Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Heating Oil	Corn Option	Soybean Meal	Foreign Exchange Contract	Stockholders' equity attributable to Darling	Stockholders' equity attributable to Darling Heating Oil	Stockholders' equity attributable to Darling Corn Option	Stockholders' equity attributable to Darling Soybean Meal	Stockholders' equity attributable to Darling Foreign Exchange Contract	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Treasury Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Heating Oil	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Corn Option	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Soybean Meal	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Foreign Exchange Contract	Retained Earnings	Non-controlling Interests
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2019											163,775,111
Stockholders' Equity, Beginning Balance at Dec. 28, 2019	$ 2,643,350					$ 2,565,819					$ 1,686	$ 1,560,897	$ (75,022)	$ (321,847)					$ 1,400,105	$ 77,531
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	86,091					85,510													85,510	581
Deductions to noncontrolling interests	(9,875)					3,271						3,271								(13,146)
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax	648					648								648
Derivative adjustment, net of tax		$ 10,870	$ 136	$ 0	$ (9,151)		$ 10,870	$ 136		$ (9,151)					$ 10,870	$ 136		$ (9,151)
Foreign currency translation	(65,236)					(65,147)								(65,147)						(89)
Issuance of non-vested stock (in shares)											8,000
Issuance of non-vested stock	40					40					$ 0	40
Stock-based compensation	10,778					10,778						10,778
Treasury stock (in shares)											(2,372,876)
Treasury stock	(60,082)					(60,082)							(60,082)
Issuance of common stock (in shares)											447,729
Issuance of common stock	873					873					$ 5	868
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 28, 2020											161,857,964
Stockholders' Equity, Ending Balance at Mar. 28, 2020	2,608,442					2,543,565					$ 1,691	1,575,854	(135,104)	(384,491)					1,485,615	64,877
Balance (in shares) at Jan. 02, 2021											162,200,389
Stockholders' Equity, Beginning Balance at Jan. 02, 2021	2,954,209					2,891,909					$ 1,699	1,597,429	(151,710)	(252,433)					1,696,924	62,300
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	153,418					151,766													151,766	1,652
Distribution of noncontrolling interest earnings	(2,143)																			(2,143)
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax	792					792								792
Derivative adjustment, net of tax		$ 3,464	$ (800)	$ (257)	$ (6,806)		$ 3,464	$ (800)	$ (257)	$ (6,806)					$ 3,464	$ (800)	$ (257)	$ (6,806)
Foreign currency translation	(38,222)					(39,756)								(39,756)						1,534
Issuance of non-vested stock (in shares)											0
Issuance of non-vested stock	58					58					$ 0	58
Stock-based compensation	8,357					8,357						8,357
Treasury stock (in shares)											(684,674)
Treasury stock	(48,141)					(48,141)							(48,141)
Issuance of common stock (in shares)											1,639,151
Issuance of common stock	6,017					6,017					$ 16	6,001
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 03, 2021											163,154,866
Stockholders' Equity, Ending Balance at Apr. 03, 2021	$ 3,029,946					$ 2,966,603					$ 1,715	$ 1,611,845	$ (199,851)	$ (295,796)					$ 1,848,690	$ 63,343