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 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 adjustments		$ 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						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
Balance (in shares) at Jan. 01, 2022											160,792,004
Stockholders' Equity, Beginning Balance at Jan. 01, 2022	3,347,785					3,280,960					$ 1,717	1,627,816	(374,721)	(321,690)					2,347,838	66,825
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	190,731					188,053													188,053	2,678
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax	429					429								429
Derivative adjustments		$ (16,762)	$ (5,056)	$ (240)	$ 29,435		$ (16,762)	$ (5,056)	$ (240)	$ 29,435					$ (16,762)	$ (5,056)	$ (240)	$ 29,435
Foreign currency translation	3,382					2,515								2,515						867
Issuance of non-vested stock (in shares)											5,000
Issuance of non-vested stock	18					18						18
Stock-based compensation	6,305					6,305						6,305
Treasury stock (in shares)											(938,113)
Treasury stock	(64,185)					(64,185)							(64,185)
Issuance of common stock (in shares)											1,644,866
Issuance of common stock	3,808					3,808					$ 17	3,791
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 02, 2022											161,503,757
Stockholders' Equity, Ending Balance at Apr. 02, 2022	$ 3,495,650					$ 3,425,280					$ 1,734	$ 1,637,930	$ (438,906)	$ (311,369)					$ 2,535,891	$ 70,370