Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2020	Jun. 27, 2020	Mar. 28, 2020	Sep. 28, 2019	Jun. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2019	Sep. 26, 2020	Sep. 28, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 850,569			$ 842,049			$ 2,552,084	$ 2,504,477
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	638,368			652,923			1,917,623	1,948,552
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant, equipment and other assets	122			(2,669)			210	(20,845)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	89,993			83,549			276,379	249,569
Depreciation and amortization	85,730			80,407			253,711	239,057
Total costs and expenses	814,213			814,210			2,447,923	2,416,333
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	91,099			32,020			252,411	94,390
Operating income	127,455			59,859			356,572	182,534
Other expense:
Interest expense	(18,793)			(19,359)			(55,803)	(60,088)
Debt extinguishment costs	0			0			0	(12,126)
Foreign currency gain/(loss)	(1,239)			466			(709)	(654)
Other expense, net	(1,912)			(2,614)			(5,278)	(7,158)
Total other expense	(21,944)			(21,507)			(61,790)	(80,026)
Equity in net income/(loss) of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	906			(665)			2,467	(1,087)
Income before income taxes	106,417			37,687			297,249	101,421
Income tax expense	4,812			10,850			43,058	23,900
Net income	101,605	$ 66,495	$ 86,091	26,837	$ 31,044	$ 19,640	254,191	77,521
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(480)			(1,116)			(2,117)	(7,530)
Net income attributable to Darling	$ 101,125			$ 25,721			$ 252,074	$ 69,991
Basic income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62			$ 0.16			$ 1.55	$ 0.42
Diluted income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61			$ 0.15			$ 1.51	$ 0.42