income	67,785		51,861		169,612	87,967
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	21,503		16,652		84,610	11,259
Pension adjustments	129		93		259	184
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	18,371		20,329		83,327	13,090
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	86,156		72,190		252,939	101,057
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	416		3,315		908	6,702
Comprehensive income attributable to Darling	85,740		68,875		252,031	94,355
Eliminations [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments			0			0
Corn Option [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	1,804	136	22		1,940	22
Corn Option [Member] | Parent [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	1,804		22		1,940	22
Corn Option [Member] | Guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0		0		0	0
Corn Option [Member] | Non-guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0		0		0	0
Heating Oil Swaps And Options [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	(8,940)		2,133		1,930	2,133
Heating Oil Swaps And Options [Member] | Parent [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0		0		0	0
Heating Oil Swaps And Options [Member] | Guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0		0		0	0
Heating Oil Swaps And Options [Member] | Non-guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	(8,940)		2,133		1,930	2,133
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	5,679	$ (9,151)	1,451	$ (1,937)	(3,472)	(486)
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Parent [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0		0		0	0
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0		0		0	0
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Non-guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	5,679		1,451		(3,472)	(486)
Eliminations [Member]
Net income	(88,848)		(68,680)		(210,787)	(123,307)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	0		0		0	0
Pension adjustments	0		0		0	0
Derivative adjustments	0		0		0	0
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	0		0		0	0
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	(88,848)		(68,680)		(210,787)	(123,307)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Darling	$ (88,848)		$ (68,680)		$ (210,787)	$ (123,307)